Latest news with #EdenProjectScotland
STV News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Power of Scotland's gardens and their future explored through exhibition
Gardens of the past, present, and future are being explored in a new exhibition at the V&A Dundee. It aims to take visitors on an 'illuminating journey' through key moments of inspiration and innovation in gardens and garden design, from the 20th century to the present day, and looking to the future of gardens. The exhibition includes examples of 'ground-breaking' gardens by visionaries, including Piet Oudolf, Mien Ruys, Derek Jarman, and Eden Project Scotland. Garden Futures says they consider the garden as much more than a place to retreat, but an outdoor laboratory where ideas for a more sustainable future can be tried and tested. It contains a collection of design objects, paintings, textiles, sculpture, interior design, fashion, drawings, and photographs. STV News Gardens past, present and future explored at new exhibition in Dundee Hoping to show visitors how the enduring allure of gardens influences artists, writers, and designers such as Jamaica Kincaid, Duncan Grant, and William Morris. Community-led projects in Scotland, including Oban's Seaweed Gardens will feature alongside work by Charles Jencks and the garden designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd at Maggie's Centre, Dundee, also feature. The exhibition also aims to 'look ahead', revealing insights into the power of gardens and how outdoor spaces can be part of a greener, fairer, and more joyful future. Garden Futures: Designing with Nature is an exhibition by the Vitra Design Museum, the Wüstenrot Foundation, and the Nieuwe Instituut. The exhibition opens on Saturday, May 17, with tickets priced at £7.50-£16. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Courier
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
First look at new V&A Dundee exhibition Garden Futures ahead of big opening
The Courier has been given a sneak peak of Garden Futures: Designing with Nature – a major exclusive exhibition opening at V&A Dundee on Saturday May 17 and running until January 25 next year. The exhibition delves into how garden design impacts us all in useful and joyful ways. Impacts range from providing food through kitchen gardens and the resurgent allotment movement, to inspiring beautiful designs and artworks. These range from William Morris to contemporary videogames. Entering the main exhibition space, the first thing that strikes is a huge 'taxonomy of tools' display. Meanwhile, on the adjacent wall, there are giant photographs of allotment holders. From there, it's on through a range of immersive exhibits. Self-watering origami pots made from recycled ocean marine plastic capture the imagination in the sustainably-minded 'garden of ideas'. Here, there's also a giant screen showing a violent Saharan sandstorm. It's a reminder that gardens can exist in all manner of environments and at all scales. Lampshades made of wheatgrass roots and ash trees grown into chairs open the mind to the concept of 'living' functional furniture. Meanwhile, a collage called the 'Parliament of Plants' poses the topical environmental question – what if non-human lifeforms were involved in our decision-making processes? Dundee is well represented amongst the UK and international exhibits. These range from the Maxwell Community Garden to the Biome Collective with their videogame that allows players to create a virtual musical garden. A spotlight on the garden at Maggie's Dundee, created by Arabella Lennox-Boyd, demonstrates how healing through nature in a peaceful and reflective garden can be an integral part of a cancer care centre. One of the most eye catching and must see Dundee elements is the concept artwork for Eden Project's 'Great Living Wall' of Dundee which will feature in the new Eden Project Scotland. The plan is for the long south wall of the former gasworks site at East Dock Street to become a vertical ecosystem of climbing plants, flowers for pollinators and wildlife shelters. While there's still lots to be done before the landmark £130 million Eden Project Dundee comes to fruition, this element of the exhibition brings the eco attraction another step towards reality in the minds of visitors. Overall, this exhibition is an immersive, thought provoking, sensory experience that brings home the message that gardens and design are integral to life at all levels, from food production to textiles to video games. Gardens can range from a window box to a vast estate. Yet functional garden designs can also be art in themselves. More than 400 objects are on display in this vibrant and colour-filled exhibition. They are brought to life through light, sound, texture and a garden scent trail, including the fragrances of rose, jasmine and narcissus. Visitors are taken on a journey from Persian garden paradises to the sustainable Oban Seaweed Gardens. The exhibition, which, includes Dior menswear inspired by the garden at Charleston in Sussex, also digs up stories of gardens through time, including creating sanctuaries and empowering communities and individuals to find peace and hope in times of adversity. Meanwhile, Monty Don has created a podcast while Courier columnist Brian Cunningham, aka, the Ginger Gairdner, is an ambassador, with events planned later in the year. Garden Futures: Designing with Nature runs from May 17 until January 25 at V&A Dundee. To book tickets, visit
The Courier
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
Eden Project attraction will be 'economic dynamo' for Dundee
Eden Project Dundee has the potential to be an 'economic dynamo' that will bring billions of pounds into the region, according to its chief executive Eden Project Scotland, on the site of the old gasworks on East Dock Street, is still several years away from opening the eco attraction. Before building can begin, designs need finalised and a main contractor appointed. And then there's the small matter of raising tens of millions of pounds. Speaking exclusively to The Courier on a visit to Dundee, chief executive Andy Jasper doesn't underestimate the fundraising challenge – but said the economic impact will make it a 'no brainer'. He said the project was rapidly moving towards stage four of the design stage – moving from a concept to a detailed design. Planning permission was approved last summer. A contractor will then be commissioned which will then make the final budget clearer. However, he expects the cost to exceed the £130 million previously reported. He said: 'We expect it to be above that (£130m). 'This is dependent on fundraising and us being able to secure the funds for Dundee. 'We've got a fair idea of where that's coming from, but it's all needing to happen in stages. 'We are always working on fundraising. It's a huge challenge but it's a strong partnership in Dundee and everyone we talk to is fully committed. 'Public money is very, very tight but the benefits are what we have to keep your eye on. 'An attraction like this will attract more business in the area. We can see billions of pounds coming into Scotland because of Eden Project, which makes this a no-brainer. 'With Eden Project Cornwall, £2.2 billion pounds has come into the local region economy over the last 20 years. 'It benefits accommodation, restaurants, ice cream shops, hairdressers, taxi drivers. It's a huge economic dynamo. 'That's what's driving me. I'm all into the gardens, but the really exciting element is the impact it will have.' Mr Jasper said there would be a focus on sustainability and local when it comes to building and running Eden. He adds: 'Our principal will be local, local, local. Locally distinctive, local in terms of mileage of goods coming in. 'When we are looking for contractors we will be looking at everything to do with sustainability and local employment, where to source the materials. 'We will need a huge amount of soil for the site and it would be crazy to source that from 150 miles away.' The Eden team expects to move into a temporary home in Dundee later this year. This will also be used to engage with the community about the plans. This month John Pye will join Eden Project and will act as project director for the Dundee project. He recently delivered the Weston Walled Garden in Bridgewater for the Royal Horticultural Society. The team is also continuing with its engagement work with schools. Mr Jasper said he was encouraged by the excitement in the city about Eden Project. He said: 'Dundee is one of the most up-and-coming cities – you can see the change that's happened just since the V&A has come here. 'When I talk to people in Dundee they're all so proud of the change that's happening, and they see Eden Project accelerating that. 'For me, the site is just a fantastic story. A brownfield site, dereliction, a place that is really difficult to imagine being a beautiful garden. 'The restorative value that developing this will have on Dundee is just going to be off the charts.'
