The Wild Mountain Garden at CairnGorm Mountain
The original mountain garden was created by Ben Humble MBE back in the 1960's. In his latter years Ben was a volunteer instructor at Glenmore Lodge and tended the garden himself until the mid 1970's. Sadly, the garden suffered from his absence. However, in 2001 the old chairlifts were replaced by the mountain railway and with support from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Cairngorms Partnership the original garden was given a new lease of life and the area enlarged. The new garden was opened by Andrew Thin - the Convenor for the Cairngorms National Park Authority - on the 26th June 2003.
The mountain wildlife is found in distinct zones from the valley floor to the high plateau. The ecological communities become increasingly older the higher up the mountain you get. Those of us fit enough and properly equipped can experience plants and native wildlife unchanged since glaciers last shaped this landscape.
Climbing the mountain is a bit like going back in time.
The Wild Mountain Garden has recreated these habitat zones for your easy enjoyment. Visitors of all abilities and ages can now experience the native plants of this mountain range within the garden itself. Throughout the summer months volunteer gardeners tend the plants and they are available and happy to answer your questions or show you around.
Mountain Woods
also known as montane scrub or submontane zone Cairn Gorm's lower slopes have some of the highest natural tree regeneration in the UK. Twisted, stunted and deformed by the weather these trees are slowly advancing back up the mountain. Dwarf trees ad low lying shrubs once linked the forest and open hillside. As you look around today the natural appearance to the landscape is beginning to return and with it the diversity of wildlife is increasing. This area is recreated around the mountain garden boundary.
The Low Mountain Zone
is found above the natural tree line and is represented by the middle terrace in the garden. At altitudes of between 650-900m dwarf shrub and moss-heaths become dominant. The higher Coire walls have specialist plant communities clinging on to rock faces and ledges. Wind is a major influence, shaping plants, ridges and soils slowly over time.. Blanket bogs provide food sources which in turn support populations of rarer birds like Ptarmigan and Dotterel. Lichen anchored to boulders develop very slowly and can be hundreds of years old. Wet flushes near where water springs emerge can concentrate nutrients, helping plants like saxifrage flourish. These wetter areas often have bright green vivd colours which contrast against the browner tones of surrounding vegetation.
The Plateau and Mountain Summits
This area is influenced by extreme weather exposure. Dominated by sedges,mosses and mountain grasses, the existence of these plant communities is often fragile. Late lying snowbeds sometimes last all year becoming a haven for insects. These snowbeds maintain water sources during warmer periods when plants on the plateau can often experience drought conditions. It is these habitats at higher elevations that are threatened most by climate change.
The garden sits at 650m above sea level and is, we believe, one of the highest tended gardens in the UK. Located just above the Base Station at the Coire Cas car park it is home to some of the rarest plant species in the UK. Much of the original re planting work was undertaken by local school children and overseen by the Cairngorm Rangers and since 2006 the garden has benefited greatly by the work of resident gardener - Slavka. The garden showcases the plants found in the surrounding mountains and to see similar habitats you would have to travel over two thousand miles north to Arctic Norway.
Pictures of many of the plants that are growing in the garden can be found in our Flickr Gallery - Click Here!
