INCHTURE: THE GLORIOUS REDWOODS
The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group welcomes you to Inchture and the gateway to the Patrick Matthew Memorial Trail and his “Redwood Legacy”. This QR Code has been kindly sited by the Woodland Trust Scotland’s existing interpretation board.
Pupils from St Madoes Primary School have also been collaborating on the aspect of the redwoods, and how the Matthew family were the first to bring the seeds to Britain, specifically the Carse of Gowrie
The Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group welcomes you to Inchture and the gateway to the Patrick Matthew Memorial Trail and his “Redwood Legacy”. This QR Code has been kindly sited by the Woodland Trust Scotland’s existing interpretation board.
Pupils from St Madoes Primary School have also been collaborating on the aspect of the redwoods, and how the Matthew family were the first to bring the seeds to Britain, specifically the Carse of Gowrie
Photograph 1. Inchture Redwood Avenue. Weecritters, 2015. Blipfoto
In the 18th and 19th Centuries ‘plant hunters’ & adventurers’ were fiercely competitive “What motivated the plant hunters was not personal gain – very few became rich – or even fame. Their names, commemorated in the plants they bequeathed to us, are only really familiar to keen gardeners. Their driving force was a passion for their subject.” (Summersley, 2012). Scot, David Douglas was the first to bring back the ‘Douglas Fir’ to Scotland in 1827 (Forestry Commission, 2017). As Head Garderner, at Scone Palace Douglas would have no doubt had contact with Patrick Matthew’s who was born at Rome Farm of the Scone Palace estate. Matthew was the first to receive and cultivate the redwood, sequoiadendron giganteum, and his legacy is dotted across the Carse landscape.
The seeds arrived from Matthew’s two sons, John and Charles, who were in California during the gold rush and came across the redwood glades. So astounded by these majestic trees they collected branches and seeds and sent them to their father, with a letter:
The seeds arrived from Matthew’s two sons, John and Charles, who were in California during the gold rush and came across the redwood glades. So astounded by these majestic trees they collected branches and seeds and sent them to their father, with a letter:
Excerpts of a letter from John Matthew to his father. dated Jamestown Tuolumne county, Alta California, July 10 1853 (Sutton, 2017)
Patrick Matthew received the seeds in August 1853. Ambitious plant hunter, “the feverish William Lobb, racing back to England in the autumn of 1853, knew he held the raw material of a legend” on seeing redwoods for the first time (National Trust, 2016). His seeds arrived in Exeter, at the Veitch’s Nursery, in December 1853, five months later than John Matthew’s. Yet the Gardener’s Chronicle neglected an earlier letter staking Patrick Matthew’s family claim to ne first to import seeds and propogate those treea and Lobb received the glory (Sutton, 2017). It was buried in the historic literature but, thirteen years later, the credit was finally given
Excerpt from the Gardeners Chronicle & New Horticulturist 1866 Volume 26 pp1191
Patrick Matthew’s known trees are at Megginch Castle (5), Inchrya House (1), Gourdiehill (2) and Ballindean (2). The trees at the Inchture ‘Avenue’, the 31 tree row at Errol Parkhouse and the many others dotted about the landscape are not fully identified as Matthew trees but are highly likely to be from the Californian seeds from 1883.
Junior Carsonians from Inchture Primary School
The Junior Carsonians (JCs) from Inchture Primary School have contributed to the project with research and artwork for the Patrick Matthew Memorial Weekend Exhibition with regards the majestic redwood. It is close to home for the pupils as their school is located beside the large avenue of trees and having a number of Sequoiadendrum Giganteum, in their school playground. Recently there has been confirmation that Patrick Matthew had been the first person to bring seeds of these fantastic trees into Britain in August 1853.
Junior Carsonians from Inchture Primary School
The Junior Carsonians (JCs) from Inchture Primary School have contributed to the project with research and artwork for the Patrick Matthew Memorial Weekend Exhibition with regards the majestic redwood. It is close to home for the pupils as their school is located beside the large avenue of trees and having a number of Sequoiadendrum Giganteum, in their school playground. Recently there has been confirmation that Patrick Matthew had been the first person to bring seeds of these fantastic trees into Britain in August 1853.
Original artwork by Inchture Primary School. 2017.
The JCs from Errol Primary School focused on the 31 Redwood Row’ located in Errol Park Estate. Thought be to planted about 1875, when the new grand house was built, after the old one was destroyed by fire (Errol Park, 2016).
The Errol JCs were able to access research information ‘Of Seeds and Saplings: A Race to Plant the Giant Trees of Tay’ by John Oates (2016). Information and images were generously provided by Peggy Edwards an American botanical and natural science illustrator and an expert of the ‘Giant Redwoods’.
