This year, some green-thumbed new additions to our ranger team brought fresh energy and a passion for growing. With sleeves rolled up, they launched a growing trial to see what could thrive in our current greenhouse space. The goal? To one day supply The Kitchen with fresh, homegrown produce. But first — a little experimenting!
What's been growing?
Starting from seeds, The Park team planted an array of vegetables, all with fingers crossed that they’d survive the famously unpredictable Scottish weather.
From cherry tomatoes to big, juicy salad tomatoes, peas to a variety of chillis, the greenhouse has been awash with colour.
The standout crop this year, you ask? We checked in with Park Ranger David for a success story, and he didn’t hesitate:
“The chilli plants, in particular, have been thriving. So much so, the team can’t eat or give them away fast enough!”
So if you spot a ranger wandering The Park with a bag full of chillis… now you know why!


Also growing...
Less fiery but no less tasty, the team have had great success growing peppery radishes, glossy aubergines, sweet peas, and, coming along nicely, Duke of York potatoes.
Radishes shot up quickly, adding crunch to the mix, while aubergines needed (and still require) a bit more TLC to thrive. Peas have been happily climbing (is there anything better than eating them straight from the pod?), and the potatoes are quietly bulking up underground, promising buttery goodness later in the season.
Final words from Park Manager Ross
He says: “This trial has been a brilliant way to test the waters (and the soil!) for future plans. With dreams of a bigger greenhouse or polytunnel, we’re excited to see how this little project might grow into something even tastier.”
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