Historic floral clock in West Princes Street Gardens pays tribute to NHS and key workers

Work has finished to complete this year's design on the world's oldest Floral Clock in Edinburgh's West Princes Street Gardens.

Article Source: Edinburgh Council
Last Updated: 20 July 2020 12:56

In a change to plans for the clock’s 2020 design, the hugely popular landmark carries a message of thanks from the city to NHS and key workers and as a tribute to those working so hard through the Covid-19 outbreak. The colourful design is in honour of those who have kept the city moving as well as their counterparts across the country.

Our team of three gardeners took six weeks to plant the 35,000-plus flowers and plants used to create the clock, which will be in bloom until October. There are over 20 different plants included in this year's design including numerous Echeverias, Sedums, Saxifrages and Pyrethrum. The design states that Edinburgh thanks all key workers and includes the NHS logo and encourages everyone to stay safe.

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross, who spoke at the official dedication said: “This year our legendary floral clock will be paying tribute to the ongoing hard work of the NHS and key workers who we are all so proud of.

“It is an honour to be able to support the invaluable work carried out by the NHS and key workers. Doctors, nurses and other health workers have been and should continue to be appreciated by us all. This year’s clock is a poignant symbol of our response to the pandemic I hope all NHS employees and key workers in Edinburgh will be able to visit and enjoy the floral tribute.

“It is also my hope that key workers in other areas know of our appreciation – there have been so many who have gone above and beyond that we can’t list them all but I hope all will be seen in a more appreciative light that they so thoroughly deserve. And to my colleagues in the Council who have continued to work in these most trying of circumstances to keep the city and its vital services running for the people of Edinburgh – I thank you.

“As always, I am delighted to officially unveil this striking and much-loved creation, which is a source of enjoyment and fascination for so many people every day, and I’d like to congratulate our dedicated and creative parks team who have put together the design and we can all now enjoy their realised vision.”

The Floral Clock was first created in 1903 by then Edinburgh Parks Superintendent, John McHattie, and is the oldest of its kind in the world. It initially operated with just an hour hand, with a minute hand added in 1904, followed by a cuckoo clock in 1952. Until 1972 the clock was operated mechanically and had to be wound daily.

Since 1946 it has been designed in honour of various organisations and individuals, including the Girl Guides Association, Robert Louis Stevenson and the Queen, for her Golden Jubilee. In the clock's centenary year in 2003 it won a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Unfortunately, this year it will not be a fully functioning floral clock at first as important parts, due to the ongoing pandemic, are not immediately available.

Floral Clock fact file - did you know?
• The clock was created in 1903 and is the oldest floral clock in the world
• It is housed in the plinth of the Allan Ramsay Monument at the north-east corner of West Princes Street Gardens
• Planting begins in May each year
• Up to 40,000 plants are used in the design each year (compared to 13,000 in the 1930s; 25,000 in the 1950s)
• 1952 – a cuckoo clock was added and still chimes every 15 minutes
• 1973 – when the clock began being operated electrically
• In 1946 the clock began celebrating a different event or anniversary each year
• 2003 - the clock won a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
• Clock circumference: 36 ft
• Clock width: 11 ft 10 ins
• Weight of large hand (when filled with plants): 80lbs
• Weight of small hand (when filled with plants): 50lbs
• Floral clocks are now distributed worldwide and many were made in Edinburgh, where the idea originated.
• They can be found in India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, United States of America, Canada and many other European countries.

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Historic floral clock in West Princes Street Gardens pays tribute to NHS and key workers

Work has finished to complete this year's design on the world's oldest Floral Clock in Edinburgh's West Princes Street Gardens.

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