The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society - The Caley

15/05/2026

Congratulations to our Honorary President on his new role 👏

We’re delighted to announce David Knott as our new Director of Horticulture. 🌿

David has been a key figure at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for almost 40 years, and brings exceptional expertise, leadership and passion to our four gardens.

Throughout his career, he’s held leadership roles across our gardens, including Curator of RBGE’s Living Collection, Curator of Dawyck Botanic Garden, and Supervisor at Logan Botanic Garden. He’s a leading voice in the sector and is the Honorary President of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and Chair of the Scottish Branch of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.

We look forward to the next chapter as David joins our Executive team and helps drive forward our world-leading work in conservation science and horticulture.

14/05/2026

The Meconopsis Group are holding a free event here at Saughton all about Meconopsis Conservation. The day starts at 11am with a mix of talks, demonstrations and videos. All are welcome, no need to book.

01/05/2026

‘The Conservation of Meconopsis in Cultivation’.

There will be talks, videos and demonstrations. The day starts at 11am and is free to attend. All are welcome. More information and the running order of the day can be found here: https://thecaley.org.uk/event/the-conservation-of-meconopsis-in-cultivation/

30/04/2026

Our virtual show bench is live! Swipe through and tell us: which of these Auricula types gets your vote? Drop the name in the comments 👇

And if you can’t get enough of these little beauties then come along to the show this Sunday afternoon to see a whole lot more! 12 - 4pm, McHattie Room, Saughton Park, EH11 3HR

28/04/2026

Coming up this Sunday we have our annual Auricula & Primula Show. It might be smaller than our Spring Show but it's no less special!

You can either enter your own plants or just come along to see some spectacular displays of these delicate blooms close up. The show is free and open to all.

We'll also have Caley grown plants available for sale too.

More information and the schedule can be found here: https://thecaley.org.uk/auricula-and-primula-show/

24/04/2026

Looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors and meet new people? 🌱
Join our free gardening and nature sessions in parks in Leith!

No experience needed – just bring your enthusiasm (and maybe don’t mind a bit of mud!)

🌼 Next session: Wildflower meadow creation at North Junction Street Park with the TCV Scotland!
🗓️ Friday 1 May | 11am–1pm
📧 If you would like to get involved - email Marie at the Caley at [email protected]

📍 These events are being run by The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society - The Caley at North Junction Street Park, Mill Lane Park and Dalmeny Street Park as part of the Edinburgh Nature Network.

🔗 Find out more via the link https://www.thrivinggreenspaces.scot/enn

23/04/2026

Join fellow Caley members for an exclusive tour of the historic Floors Castle Gardens on Wednesday 1st July 2026 with Head of Gardens, Kate McClorey.

The gem of the Scottish Borders, Floors Castle is the centrepiece of the stunning Roxburghe Estate and members will be treated to this exclusive Caley tour of the four acre walled garden, Victorian glasshouses (which include a peach house and vinery,) and the French-style Millenium Parterre. The herbaceous borders be in full bloom with peonies and delphiniums spilling over and Kate will share stories of the work involved to lovingly restore these billowing borders over the past five years.

Our special members’ event runs on 1st July from 10:30am-12.30pm. To book this exclusive Caley members’ event, click the link in our bio. Places are reserved for a nominal fee of £10, with a £5 donation from each ticket going to Maggies.

The Terrace Cafe and Courtyard Cafe will be open for lunch and you are welcome to stay on and wander the wider grounds after the tour.

We look forward to you joining us on our second Caley members’ garden visit of 2026.

17/04/2026

Ever wondered why some gardens are buzzing with life while yours feels a little…quiet? You don’t need a large estate or a degree in ecology to make a difference.

Join our Beginner’s Guide to Wildlife Gardening workshop! We’re stripping away the jargon and showing you exactly how to invite all different kinds of wildlife into your space.

You’ll learn about:

* how to provide food, water and shelter
* choosing the right plants for our pollinators
* why ‘untidy’ gardening can be better for the planet

Date: 25th April
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Location: Caley Glasshouse, Saughton Park, Edinburgh, EH11 3HR
Cost: £20 for Caley members, £25 for non members

Booking link in bio and comments

13/04/2026

This talk uses the story of the seventeenth-century tulip mania to explore a simple question: what does it mean to value something?
Looking at what really drives value, and why it is not just about the price we pay, but also about psychology, social context and the stories we tell ourselves. All welcome to this free talk happening at Saughton this coming Sunday afternoon

07/04/2026

More daffodils to see at Greenbank Garden this week 🤩