The Herb / Geology Garden

When Timespan Heritage Centre was conceived, the original building comprised a shop, petrol station and coal yard in disrepair.

It is this coal yard, once a flat wasteland with a rough bank, brick wall and rubble that was transformed by John Hope RIBA, ARAIS into a terraced garden in this fine sheltered spot on the banks of the River Helmsdale. 

The makeover took a year with a Manpower Services team of nine local men under the guidance of foreman Grham Cameron.  The team tackled the terracing, paths, stonework, burns and ponds, carting in loads of earth and constructing a peat bank.

Planting began in 1987 under the care of Mary Dudgeon MBE, the first Chairperson of Timespan, whose own garden at Crakaig is famous within the county.   Timespan’s community garden is now an oasis of beauty and calm.  Its exceptional location: nestling next to the Telford Bridge and overlooking the River Helmsdale, is second to none. 

Over the years,  herbs from all over Scotland have been introduced into the Timespan garden which now has more varieties than anywhere else in the country.    To this herb collection has been added many more indigenous plants so the garden now has a unique set of Scottish native flora.  The garden is also a rewarding point from which to view birds and wildlife. Otters are frequently seen below the Telford Bridge. 

Timespan is moving towards developing a Geology Garden with full interpretation, which will beautifully complement the existing design and make it easier to understand the natural relationship between the local geology, wildlife and plant life.

A GARDEN OF HERBS by Agnes Walker, a botanist at Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow, was inspired by the author’s first visit to Timespan.  It is available in the Timespan shop.
(Argyll Press £12.99)