Champion trees hidden in Kilmory Gardens
A visit to the abandoned Kilmory Gardens in Lochgilphead by the Tree Register of Britain and Ireland has highlighted their importance – being home to three Scottish ’champion trees’.
Now hopes are high that a champion tree trail can be created at the gardens, bringing the “depressingly derelict” beauty spot back to life.
Volunteers from The Tree Register visited Kilmory to update the list for champion trees in recent weeks. The register records the tallest and broadest trees of their kind.
The visit highlights the national importance of the walled garden at Kilmory, home to “at least” three Scottish Champion Trees.
Alan Hunton and John Killingbeck, volunteers from The Tree Register, visited seven gardens in Argyll in six days updating the list for Champion Trees.
Kilmory’s champions include a huge Cryptomeria (Japanese Red Cedar) a Tulip Tree and one of the old Himalayan Rhododendrons.
The Japanese Red Cedar (planted in the early 1830s) is likely to be the second largest by girth - 8.02 m - in Britain and Ireland, pipped to the post by a monster specimen in mid-Wales
Alan said that since the visit he has been in contact with Victoria Winters from Minard and Julie Young, CEO of Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust (ACT), with particular reference to possible improvements to access at Kilmory.
Earlier this summer Victoria Winters, a director of Heart of Argyll Tourism Alliance, who is also secretary of Friends of Crarae Gardens, had called for something to be done about Kilmory.
Alan said: “Kilmory is a compact site and the walled garden does hold at least three Scottish Champion trees.
“Unfortunately access for the general public is not currently to be encouraged due to brash. There are many other interesting tree species at Kilmory, (that are not ‘champions’) and it would not be difficult to establish a tree trail with tree labels etc.”
He said: “At Kilmory Castle we found the huge Japanese Red Cedar planted by John Powlett Orde in about 1835 within the overgrown walled garden as well as unusual rhododendrons.”
One of Kilmory's 'champion trees', the Japanese Red Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica var sinensis). Photograph: Victoria Winters
The results of their surveys are not yet posted to The Tree Register’s website, so it is possible the “champions” tally could increase, he added.
After her visit earlier this summer, Victoria described the gardens as “hauntingly beautiful, while depressingly derelict” and said the gardens have been “all but abandoned.”
At the time she called for something to be done about Kilmory. Now she feels this recent visit by The Tree Register helps to bring hope.
She said: “I am delighted that volunteers from The Tree Register have recently returned to Argyll to update their incredible National database of champion trees.
“After using their records recently to create a Champion Tree Trail in Crarae Gardens for the Friends of Crarae, I hope to be able to do so for Kilmory Gardens in the future.
"The tree and plant collection at Kilmory Gardens is historically and botanically important and now we know there are three Scottish champions and at least one tree, the Cryptomeria japonica in particular, is a monster! Watch this space.”
In the centre of the photograph is another one of Kilmory Garden's 'champion trees', the tulip tree - Lirodendron tulipfera. Photograph: Victoria Winters
Kilmory Woodland Park and Gardens was a public space that many held dear, and the area was well used during lockdown.
The cash-strapped Argyll and Bute Council, which owns the gardens, has said it is not in a position to maintain them.
They undertake some basic maintenance within Kilmory walled garden and the grass around the castle.
Latest News
JOBS
Customer Assistant - Foods - Oban - Marks & Spencer
ObanSalary On Application
Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
PA29 6XG£28,322 to £29,436 per annum
Sign up to our daily Newsletter
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
Accept
Cancel
You may also like
Guns aim high at first open shoot of the year
Mar 10, 2025
Drama festival set for stage
Mar 10, 2025
Latest News
JOBS
Customer Assistant - Foods - Oban - Marks & Spencer
ObanSalary On Application
Childcare and Education Worker - ARB15733 - Argyll and Bute Council
PA29 6XG£28,322 to £29,436 per annum
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
Accept
Cancel
© 2025 Wyvex Media Limited.