Plants with Purpose

Andrew Lear has been around trees and plants all his life. He trained in tree surgery and horticulture, and went on to work in various parts of England and Scotland. Later, he came across the orchards in Worcestershire and spent a spell on Gigha’s walled garden.

Andrew has always grown fruit trees, and his first introduction to heritage trees was when he instigated the planting of old Scottish varieties at Culzean Castle in 1990.

He now puts 30 years of horticultural knowledge into practice by teaching and advising orchard groups and owners throughout Scotland, and propagating our heritage varieties of fruit.

At the 2019 Festival, Andrew will talk about a range of useful plants for Scottish smallholders that he grows in the nursery and those that are being trialled for a future warmer and wetter Scotland!’