| Over
ten years ago the idea
for the Secret Forest
was born. I had been looking
for something to replace
the Bamboo Jungle - one
of Kelburn's most popular
attractions, which came
to an end when the bamboos
died. A hundred yards
or so above Kelburn's
Centre Buildings was a
long-neglected wood, known
as the Wild Wood, which
had become largely impenetrable
due to thick undergrowth
and rhododendrons. It
seemed possible that,
if paths were cut through
the bushes, we could create
a larger and more adventurous
version of the Bamboo
Jungle. In the process
of hacking through the
undergrowth and creating
paths through the Wild
Wood, other ideas began
to suggest themselves.
A particularly wet patch
could become a swamp with
wooden stepping-stones
set in it to make a way
across. And the swamp
could be filled with crocodiles.
A low-lying part of the
Wood suggested a secret
garden with a hidden entrance.
Why not a Chinese Garden?
In another part, the lie
of the land would be suitable
for building an underground
passage. And that led
to the idea of a Castle
with No Entrance - one
that could only be reached
if you could find the
way in. But, if we were
to have underground passages,
why not an overhead walkway
too? And, if we were to
have an overhead walkwa,
why not an enclosed passageway
beneath it? And if we
were going to build one
substantial structure
in one of the clearings,
why not build something
in the other clearings
as well? Weird houses,
dark grottos, high towers? |
One
space was larger than
the others and seemed
an ideal spot to design
a maze. Landowners throughout
history have found mazes
irresistible and it
seemed I was no exception.
Thanks
to the enthusiasm and
financial help of Ayrshire
Enterprise and the imaginative
designs of the architect,
Vernon Gibberd, many
of the ideas for the
Secret Forest have now
been realised. Thanks
also to the many artists
who have contributed
their ideas as well
as their skills to the
project, to Kelburn's
expert joiner, Gavin
Robertson, who is responsible
for several of the structures
and to the undaunted
adaptibility of the
builders, RDK Construction,
some very unusual buildings
and objects have been
constructed on very
awkward sites.
But
the Secret Forest is
never going to be finished.
The Giant's Castle,
which is the largest
and most expensive building
is still incomplete.
Every year will new
features and radical
improvements to some
of the old ones. Like
the trees and shrubs
already here, the man
made structures too
will grow and change.
Year by year the Secret
Forest will give birth
to ever more surprises.
By
the Earl of Glasgow |
