Ardkinglas Woodland Garden History - Page 2

Michael Noble, grandson of Sir Andrew Noble, became a great Rhododendron enthusiast and the diversity of the collection of this genus increased at Ardkinglas as a result of Michael’s friendships within the horticulture industry and his hybridisation skills. Most notably, a collection of hybrid Rhododendrons arrived by train at the local station from Bodnant Garden, North Wales as a result of Michael’s friendship with the son of Lord Aberconway.

Michael and his elder brother John S B Noble accepted responsibility for Ardkinglas following the death of Sir John Noble in 1938. Michael married the future Lady Glenkinglas, herself a keen plantsperson, and the gardens continued to develop. Lady Glenkinglas, whilst being fond of the Rhododendron collection, was instrumental in broadening the range of plants represented at Ardkinglas.

In 1966 the Estate underwent a division which resulted in the Ardkinglas Woodland Garden being temporarily renamed Strone Woodland Garden. The spectacular growth of a number of the conifers established by the Callander family created much interest in the 1960’s and 1970’s and Lady Glenkinglas used this to raise the profile of the garden.

During the 1980 there was restricted maintenance done on the garden and in 1993 Strone Estate was sold in a number of lots and SJ Noble, who had inherited Ardkinglas, succeeded in buying the Woodland Garden and bringing it back within Ardkinglas Estate. The introduction of a management strategy and employment of an enthusiastic and extremely capable full time gardener resulted in the arrest of the deterioration within the garden and many new plantings.

The death of SJ Noble transferred the ownership of the garden once again but the process of the garden's conservation and development continues.

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