Largo House Horticulture and Landscaping 2019 Community Consultation Conclusions.

Horticultural Vision

Following the 2019 consultation we shared all of the community aspirartions with the owners of Largo Estate to provide a community focus - a honeypot of activities and facilities. Our vision was for a fun, beautiful, appropriate and practical horticultural experience to envelope the Largo House Experience.

Horticulture weaves through the entire project, namely: community involvement, engagement and sustainability, Education and Wellbeing, Commerce, Tourism, and Heritage. It is `integral to the delivery of all of the above. The following is what we shared.

A Largo House development should provide commercial opportunities as well as a community facility and is essential to long term sustainability.

HORTICULTURE AND ITS HISTORICAL CONTEXT

  1. The house and its occupants – restore some of original plans/plants. Work to stabilise ruins – backdrop for plantings
  2. The immediate gardens including restoring the Sir Andrew Woods canal
  3. The links to the area where Alexander Selkirk grew up - The Robinson Crusoe story

HORTICULTURE AND TOURISM

  1. Robinson Crusoe: – potential exotic island jungle effect
  2. East Neuk Garden Gate(way):- A reflection and celebration of the great gardens of the East Neuk of Fife and to signpost where to go
  3. Performance area - www.discoverscottishgardens.org

HORTICULTURE AND TOURISM LOCAL (SEASONAL)

  1. Performance / exhibition area
  2. Space to be – inside and out
  3. Teaching (public, children & professional) space/consideration inside and out

HORTICULTURE AND COMMUNITY

  1. Involve in every aspect from restoring the gardens to inspiring and feeding the locals…and just be a pleasant place to come for a walk - www.braehead.org

HORTICULTURE AND PRODUCE

  1. Supply own and local catering
  2. Supply locals directly
  3. Allotments - www.sags.org.uk

HORTICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY

  1. Low tech, eg composting, green roofs
  2. High tech, eg PV panels - www.cat.org.uk

HORTICULTURE AND HEALTH & WELLBEING

  1. www.trellisscotland.org.uk

GARDENS COULD PROVIDE FLEXIBLE SPACE FOR THE FOLLOWING:

  1. Restoration projects, buildings and gardens
  2. Outdoor and indoor “classroom” – facilities for children and adults - www.schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/home
  3. Health and Wellbeing – engagement with trellis - www.trellisscotland.org.uk
  4. Easy Access – path network, road crossings, parking and cycle access
  5. Food source – Community and on-site catering
  6. Spectacle – old and new - restored gardens new plantings and vistas; show gardens; seasonal gardens and gateway to the East Neuk
  7. Opportunity to embrace renewables
  8. Be fun and provide space for you to be whatever you want to be
  9. Easy Access – path network, road crossings, parking and cycle access

Community Consultation Comments on Horticulture

A selection of comments from interested individuals between September 2018 and January 2019.

  • Wild flower rich meadow. Can be cut for hay
  • Wildlife friendly garden. No pesticides. Encouraging pollinating insects.
  • The old orchard would lend itself to a fruitful community orchard. A supply for bees in hives for Largo honey.
  • Self-guided mindfulness walks, nature interpretation and nest boxes.
  • Restoration of walled garden and creation of allotments.
  • "Jam Hut" - either musically or of the strawberry variety.

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