The Priorwood Garden, Melrose is owned by National Trust Scotland and is known as Scotland's only dedicated dried flower garden. It is a secluded, walled garden and stands in beautiful surroundings close to the rather magnificent 12th century Melrose Abbey.
The venue also provides a well stocked shop and a dried flower museum/workshop.
There is car parking almost opposite in a council car park which includes disabled car parking bays.
You enter the garden via the Priorwood Dried Flower Shop where the entrance tickets are purchased I am not a member of the national trust so I needed to pay – at the time I visited tickets cost £6.50 per adult with Concessions – seniors and students costing £5. I was told that the ticket was a joint ticket so I included in its price was entry to the nearby Harmony Garden. I used my ticket to also visit the Harmony Garden which turned out to be rather nice and my review on that garden will follow.
There is sloped access from the street into the shop. After visiting the shop you move through to the museum/workshop area. Here there are displays showing the history of the garden. I was able to see flowers in the drying process and there were dried flowers and dried flower arrangements for sale. This area leads on to the garden which are around 2 acres.
Seating is provided throughout the garden which is divided into three areas, the flower garden, an orchard and a woodland area. I found it a very pleasant place to sit and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
The pathways throughout the venue are gravelled, with slopes/ ramped areas with rails to enable access for the less mobile and for wheelchairs. I ventured into the woodland area but did not complete the walk as I have some mobility issues and this area although accessible had the least even ground. Although having said this, it is worth pointing out the gardens are all on one level.
Opposite the Garden entrance are cafes and shops on the main street, The Abbey and its grounds are next door and the Harmony Garden just a short walk past the Abbey
At the time of writing this review the opening times are Mon-Fri 10-5 and Sunday 1-5 April to November. Then Nov and December the closing time is 4 pm.
