Don't let the sun go down on The Suntrap

THE sky is the colour of lead, rain is threatening to turn from drizzle to downpour and the wind is whipping the supple branches of trees back and forth. It's an afternoon in the Suntrap garden which is as far removed from its cheery monicker as it's possible to get.

Yet despite the weather the garden is lush, the verdant greens of the countless plants luminous against the grey sky.

Suntrap is a three-acre oasis in Gogar, set somewhere between the Royal Bank's flagship headquarters and the Riccarton park and ride site. It's not easy to find - the signs which direct drivers fail to make clear what it is.

Which may have been its downfall. The beautiful refuge, created by philanthropist, innovator and keen amateur gardener George Boyd Anderson in 1957, perhaps has been too secret. As has the house he built on site. Known as Millbuies, it oozes character as one of Britain's first eco-friendly homes, designed by one of Scotland's most famous architects, Robert Matthew.

Now, as the organisations which have run it for years face financial pressures, the garden and its unusual house are under threat of being lost forever.

Boyd Anderson - an apparently quirky character with an ecological vision far ahead of its time - bequeathed the site to the National Trust for Scotland and the former Lothian Regional Council in 1972. Later, the council passed its share to Oatridge College so it could be used as a place where those with small gardens could learn how to grow plants successfully.

Since then it's evolved to become home of the Scottish National Bonsai collection, one of the country's only specialist horticultural training gardens and a place for people with learning disabilities to enjoy plant life.

The threat that it could be sold to developers for housing has sparked a determined campaign to save it.

For 90-year-old Maysie Gourdie, it is a very personal campaign - the Suntrap has been part of her life for decades.

"It would be a tragedy to see all of this go . . . a real waste," she says. "My father Andrew Forrest farmed the land at Gogar Bank. He sold these acres to Boyd Anderson, who built his house and one for his gardener. I've seen this whole place develop and mature into a beautiful garden."

The house - designed to make full use of the environment with wind turbines on the roof and solar energy - became a lively focal point down the years. "Mr and Mrs Anderson used to have Christmas parties and everyone would be invited for caviar and canaps and Champagne," she recalls fondly.

"I still live next door, as does my daughter and son-in-law and my granddaughter and her family. We all feel an emotional attachment to Suntrap, but on top of that we've seen it become a beautiful place which gives a lot of pleasure to many people and has helped so many young people with learning disabilities.

"It would be very sad indeed if it was sold for development. To me it would be morally wrong, going against all the principles of Mr Anderson who just gave the land into the care of the National Trust."

Her daughter, Maureen Riva, and granddaughter Sharon Fairley agree. "I've grown up with this garden always having been here, and we were allowed to wander around as if it was ours - we know all the nooks and crannies," says Sharon.

"To me the Andersons seemed very eccentric. I remember them having a stuffed giraffe's head and neck in the house."

She believes more could be made of Suntrap as a going concern. "A lot of people don't know you can buy plants here. With a little investment it could become a wonderful visitor attraction."

Oatridge College has been effectively running the garden since 1984 on behalf of the NTS. Its role was extended and it was used to train students with learning difficulties, becoming a Centre for Lifelong Learning in 2001.

But faced with finding 750,000 for repairs, the college withdrew last year and Suntrap reverted back to the NTS. However, the conservation organisation has crippling financial difficulties of its own - Suntrap, thought to be valued at around 1 million, is just one site it is looking to offload.

Isobel Lodge, chair of the Save our Suntrap committee - part of the Friends of Suntrap - says: "We are asking for the chance to run the place ourselves. The idea that after 54 years it should be destroyed for some kind of housing development is just appalling. We feel badly let down by the trust."

The SoS committee has been offered the chance to buy the site at market rate, but admits it is unlikely to be able to raise the funds. Instead, it wants the NTS to allow it to run Suntrap as a not-for-profit visitor attraction, still providing classes for people with learning disabilities and broadening its appeal to the public with a bistro, gift shop, allotments and gardening classes.

"We are also investigating whether the house could be listed so at least that might be saved. The trust tells us there's no heritage value here - we can't believe that."

Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart is supporting their campaign. He says: "Anyone who has lived in the west of the city in the last 20 years knows how much of a gem this little garden is and how much good work it has done with those suffering from learning difficulties.

"For NTS to decide unilaterally to end this when there is a community group desperate to continue the work is, quite frankly, staggering."

Kate Mavor, chief executive of the NTS, says the organisation's own and independent assessments of the site indicate there is no national heritage significance."If the property were to be sold, any funds raised would not be put into the general funds of the trust but into a restricted fund to further the wishes of the donor, George Boyd Anderson, who anticipated this eventuality. This is entirely consistent with the terms of his gift, and is not a 'betrayal' of the ideals of the donor as suggested."

The trust's director of conservation, Terry Levinthal, adds: 'We're still open to solutions and the Friends of Suntrap have until September to come forward with revised proposals which would not represent a drain on the trust's resources. We realise this is a tough decision, but there is simply no alternative."

• The Suntrap at 43 Gogarbank (accessible from both the A89 and A71) is holding a special open day this Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm. For more information on the campaign call 0131-339 7283.

GREEN PIONEER

George Boyd Anderson was a keen gardener who made his fortune in rubber planting in Malaya.

It is believed he met his wife on the ship back from the colony when he returned to Scotland.

Originally from the Elgin area, he had wanted to build his home there, but a problem with planning saw him move to Edinburgh with his designs for Suntrap and eco-friendly house Millbuies.

He hired the man behind the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Robert Matthew, founder of RMJM architects, to design the house - which was influenced by Boyd Anderson's liking of the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who believed in organic architecture.

When it was built it was described as "the house which laughs at the weather".

A courtyard design ensured that all four wings received maximum sunshine, with double glazing to keep the drafts out. Part of the roof was also glazed, and to keep out the sun was fitted with a state-of-the-art insulated sliding shutter.

Except for a coal fire, heating came from under floor electric cables - which extended into the drive to ensure it remained clear of snow in the winter. Solar energy was also able to be stored, and there were wind turbines on the roof of the timber and brick building.

The garden was also instrumental to the house, offering shelter from the wind.

Boyd Anderson alson donatedland which forms the Hillend Ski Centre and the Lagganlia outdoor education centre in the Highlands to the nation.