Visiting Little Sparta
Why does Brian Taylor's Blog attract reasoned debate on all manner of political issues while my blog inspires the complete lyrics of My Lovely Horse from Father Ted. To be honest, it tickles me that it does inspire that kind of response so thank you - a song far worthier of an Irish Eurovision win than Dustin the Turkey!
To more artistic matters. Like so many people, i've been saying for years I must make a visit to Ian Hamilton Finlay's garden Little Sparta. I've seen umpteen photos and documentaries, but somehow never managed to make it to the garden itself. Well today I got there.
It's only a 45 minute drive from Edinburgh - just short of Dunsyre - but there's a half mile walk up a steep track road which might put some people off. Although I think the biggest deterrent has always been the miminal opening hours - not quite as restrictive as Brigadoon but only three short afternoons a week in the summer.
That's partly because Little Sparta is now owned and run by a trust - a small band of loyal IHF supporters, all juggling their day jobs with running the garden.
But it's also because the Trust can't afford to let too many people into the garden. Already it's showing signs of decay - a number of toppled, moss covered obelisks. And while the sole gardener Ralph and his team of green fingered volunteers do an amazing job, they're fighting quite a battle.
(Ironically really given Ian Finlay Hamilton's long running dispute with Strathclyde Regional Council, first over rates - they regarded it as a commercial concern - and then over planning permission for his Greek temple)
Jessie Sheeler - secretary of the Little Sparta Trust - reckons just maintaining the garden costs around £60,000. On top of that, they really need an endowment fund for the future, to make sure any major works can be dealt with. Fundraising is already ongoing.
Meantime, visitors continue to arrive from as far afield as Australia and Japan and as close as Edinburgh and Aberlady. Their £10 entrance fee a welcome boost to the coffers but not enough to ensure it's future.
There are positive signs though. The hortus conclusus - a medieval walled garden - envisaged by the artist but never completed in his lifetime - has come into bloom. More seeds and new gates will be added later this year. Those who remember IHF's long running battles with the council - or as he described it "the Spartan war" - will recall that was his military headquarters.
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