The place where all those wonderful plants that brighten up our city grow
The Inch Nursery, at Inch Park, is where it all happens – the place where all those wonderful plants that brighten up our city grow. It is also the main centre for horticultural training in the city.
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On an annual basis it produces:
- 240,000 summer bedding plants
- 45,000 plants for the famous floral clock in Princes Street Gardens
- 100,000 winter bedding plants
- 30,000 potted plants prepared for civic events and competitions, including The Royal Highland Show, The Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh festivals
- 10,000 bedding plants for community initiatives.
Any extras are offered at plant sales in May, October and December. They are extremely popular, so watch out for details!
‘Woodhall at The Inch’ is part of Enable Scotland, which works with people with learning difficulties. It offers experience of a real working environment with a view to moving into paid employment.
Enable’s 50th anniversary in 2004 was marked by the motif of the Floral Clock in Princes Street Gardens.
The Inch also offers direct hands-on experience to students from the Scottish Agricultural College in honing their skills in bedding plant propagation and garden design.
It also offers placements to trainees on the Capital Skills landscaping programmes run by the Council.
In 2005, the commitment to training was demonstrated by the reintroduction of Council gardening apprenticeships.
Initially two places are available on a three-year course, which includes pruning, grass cutting and crop husbandry.
During 2006, Inch staff and trainees will be growing, planting and tending the plants that will reintroduce colour to strategic locations in support of Edinburgh’s entry in ‘Scotland in Bloom’.