Will you be a Pane in the Glass? The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, affectionately known as The Caley, is crowdfunding for the construction of a new, unheated glasshouse to be built in Saughton Park, Edinburgh, where the charity is based. The Glasshouse will be sited where one previously sat inside the Teaching Garden area of the walled garden and will be used to produce plants for demonstrations, and serve as an educational resource, enabling The Caley to support its charitable aims.  

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society was established in 1809 and has since grown to become Scotland’s national charity for Horticulture and Gardening. The Caley serves its membership and the Scottish gardening community with advice, support, and a range of courses designed to benefit professional and amateur gardening and horticulture.

Based in Saughton Park, Edinburgh, the Caley has members throughout Scotland, as well as international members who join online talks and demonstrations. The Caley run open entry shows, specialist demonstrations, and talks throughout the year to members and non-members, and has plans to expand these in the near future.  

To support the Caley in reaching their funding target, please visit thecaley.org.uk/caley-glasshouse/ for more details.  All donations welcomed. Anyone donating £50 or more can be listed on our ‘Be a Pane in our Glass’ virtual donor page on the Caley Website.  Donations can also be made on the www.mypark.scot webpage, by searching for ‘Saughton Park.’ 

A Bit about The Caley

The Caley still promotes the original intentions of the society, to provide ‘encouragement and improvement of the best fruit, the most choice flowers and the most useful vegetables’.  

Famously, the Caley holds a Spring Daffodil and Bulb show, which attracts entries from members and the general public, as well as entries from schools. In 2022, the Spring Show was featured on the BBC Beechgrove Garden television programme, with Caley Members George Anderson and Calum Clunie contesting over their medal count on the day.  As well as the Spring Show, the Caley is now holding a Primula and Auricula Show, Cacti and Succulent Show, an Autumn Flower Show at Saughton Park and an Apple Day.  Throughout the year, there are a number of workshops and demonstrations given by experts to small groups on a range of practical gardening subjects.  

The gardens at Saughton Park were originally designed as a City of Edinburgh park with horticultural interest in mind, in 1909, by the Superintendent of Parks, John McHattie who was later to become a Caley President.  His design included different garden areas, roses, rock garden, as well as perennials and shrubs. 

Thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, The City of Edinburgh Council, The Caley and The Friends of Saughton Park, the park is once again able to show a broad range of different types of plants and garden areas and is increasingly well known for having all year interest. 

The Caley is run by an elected Council currently under the leadership of President, Colin Ainsworth.  The Caley is delighted to welcome new members and those keen to either support, or benefit from what The Caley has to offer.