The gardens were not left unscathed this weekend as Storm Boelo blew through. We sadly lost two trees: a rowan on the top path across from #2 DC and another quite large tree which is currently blocking the middle path just west of the daffodil bank (image). The rowan has already been cleaned up – big thanks to Ian for coming out on a Sunday morning to help! The tree on the middle path will require more planning to clear. Please treat this area with caution. We advise considering the middle path inaccessible at this point and highly recommend to use other routes instead. Thanks for your patience while the Committee organises its removal.
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.
The severely damaged black Cannondale bicycle, which has been locked to the garden fence across from 9 DC for well over a month, has been reported to the council for investigation and ideally removal. As a reminder, the garden fence is listed and bicycles should not be locked to it to help preserve them. Please see Practical Information > Bicycles for information on how to access the Velobox bicycle storage lockers on our street.
The DCGA Committee are pleased to announce a poster competition celebrating our beloved community garden.
Participants are invited to create a poster highlighting our garden, its community, its history, and the role it plays in local life. An A2-sized template and guidance on the required content will be provided; however, all aspects of the visual design and presentation are left entirely to the creator.
While every poster submitted will be published on the DCGA website, one poster, selected by the DCGA Committee, will be displayed as part of an exhibition of West End gardensat an event at the Hoxton Hotel in early October.
Those wishing to participate should contact Lucas Nightingale directly to be added to the DCG Poster Competition Mailing List and receive further information.
Submission deadline: Friday 18 September at 23:59.
We invite all garden members to take this opportunity to celebrate Douglas Crescent Gardens through creativity and design.
Notice to all garden users that our historical beech hedge is due for its annual trim week commencing 17 August 2026. Please use caution and proper judgement when the workers are actively trimming, particularly dog owners, to help keep everyone safe.
Following on from the 2026 Doggie Bonanza, which was a stellar success as usual, reminder that Douglas Gardens are available for members to use for your own small gatherings. Please review the guidelines for responsible usage and let a member of the Committee know so we can support you with planning and scheduling.
Read the welcome letter to garden users written by your new 2026/27 Garden Committee Chair, Alan Sibbald. You can find his letter here: About DCGA > DCGA Committee > Committee Activities