The Errol JCs were able to access research information ‘Of Seeds and Saplings: A Race to Plant the Giant Trees of Tay’ by John Oates (2016). Information and images were generously provided by Peggy Edwards an American botanical and natural science illustrator and an expert of the ‘Giant Redwoods’.
Photograph 2: 31 Redwood Row at Errol park Estate. Photograph provided by Fiona Ross.
Whilst, the 31 redwood row was planted about a year after Matthew’s death, in 1875, as cultivation can take up to five years (Minnick, 2016) for a tree, it is feasible that they are from Matthew stock, but this is not known for sure
Junior Carsonians
Since March 2015 the Junior Carsonians undertook the following aspects of Patrick Matthew’s life and his descendants. Although given the area through discussion, the response is very much that of their own making with support by staff in the schools and sources provided by members of the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group. They also were able to access information from members of their local community.
The display is very much their own work and involved
All of the work undertaken by the JCs is shared in a range of ways with the wider audience of the their school community – displays, talks, presentations at assemblies and discussion with peers. Abernyte School produced the project’s logo.
Junior Carsonians
Since March 2015 the Junior Carsonians undertook the following aspects of Patrick Matthew’s life and his descendants. Although given the area through discussion, the response is very much that of their own making with support by staff in the schools and sources provided by members of the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group. They also were able to access information from members of their local community.
The display is very much their own work and involved
- Researching primary and secondary sources
- Oral histories
- Using technology to download images
- Accessing information given by experts in the field
- Discussion with peers and staff
All of the work undertaken by the JCs is shared in a range of ways with the wider audience of the their school community – displays, talks, presentations at assemblies and discussion with peers. Abernyte School produced the project’s logo.
Pupils at Abernyte School, 2017
The work is set within the context of Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes and Skills for Learning and Skills for Life. The JC’s collective work, is being presented at the Junior Carsonian Exhibition during the Patrick Matthew Memorial Weekend at Errol Village Hall – Saturday 30th September – 1st October 10am-4pm.
The piece of the puzzle for QR 5 (Inchture) in the Patrick Matthew Trail is SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM
For more information about the weekend visit www.carsesus.org or
Facebook at Patrick Matthew Festival Weekend@PMFestivalWeekend
or by email to carsesus@btinternet.com
This project was hosted by the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The piece of the puzzle for QR 5 (Inchture) in the Patrick Matthew Trail is SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM
For more information about the weekend visit www.carsesus.org or
Facebook at Patrick Matthew Festival Weekend@PMFestivalWeekend
or by email to carsesus@btinternet.com
This project was hosted by the Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
References
Photographs:
Photograph 1. Inchture Redwood Avenue. Weecritters, 2015. Blipfoto
Available at https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2023871876131983098
Photograph 2: 31 Redwood Row at Errol park Estate. Photography provided by Fiona Ross.
Bibliography:
Errol Park House: Gardens. 2017. Available at http://www.errolpark.co.uk/house/gardens
Forestry Commission. Douglas Fir. 2017. Available at http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/activities/trees/tree-species/douglas-fir
Minnick, H. From a conversation at Megginch Castle on 28.09.17
Summerly, V. The Plant Hunters: Adventurers who transformed our gardens would put Indiana Jones to shame. 2012. Available at http://www.independent.co.uk/enviornment/nature/the-plant-hunter-adventurers-who-transformed-our-gardens-would-put-indiana-jones-to-shame-7936364.html
Sutton, M. Excerpts from a letter from John Matthew to his father. Dated Jamestown Toulumne county, Alta California, July 10 1853, 2017. Available at http://patrickmatthew.com/The%20Matthew%20Redwoods.html
The piece of the puzzle for QR 5 (Inchture) in the Patrick Matthew Trail is SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM
Photographs:
Photograph 1. Inchture Redwood Avenue. Weecritters, 2015. Blipfoto
Available at https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2023871876131983098
Photograph 2: 31 Redwood Row at Errol park Estate. Photography provided by Fiona Ross.
Bibliography:
Errol Park House: Gardens. 2017. Available at http://www.errolpark.co.uk/house/gardens
Forestry Commission. Douglas Fir. 2017. Available at http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/activities/trees/tree-species/douglas-fir
Minnick, H. From a conversation at Megginch Castle on 28.09.17
Summerly, V. The Plant Hunters: Adventurers who transformed our gardens would put Indiana Jones to shame. 2012. Available at http://www.independent.co.uk/enviornment/nature/the-plant-hunter-adventurers-who-transformed-our-gardens-would-put-indiana-jones-to-shame-7936364.html
Sutton, M. Excerpts from a letter from John Matthew to his father. Dated Jamestown Toulumne county, Alta California, July 10 1853, 2017. Available at http://patrickmatthew.com/The%20Matthew%20Redwoods.html
The piece of the puzzle for QR 5 (Inchture) in the Patrick Matthew Trail is SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM
