Plans unveiled for first Edinburgh city centre public garden in 200 years
World renowned landscape garden designer, Tom Stuart-Smith to support The Royal High School Preservation Trust’s ambitious garden project on Calton Hill.
Article Source: The Royal High School Preservation Trust
Last Updated: 23 October 2024 13:24
Plans for the Royal High School Building on Calton Hill are well underway including an ambitious garden project which will see exciting new gardens with free public access, created in the grounds of the building.
Designed through a collaboration between award-winning landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith OBE, and Edinburgh based landscape architects, OPEN (part of SLR), the area will provide the first major new city centre public garden since Princes Street Gardens opened more than 200 years ago in 1820. The plans will give residents and visitors to Edinburgh access to a beautiful open space with outstanding views of both the capital and the surrounding landscape.
With an East and West Garden the aim is to provide an oasis of calm from the busy city centre while creating a contemporary setting that respects the neo-classical features of the former Royal High School building. Ensuring the area can be enjoyed by everyone has been a key principle of the design so the gardens will be open daily with free entry for all. The creation of a very green garden has also been a fundamental part of the plans to increase biodiversity and create nature networks in the area.
The gardens will create a dynamic ecosystem, providing diverse food sources and habitats for local wildlife to support biodiversity and combat species decline. Using local materials and native plants, the design integrates with Calton Hill's surrounding landscape, reinforcing both visual and ecological connections between the cultivated gardens and the natural environment.
The West Garden area has been designed to fit with the wild landscapes that surround the site, complementing its location at the foot of Calton Hill. It will feature native trees like Scots Pine, Birch and Rowan and other plants native to the region.
By contrast, the East Garden will be designed as an extensive flower garden and feature a large pergola along the Belvedere wall, one of the original features of the Royal High School building.
A programme of regular events will share knowledge about the gardens as well as other related topics like horticulture skills, biodiversity, and health and wellbeing. Community groups will be invited to use the gardens and learning opportunities focused on conservation, native species and precious micro-systems.
Tom Stuart-Smith and his team in collaboration with Edinburgh-based landscape architects OPEN, were appointed to design and curate the garden space. Tom's work has been heavily influential in contemporary landscape design, with eight award-winning gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, plus a host of acclaimed gardens across the globe including RHS Bridgewater and the Queen’s Jubilee Garden at Windsor Castle. This partnership melds Tom's renowned creative approach with OPEN's deep understanding of Edinburgh's urban fabric, promising a garden that will be both innovative in design and harmonious with its historic surroundings.
He said: “Edinburgh's unique blend of urban architecture and dramatic landscape puts it in a league with cities like Athens and San Francisco. Our design aims to highlight this extraordinary setting while creating a tranquil retreat within the bustling city.
"The West and East gardens, though distinct in character, work in harmony to complement each other and the stunning architecture of the Royal High School building. This site is truly exceptional - the views are spectacular, and the landscape is unparalleled. It's a rare opportunity for a landscape designer to work on such site, and I'm confident that our plans will resonate with Edinburgh's residents and visitors alike."
Grant MacKenzie, Executive Director of the Royal High School Preservation Trust said: “Making the most of the outdoor space at the Royal High School building is a key part of our vision and we’re delighted to be unveiling our plans. These gardens will be the first new public garden space in Edinburgh city centre for centuries and they will become an area for everyone to enjoy. We want it to be a place for everyone to have access to and enjoy, and where better to take in such unrivalled views of the city than in a calming, tranquil garden environment.”
Work on the garden spaces will begin in 2025.
Image: West Garden - Aerial
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Hibs women support Scottish charity with Nuby this Christmas
Two Hibernian Women players have helped bring festive cheer to local families this Christmas, donating Santa Surprise Boxes to a Scottish charity on behalf of baby brand Nuby.
READ MORE
Brand new craft event encourages mindfulness, creativity and relaxation
Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to an afternoon of creativity, connection, and cake this January, with a brand-new Crafternoon Tea Club.
READ MORE
Hauf and hauf revival as Edinburgh drinks partnership hits the pub
A modern twist on a traditional Scottish serve is being poured across Edinburgh this festive season, as two of the city's leading independent drinks producers announce a flavour-led collaboration.
READ MORE
Opening New Years Day: Turner in January triumphantly returns to the National Galleries of Scotland
Following the incredible success of last year's blockbuster exchange with the National Gallery of Ireland, Scotland's own much-loved Turners are back in Edinburgh for 2026!
READ MORE
Christmas has arrived in Glasgow, The IRN BRU Carnival returns for its 106th year
Europe's largest indoor fun fair, The IRN-BRU Carnival, has opened to the public at Glasgow's SEC with its greatest show to date!
READ MORE
Historic Edinburgh pub set for major investment in the New Year
A much-loved Belhaven pub in the heart of the Old Town is set to ring in the New Year in style with a brand-new look and elevated offering as it undergoes a significant programme of refurbishment.
