Abernethy

Abernethy village lies 13km south of Perth where the Nethy Burn joins the River Tay. Once an important Pictish site, it was here that the Treaty of Abernethy was signed in 1072 between William the Conqueror and Malcolm III of Scotland. The village has one of Scotland's only two surviving Irish-style round towers, now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and several pieces of Pictish or early medieval sculpture. Formed in January 2015 Abernethy In Bloom welcomes everyone who cares about the village. You do not need to have any expert knowledge of plants or gardening to belong, just a love of working with other people and a willingness to give an hour or so a month to projects designed to make the village a more beautiful place - and have some fun and make new friends at the same time. See the Abernethy In Bloom Blog for upcoming opportunities to lend a hand and updates on current progress.

 

The Heritage Garden Project
Abernethy in Bloom celebrated the completion of their ambitious Heritage Garden project with an official opening on Sunday 9^th June 2024. This project, conceived over five years ago, aimed to transform an underutilised corner in the heart of Abernethy into a vibrant community garden, rest area, and outdoor hub for residents and visitors alike.

The project was developed in two phases due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent increases in material and labour costs. Thanks to additional fundraising efforts, Abernethy in Bloom was able to complete the garden to its original specifications. The garden features a rustic stone wall, accessible pathways, seating, a listening post, and solar lighting. A focal point of the garden is the three bespoke salmon-shaped paving stones, reflecting Abernethy’s historical ties to fishing on the rivers Tay and Earn.

Information boards, created in collaboration with Abernethy Museum, detail the village's medieval monastic, agricultural, fishing, and manufacturing history. The garden's planting display, curated by Abernethy in Bloom members with contributions of home-grown plants from local residents, further reflects the history of the village.

The project was aided by the Take a Pride in Perth and Kinross Association, which provided project management support and helped to secure funding from generous donors, including the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, the Gannochy Trust, National Lottery Awards for All, Perth & Kinross Council, Grocers Hall, the Mushroom Trust, ArtRoots (Sustrans), the Jimmie Cairncross Charitable Trust, Arnold Clark Foundation, and WM Mann Foundation. Local fundraising efforts carried out by Abernethy in Bloom, supported by the local community including local potato producer Branston Ltd., were also crucial to the project's success.

Dr. Karen McDonnell, Chair of the Take a Pride in Perth and Kinross Association, expressed her delight at the project’s success. She said: "I’m thrilled that the Heritage Garden has already been so warmly embraced by the local community and visitors to Abernethy. This project is a testament to the Association’s commitment to fostering green spaces and community engagement by supporting local bloom groups to deliver these legacy projects. The garden will serve as a vibrant hub for residents to come together, enjoy a peaceful outdoor space, and strengthen community bonds."

Abernethy in Bloom won the prestigious 'Parks and Green Spaces Award' at the Royal Horticultural Society's Britain in Bloom 2021 competition. Due to the Covid restrictions, the RHS ran the awards 'virtually', with the entrants submitting information and photos of their work for the judges to assess. Abernethy in Bloom submitted its entry for Nurse Peattie's Garden in the heart of village and were up against stiff competition from other bloom groups across the UK. They are a small but very active group and were absolutely delighted to win. Well done to everyone involved!