South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan has officially opened the new gates that have been installed at Corsehill Gardens in Ayr.

The site of Corsehill Gardens was originally the grounds of Corsehill House and in the later half of the last century was a base for the then Council Parks Department. The gardens were established in the Georgian era and the walls and pillars have listed building status. 

A group known as The Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens meet every month and voluntarily work with South Ayrshire Council’s Landscape Team, who act as facilitators for the land, to ensure that the gardens are conserved and improved. 

In 2003 Provost Sloan, as Councillor for Ayr Old Belmont, organised and co-ordinated a group of meetings for people interested in Corsehill Gardens.  These meetings led to The Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens being formed.

Community Enhancement funding from the Council was used to fund the design, construction and installation of the new gates. 

Speaking after the opening ceremony Provost Winifred Sloan said:  “The new gates are in keeping with the age and design of the Corsehill Gardens and enhance the area.

“I would like to thank the Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens for the dedication that they show in their efforts to maintain and improve the gardens so that they  can be enjoyed by local people and visitors to the area.”

The gardens include a range of specimen trees, a pond, knotworked box hedging, a mini forest of trees, bamboo and interesting shrubs and flowers.  Many animals and birds live in the gardens and feed on the plants and insects that also live there.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens and would like to help them within their conservation work should contact Karen McLure, the Council’s Senior Officer Parks and Landscape Strategy on 01292 616671.

Pictured at the new gates are (left to right) Karen McLure, Senior Officer Parks and Landscape Strategy, Jill McQuarrie, Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens, Esther Gordon, Chairperson, Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens, Provost Winifred Sloan, Sam McNair, Friends of Corsehill Park and Gardens and David Lowdon, Development Officer Parks and Open Spaces.

December 2006