A Community Event and a Creative Tribute to Douglas Crescent Gardens
A special event was held at the Hoxton Hotel in early October to celebrate Edinburgh’s West End gardens, bringing together people to share ideas, learn about the history of our green spaces, and celebrate the communities that care for them.
The event was organised by the West End Gardens Group (WEGG) which was founded in July 2024. WEGG brings together the groups responsible for managing the green spaces across Edinburgh’s West End, including our own Douglas Crescent Gardens Association. This community gathering was an opportunity to celebrate these shared spaces and explore the many ways gardens contribute to the character, history and everyday life of our neighbourhoods.
The Event
The event featured short talks from four guest speakers offering a range of perspectives on gardens, horticulture and the importance of green spaces in our city. There was also an opportunity for attendees to socialise and network with fellow garden enthusiasts in the Hoxton’s generous conference spaces.
The afternoon opened with Lezley Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who welcomed attendees and helped set the scene.
Three speakers then shared their expertise on a variety of garden-related topics:
- Terry Levinthal, Edinburgh World Heritage, presented “Rus in Urbe – the role of gardens in Edinburgh’s neo-classical New Town and World Heritage Site”, examining the place of gardens within the city’s distinctive architectural and historical landscape.
- Stuart McKenzie, Edinburgh Allotments, delivered “Allotments – Where Plotters Meet”, celebrating allotments as places where people come together through a shared love of growing.
- Richard Milne, University of Edinburgh, spoke about “Bastard Plants”, offering another intriguing perspective on the world of plants.
Together, the talks highlighted the many ways gardens enrich our city, from preserving its heritage and supporting biodiversity to fostering community connections.
With nearly 80 people attending, the event was a wonderful demonstration of local enthusiasm for green spaces in the West End. It also provided a valuable opportunity for members of different garden groups and the wider community to meet, exchange ideas and celebrate the places that make our neighbourhood special.
DCGA poster competition: six designs become one
A particular highlight of the event was a poster exhibition celebrating each West End garden in the group. The Douglas Crescent Gardens Association saw an opportunity to get its members involved, and invited them to participate in a poster competition.
The posters would celebrate our much-loved garden, its history, the ways people enjoy it, and the role it plays in local life. Participants were given complete artistic licenced and encouraged to incorporate their own ideas and styles to the design.
The response was fantastic, with six amazing poster submissions showcasing the garden through a variety of creative approaches. The designs captured different aspects of Douglas Crescent Gardens, from its greenery and wildlife to the people, stories and community spirit that make it such a special place.
The DCGA Committee faced a difficult decision: every submission had something wonderful to offer, and choosing just one winner proved impossible!
Rather than selecting a single design, the Committee decided to bring all six submissions together into one amazing combined poster. The result celebrates the creativity of everyone who took part and reflects the many different ways people connect with the garden.
The combined poster was displayed as part of the West End gardens exhibition at the Hoxton event, giving attendees the chance to appreciate the range of ideas and artistic talent inspired by Douglas Crescent Gardens.
The project is a lovely example of what community gardens are all about: bringing people together, encouraging participation and creating something special through shared enthusiasm. A huge thank you goes to everyone who submitted a poster and helped make the competition such a success.
