Hidden gardens set to have their appeal revealed

HIDDEN gardens in the heart of the Old Town are being given a new lease of life in a project which will highlight their often forgotten history.

Trees, shrubs and flowers are being planted in three closes off the Royal Mile by council gardeners and local volunteers.

One garden, in Coinyie House Close, will feature a sensory garden, orchard walk and community artwork. Signs informing visitors of the history of the house, which used to be the Royal Mint in the late 16th century, are also being planned. Gardens near Tron Square and the Scottish Parliament will also get a makeover.

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The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust project will see residents help maintain the gardens, with some being given their own plots.

Robin Tait, a committee member of the Old Town Association, said they were delighted with the results. They hope to extend the project to other underused public green spaces in the area.

He said: "We think it's a great idea. Some of these gardens are a bit tucked away, but anyone can walk through them. They're putting flowers and shrubs in and they'll look really attractive.

"It's on quite a small scale and they made sure they got the local people involved. Many of them will have their own small plot. I don't think it's expensive to do – it's nothing compared to the cost of looking after parks. Once it's started, then the residents will take care of most of the upkeep.

"We'd like to see them do more, although some of the closes are a bit limited due to lack of space. It all depends on having enough enthusiastic residents."

A similar project in 2007 saw residents and gardeners transform Chessel's Court, just off the Royal Mile, with plants and flowers, as part of the Jardins Publics project, to coincide with the Edinburgh International Festival.

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "This is a really exciting project which is part of our neighbourhood improvement scheme.

"The idea behind it is to improve the environment to encourage residents to take good care of the areas in which they live. The Edinburgh city centre is a hub of many activities, and this project is really important because it will also help to ensure that the city centre is an attractive place to live."