Ailie's Garden
During
2001 and 2002, a major new attraction, initiated and led by the
Friends of the
Smith, came to take shape around the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and
Museum. The re-shaping of the grounds reached an important milestone
with the opening of Ailie’s Garden at the back of the museum. The
formal opening, by Robin Harper MSP, took place at 2:00 pm on Monday 16
September 2002. Photos of the opening can be found on the
Broccoli Web Design
website.
The Garden was named after Ailie R Maclaurin (1913-2000) of the Stirling
Homesteads, where biodiversity and sustainability were practised in the
early twentieth century. Ailie was a great gardener and lifelong
Friend of the
Smith. Ailie’s Garden was created to encourage wildlife, the study
of nature, the demonstration of composting and waste management, and to add
to the pleasure of visiting the Smith. It has been planned as an
outdoor gallery, biodiversity garden, and family activity space.
Among the attractions of the two-acre site are a willow tunnel, a
storytelling circle/performance area, an outdoor chess and draughts board, a
giant caterpillar sculpture, a mini labyrinth, and a woodland area.
Seating created by sculptor Kevin Blackwell is comfortable as well as
plentiful, and the area is enlivened with the mosaics of Jan Kilpatrick,
aided by children from several local primary schools. Picnic facilities are
also on site.
The project started with the desire of the
Friends to
improve the exterior of the museum, and developed into the provision of a
major new outdoor facility, designed to inform visitors on the natural
environment, and educate them on waste management, whilst encouraging
wildlife and offering opportunities for creative relaxation.
Ailie’s Garden is a half acre site within the two acre museum grounds which
has been developed as a 24 hour gallery. It is designed as a family friendly
facility where younger children can let off steam whilst their grandparents
play chess. It contains the following elements: (1) Willow garden; (2)
Butterfly border; (3) Woodland area, with habitat boosters; (4) Upland area,
with an example of Scottish drystane dyking; (5) Kitchen demonstration
garden; (6) Orchard area; (7) Wetland area; (8) Compost demonstration area;
(9) Storytelling area; (10) Herb garden with chess/draughts board; (11)
Picnic areas; (12) Play areas (giant xylophone, pipes, labyrinth and willow
tunnel).
The museum is situated in historic grounds, in the medieval King’s Park of
Stirling, the hunting and pleasure grounds of the Stuart monarchs. The
development interprets this history and at the same time turns the museum
grounds into grounds for learning, discovery, exhibition and performance, a
perfect complement to the internal programme and presentation in the museum.
It is designed to teach an understanding of the habitats of the Scottish
countryside, and issues surrounding biodiversity and waste management of
which visitors may have no previous knowledge. The efficiency of the message
was tested through an on-site visitor survey, over a six month period.
The development has been undertaken with great CARE—
Consideration for the intellectual and physical needs of our visitors
with full wheelchair access.
Awareness of the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland and
Stirling is promoted in the labelling and programming.
Respect has been forthcoming from our users, as we involved local
primary schools in the construction of it, and it has been vandal-free.
Enjoyment is one of the main elements in this environment.
The development has made the museum a fun place and destination for hundreds
of children in Stirling and has demonstrated the potential of an old
organisation to secure new audiences. An events programme for Ailie’s Garden
is published regularly.
Ailie’s Garden and outdoor gallery comprises a major voluntary effort (2
fundraisers, 10 organic gardeners, performers and story tellers) working in
partnership with interested parties (BTCV,
SNH,
Stirling
Countryside Rangers,
Stirling Landfill Tax Trust) to create this facility.
Friends of the
Smith, Scottish Natural Heritage,
Fresh Futures (New
Opportunities Fund),
Stirling Landfill Tax Trust,
Stirling Council,
Stirling
Council Community Environment Scheme, and the
Carse of
Stirling Rotary Club are just some of the organisations who have
provided financial and other assistance in its development. Most
importantly, Ailie's Garden carries messages about biodiversity,
sustainability, waste management, and care for the planet.
Additionally, two mosaics depicting Stirling’s glorious past now decorate
the entrance pavement to the Smith. They were commissioned from the
internationally renowned Maggy Howarth, whose work includes the Rose Street
mosaics in Edinburgh and the Dunblane Memorial Fountain in Dunblane.
The mosaics are decorated with thistles and one has the ancient word for
Stirling - Strevelyn - next to a castle depicting the town on a map from
1450.
Also featured is a representation of the Battle of Stirling Bridge with the
two armies facing each other above a river. Before the bridge, there is a
quotation from Robert Burns, written when he visited Stirling. The latest
addition to the garden is a Pictish-style stone depicting the story of the
Wolf of Stirling by Fife artist Alan Reid.