Lighthouse Keepers’ Garden

Follow our progress on the transformation of the walled garden at the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. The Mull of Galloway Trust, South Rhins Community Development Trust and RSPB Scotland are the team behind this transformation with help from local volunteers.

The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse was first lit on 26th March 1830. The keepers and their families who lived at the Lighthouse would have grown vegetables in this garden and kept hens and other animals. The garden has been unused since 1988 when the Lighthouse became automated and the last keepers left. We decided to bring the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse Keepers’ Garden back to life again and our work commenced in March 2016.

The Mull of Galloway Trust were awarded £2,500 from Grow Wild for the Lightkeepers’ Garden Project.You can follow our progress on the Grow Wild Website.

Grow Wild is an exciting four-year campaign to bring people and communities together to sow, grow and support UK native wild flowers. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund and led by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Grow Wild aims to inspire people to get together to transform unloved urban sites, gardens and windowsills into wildlife-friendly wild flower patches.

Plans include the creation and maintenance of a living willow sculpture in the Lightkeepers’ Garden. RSPB Scotland has provided some funding and the help of two volunteers twice a week. There are raised vegetable beds to enable visitors to see how traditional local vegetables grow. A small play area for children will be created and lots of bug hotels. Staff and pupils from Drummore Primary School, Kirkmaiden Sunday School and local volunteers are enjoying being involved.

If you would like to become involved or if you would like any information about this project please contact us on 01776 840554 or send an email. You can also keep up to date with our progress on Facebook.

May 2018 – the 6 vegetable boxes in the garden are adopted by local residents.