Roman Camp Hotel Launches 'Green Gym' Initiative

The Roman Camp House Hotel at Callander has launched a 'green gym' community project which will include planting up and restocking the hotel’s kitchen garden.

In collaboration with head chef Ian McNaught, whose daily changing restaurant menu usually includes many homegrown ingredients, gardener Ian Crump and his team of permanent gardeners have ambitious plans for the future.

Green Gyms are a popular way for small groups of adults of all ages and abilities to work on horticultural and environmental projects as volunteers. They enable volunteers to get outdoors, keep fit and meet new people.

It has been proved that gardening is a stress reliever and the therapeutic nature of working outdoors and tending to plants is both rewarding and interesting.

Places on green gym activities at the Roman Camp are on a first come, first served basis for up to eight people who can come along and work in the gardens. You don’t have to be an experienced gardener and guidance on how to undertake activities will be given.

Volunteers taking part get the opportunity to tend the ancient gardens of the property and learn about more about some of its existing planting schemes.

Activities on offer include weeding, rhododendron rooting and clearing, pruning, lawn edging, laying a mile of gravel paths, planting the vegetable garden and flower borders, and path clearing.

Participants get a light lunch, refreshments and one of the hotel’s famous homemade afternoon teas.

Ian Crump joins an illustrious line of gardeners who have lovingly tended the historic gardens of Roman Camp House down the centuries.

Originally owned by the Earls of Moray this former shooting lodge is surrounded by 20 acres of formal and mature gardens. It is the place where JM Barrie wrote part of Peter Pan.

Now a 3AA rosette graded hotel, it is a popular weekend retreat, wedding venue and place to dine.

Ian has an exciting and challenging task ahead of him as Roman Camp’s gardens require extensive and constant maintenance which, until he took up the reins, had been maintained rather than cared for by a small team of temporary gardeners.

The new team will set about restoring the gardens to their former glory. Ian's ambitious plans include a tree planting scheme in the walled kitchen garden, replanting and path laying to plans he has found of the original formal gardens.

Eager to share the historical gardens of the property with visitors and guests, he has instigated a series of green gym dates to help undertake some of the plans he has in place and allowing individuals to have a chance to tend first-hand the formal gardens of this historic property.

It is then hoped to run open garden events throughout 2011.

To find out more and book a place email Shona at the Roman Camp or call 01877 330003.

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