READ MORE
Castle of Light offers special priced tickets for spectacular closing night
Experience the award-winning after-dark event at Edinburgh Castle one final time, with a special £10 ticket available for the final night (Sunday 4 January 2026).
READ MORE
Edinburgh Rugby scores new deal with city centre sports bar
Edinburgh Rugby has scored a new deal with one of the city’s most popular sports bars, which will see all the buzz from Hive Stadium pop-up in the Grassmarket.
READ MORE
A Goal So Good it is a Work of Art!
It’s a winner! A spectacular new photograph is now on show at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait to celebrate Scotland’s men reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026.
READ MORE
First Footin goes Global with Live Streaming announced from iconic venues
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has announced the event will include live streaming for the first time, opening the New Year’s Day performances to audiences around the world.
READ MORE
Distillers Fair returns for its 25th year at the The Scotch Whisky Experience
This December, The Scotch Whisky Experience invites guests to raise a dram to a quarter-century of discovery as the Distillers’ Fair returns for its 25th year.
READ MORE
National Galleries of Scotland celebrate the return of Surrealism collection
Scotland’s world class collection of surrealist art is back home in Modern One and free to visit from 17th December 2025.
READ MORE
The Johnnie Walker Experience named Europe and The World Leading Spirit Tourism Experience again.
Two in a row: The Johnnie Walker Experience has once again been named Europe and The World’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience at the 2025 World Travel Awards(WTA).
READ MORE
Dynamic Earth Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive Officer
Dynamic Earth is pleased to announce the appointment of Gwilym Gibbons as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a rigorous and far-reaching recruitment process.
READ MORE
Edinburghs Christmas adds themed skating sessions
Edinburgh's Christmas has added new special themed skating sessions to run throughout the season.
READ MORE
Vue Edinburgh Omni set to dazzle with new Laser by Barco technology
Film fans in Edinburgh can now enjoy the latest releases in even greater clarity and colour with the arrival of Laser by Barco projection technology at Vue Edinburgh Omni.
READ MORE
Deer Park backs Livingston FC Community young footballers with kit sponsorship
Deer Park is helping to kickstart the footballing journey of young players by sponsoring new training kits, match kits, and rain jackets for the Livingston FC Community’s 2017 age group.
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events launches The DF Academy
DF Concerts launches the DF Academy to strengthen pathways between education and Scotland's live music & events industry.
READ MORE
Dance Base to celebrate 25th year in Grassmarket home
2026 represents a landmark year for Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, as the organisation celebrates 25 years in its purpose-built home in the heart of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Zoo welcomes second rare sloth bear
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo has welcomed a second male sloth bear, named Rajath.
READ MORE
Innis & Gunn unveils 1875 Arctic Ale in tribute to legendary North Pole expedition
A ‘KNOCK-OUT’ new beer has been unveiled inside an ice sculpture in Edinburgh to celebrate 150 years since the legendary North Pole expedition it was originally brewed for.
READ MORE
National Galleries of Scotland get their skates on to recreate iconic Skating Minister
To celebrate World Ice Skating Day on 14 December, the National Galleries of Scotland got their skates on to recreate one of the most iconic paintings, Sir Henry Raeburn’s Skating Minister.
READ MORE
Everyman presents Nationwide preview screenings of Sentimental Value
See the highly anticipated new comedy drama before anyone else, with preview screenings at Everyman cinemas nationwide.
READ MORE
Enlightenment an Immersive Experience set to transform McEwan Hall in Edinburgh
Swiss art collective PROJEKTIL brings its vivid light and sound show to Edinburgh from 31 January, following acclaimed runs in Glasgow, Liverpool and Leeds
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections unveil major new partnership
Edinburgh International Book Festival and Celtic Connections unveil major new partnership bringing together Scotland's most celebrated writers and musicians!
READ MORE
Hogmanay celebrations at Lost Shore set to kick 2026 off with a bang
Lost Shore Surf Resort, Europe’s largest inland surf destination, is gearing up for a spectacular start to 2026 with a packed programme of festive events.
READ MORE
Chief Executive of The Scotch Whisky Experience awarded highest international honours in the whisky world
The Scotch Whisky Experience is proud to announce that Chief Executive Susan Morrison has been inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame,
READ MORE
DF Concerts & Events celebrates a year of sustainable and inclusive events
DF Concerts & Events is celebrating the success of their sustainability initiatives delivered across their major summer events in 2025.
READ MORE
Isaac McHale and Stuart Ralston Burns Night in Edinburgh
On Sunday 25th January, for one night only, Isaac McHale returns to his native Scotland for a Burns Night dinner with Stuart Ralston at his Michelin-starred Lyla.
READ MORE
Funded Debut Fringe for Scottish comedians returns for 2nd year
Scottish comedy producer Brass Tacks Comedy is once again offering one Scottish or Scotland-based comedian a funded Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut for 2026, supported by Red Bull UK.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links