Each year brings a new variety of garden projects, events and outings, but there are some things we always do as the seasons change.

January and February are a great opportunity to do a massive pre-spring clean and complete bigger landscaping projects before the growing season starts. This has included building and filling raised beds, creating new growing areas and wood-working projects.

Of course cold and wintery weather requires some warm breaks! There’s no better way to warm up than a marshmallow roasting bonfire at our fire pit, a hot chocolate by our new wood burning stove, or a walk down to our beach.

In March and April the Green Wellie becomes a hive of activity as we prepare our growing areas and tend weekly deliveries of plant plugs. Each year our gardeners raise hundreds of plants to create beautiful planters and hanging baskets. It’s also the start of mowing season, with using the ride-on mower reliably our most popular job!

Over at The Field fruit and vegetable areas are primed and prepared and seedlings are brought on ready for planting out.

May and June bring our first vegetable harvests. Our gardeners take produce they would like home, with the rest supplying the food pantry in Alness and other community groups using the Field. 

The planters and hanging baskets are delivered to Invergordon Port Authority and Saltburn and Westwood Community Council, with the gardeners continuing to make up individual orders. We also hold our popular annual plant sale, a good opportunity to visit the garden accompanied by tea, cake and live music.

In July and August we continue to be kept busy harvesting vegetables and maintaining our garden spaces, so our summer trip to Cromarty is a welcome break! After taking the ferry over from Nigg our gardeners have pizza from Sutor’s Creek and explore the village.

September and October bring preparations for the Barbaraville Harvest Festival and apple pressing at the Field.

In November our autumn bonfire is a great chance to come together and reflect on the year before a packed December of foliage gathering expeditions to make our Christmas wreaths, and putting up the tree and decorating before our end of year carols and mince pies.