Last updated: 17 May 2021
| Address and contact details | |
| Crathes, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, AB31 5QJ | |
| Tel: 01330 844 525 | |
| Fax: 01330 844797 | |
| Email: crathes@nts.org.uk | |
| Web site: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/crathes-cast... | |
| Latitude: 57° 4' 5" N | |
| Longitude: 2° 26' 19" W | |
| Background to the collection | |
| Ownership: | The National Trust for Scotland |
| Umbrella organisation: | PlantNetwork (NT) and Individual, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, The National Trust for Scotland |
| Personnel | |
| Head Gardener: | Mr James Hannaford |
| Total Staff: | 23 |
| Total Horticultural Staff: | 23 |
| Policies | |
| Accessions: | Specific policy for national collection of Malmaison carnations. |
| Physical environment | |
| Altitude: | 75 m |
| Soil type: | Acid |
| Aspect: | Southeast |
| Total area: | Walled Garden 1.6 ha, Estate 222 ha. |
| Area heated: | 300 m² |
| Weather records | No |
| Wind | |
| Direction: | West |
| Strength: | Below average |
| Rainfall | |
| Average annual: | 730 mm |
| Plant collection | |
| Genera: | 410 |
| Accessions: | 2500 |
| Plants: | 4000 |
| Notable plants within the collection: | |
| Taxus baccata topiary from early 1700s | |
| Geographical area(s) of specialisation: | |
| China, Northwestern USA, Northeastern USA, E. Siberia, U.K. | |
| Special genera within the collections: | |
| Viburnum, Rosa, Clematis, Dianthus, Taiwania, Berberis, Deutzia, Philadelphus, Taxus, Iris, Lonicera, Thalictrum, Phlox, Paeonia, Davidia, Arthrotaxis, Abies | |
| Special collections: | |
| Malmaison carnations, NCCPG, – 12 Accessions, 30 Plants. | |
| Record Keeping: | Kept since 1929 Computerised - currently being updated. |
| Record System: | Currently changing from Demeter |
| Plant-collecting trips: | No |
| Facilities on site | |
| Herbarium: | No |
| Library: | No |
| Research facilities: | No |
| Publications: | Yes. Most recent: Susan Bennett, The Gardens and Landscape of Crathes Castle: A Four Hundred Year Story |
| Identifications: | Undertakes identifications for visitors and members. Internal verification of material |
| Teaching and Education: | Primary, secondary, public education |
| Interpretation: | Supervised garden walks, brochures, lectures |
| Friends Organisation: | No |
| Visitor facilities: | Restaurant, plant shop, gift shop, Go-Ape Adventure, Woodland and Estate walks. |
| Access to the collections | |
| Access conditions: | As per the garden opening times |
| Public access: | Admission charge |
| Visitors per year: | 82,000 |
| Public opening hours: | Varied opening times throughout the year - please refer to NTS website |
| Guiding principles behind the collection | |
| Generally, as defined by the founding principles of The National Trust for Scotland and specifically, to develop and maintain the garden according to the Arts and Crafts style and principles. | |
| Location map | |
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