Centre of Excellence

We want to create a demonstration garden and national Centre of Excellence for therapeutic gardening at the historic grounds of Scone Palace, Perthshire. This flagship site will showcase the power of gardening to transform health and wellbeing, serve as a training and research hub, and inspire thousands of people across Scotland and beyond.

Trellis already supports a network of over 500 therapeutic gardening projects, reaching 14,000 people each week. But demand is growing fast, and there is no central place in Scotland where best practice can be demonstrated, tested, and shared at scale.

The Centre at Scone Palace would:

• Provide a visible and accessible home for therapeutic horticulture, steeped in heritage which we could help regenerate.
• Allow practitioners, health professionals, and policy makers to see and learn first-hand.
• Offer a training and demonstration site for schools, GP practices, care homes, and community groups.

Showcase gardens designed for dementia, disability, recovery, and inclusion.

We are seeking funding for a feasibility study (with the Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners) to define the most effective design, facilities, and partnerships for the Centre. This first stage will include:

• Landscape and site design concepts.
• Consultation with health, social care, and education partners.
• Business planning for a sustainable future model.
• Community engagement to ensure accessibility and relevance.

In parallel, we are building support from funders, partners, and individuals who share our vision. The more backing we gather now, the faster we can move from plans to reality.

• For people in Scotland: access to a world-class demonstration garden where they can see and experience therapeutic gardening in action.
• For practitioners and professionals: a training hub with live examples, practical resources, and opportunities to learn.
• For Trellis and its network: a national focal point that strengthens and expands our ability to support thousands more people through gardening.
• For heritage and tourism: a unique attraction within the grounds of Scone Palace, blending Scotland’s heritage with innovation in health and wellbeing.

• Agreement in principle with Scone Palace to host the Centre.
• Proposal drafted and early engagement with the Heritage Lottery Fund.
• Strong interest from practitioners, health professionals, and community partners.
• A growing base of evidence from our projects in care homes, GP practices, and communities to inform the design.

You can play a vital role in making this Centre of Excellence a reality. Your support will help us:

• Complete the feasibility study and strengthen our case for major funding.
• Build a coalition of funders, partners, and advocates.
• Demonstrate early momentum to accelerate the journey from idea to impact.