If you watched the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow earlier this summer, you probably spotted its Saltire Garden, a 200-square-metre Scottish nature garden – into which King Charles III and Queen Camilla emerged from Dr Who's famous blue Tardis.
Built across 18 interlocking trays on wheels, the garden slotted into place in just two minutes for a quick scene change. Inspired by local plants and landscape, as well as the colours and textures of traditional tartan and tweed, the garden is evocative of Scotland.
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The innovative garden was designed by nursery owner and TV presenter Jamie Butterworth, who worked with creative director and stage designer Amalie White. “Ornamental grasses provided a baseline texture of wild landscape, blending into a sweeping, heather-inspired palette of blues and purples," he explained.
"[The garden] features plenty of Molinia, Sesleria, Calamagrostis, Agastache, Catananche, Perovskia, Sanguisorba, Selenium, Nepeta, resilient thistles and multiple perennials that evoke coastal paths, alpine highlands, and loch-sides. We chose plants to provide volume, and colour, and a sense of wildness and the wider landscape,” he added.
Now, the Saltire Garden’s 2,400 perennials, trees and shrubs have been relocated to their permanent home at Parklea Branching Out (PBO) in Port Glasgow, which offers horticulture-based training and support within the local community. After displaying the garden in its original design, the charity will plant it permanently into its borders.
"It's rare for a piece of set design to have a life beyond the stage," said co-creator Amalie White, "but because the Saltire Garden was created using living plants, it was always our ambition that it would find a permanent home in Scotland, growing and flourishing long after the games.
"It was the first thing audiences encountered as the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony began – a landscape where a global community came together, connecting with Scotland, with nature, and ultimately with one another.
"The fact that it will now continue to thrive in Port Glasgow, beyond the games, where it can be enjoyed by the people who work in and visit the space, is a fitting next chapter in its story,” Amalie added.
Christine Falconer, head of therapeutic horticulture at PBO, said the organisation is delighted to receive the garden. “Every day we see how gardening and connecting to nature can build confidence, improve wellbeing and communication, and develop practical skills.
"This garden will create meaningful opportunities for our clients, trainees and volunteers for years to come – a space where they can learn, grow and thrive, while being part of the garden's lasting legacy.”
