By Eric Nicolson

THE £40 million Scotland’s Garden project at Cherrybank in Perth has been abandoned, it was announced yesterday.

Since the Big Lottery decided in October not to award Scotland’s Garden Trust £25 million towards the ambitious Calyx development, the scheme’s backers have been trying to find a way of keeping the Cherrybank dream alive.

But this has proved impossible, and after arriving at the conclusion that the original location is not financially viable without lottery funding, the trust is now exploring options for alternative sites outwith the city, but still in Perthshire.

The decision also means the existing Cherrybank Centre, a popular visitor attraction in itself, will close.

Dr Andrew Cubie, chairman of Scotland’s Garden Trust, said, “It’s hugely disappointing that such a visionary and beneficial proposal has been turned down.

“We have explored every avenue to allow us to continue with the project at Cherrybank, but extremely regrettably, we are being forced to examine all our options and are currently actively exploring whether we can relocate to another site in Perthshire.”

A consultation exercise has already begun with the trust’s six full-time and eight part-time staff.

The Cherrybank Centre, headquarters of the project team, was gifted by Diageo to Scotland’s Garden Trust in 2003 for the purpose of developing the National Garden.

Cherrybank and the six acre Heather Garden, originally part of Diageo’s Bell’s office complex, were to be incorporated in the overall 61 acre Calyx site.

Dr Cubie said, “The majority of the 61 acres was to be leased over 125 years, but this was dependent upon Lottery funding and the lease options are now no longer available to us.

“If the project is to proceed, we now require to find an alternative site and are currently exploring every possible avenue to create this important project.”

The small, stand-alone operation at the Cherrybank Centre does not have a sufficient footfall to provide adequate revenues to maintain the existing operation at Cherrybank and without Lottery funding has no sustainable future.

Alternative ongoing funding options have been considered but none is available to the trust.

Trust chief executive Peter Fairlie said, “The team at Cherrybank have been outstanding and it’s extremely disappointing to everyone involved that without the Lottery funding this site isn’t viable. Our immediate priority task is to ensure our staff are properly and fully consulted.

“Our team were all looking forward so much to the Calyx becoming a reality and had enormous energy and enthusiasm for the project at the Cherrybank site.”

It was hoped the Calyx would be a world leader in terms of design and the experiences offered.

Incorporating the existing Cherrybank Centre and National Heather Collection, it would have spread out for many acres to the west of Perth.

The Calyx building itself was to have housed educational facilities, eateries and cafes, retail space and function suites.

It was designed as the first completely carbon neutral and low energy project in the UK and a world leader in terms of design and construction.

Surrounding the centre would have been themed gardens, offering inspiration and teaching opportunities.

There would have been wildlife gardens, allotments and orchards, children’s activity zones, rockeries and countless other attractions.

It was also envisaged the scheme would bring in £30m a year to the area and create more than 200 jobs.

Calyx was one of 23 entrants vying for a share of £140m available from the Living Landmarks lottery pot.