Priorwood Garden, National Trust Garden in Melrose Scotland
Priorwood Garden is a stone-walled plot in Melrose covering about two acres with multiple sections. It features northern flower beds, an extensive orchard with over 70 apple varieties plus plums and pears, and a woodland garden added since 2011 that offers a wilder contrast to the formal plantings.
The grounds originated from Priorwood House, built around 1815 and later used as a youth hostel before James and Blanche Curle acquired it and added walls and decorative ironwork. After becoming overgrown in the 1970s with plans to convert it to a car park, it was developed in 1975 as a flower-drying garden and has been maintained by the National Trust for Scotland since.
The site was originally built to produce flowers for drying, a tradition the team continues to revive today. Visitors can observe how this historical gardening practice blends with current cultivation methods, with colorful beds flourishing during the warmer months.
The garden is easily reached from Melrose town centre and sits just south of Melrose Abbey, accessed via a pedestrian path. Visitors enter through a reception area and shop at the northwest corner where information, refreshments, and garden products like apple juice are available.
A bronze dove sculpture by artist David Annand stands in the garden and attracts visitors who stop to photograph it. Each October, Apple Day brings harvest celebrations with tastings, music, and family activities that draw both locals and visiting guests.
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