Glamis Castle visitors have been given a taster of a stunning new addition brewing at the ancient landmark.
As the family seat of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne opened for the 2017 in perfect spring weather, early arrivals were met by the witches of Macbeth, huddled around their cauldron in front of the castle.
The Angus castle is home to the eponymous character in Shakespeare’s play, and the witches are the first in what is planned to be a series of carved sculptures from the famous work, using wood from some of the mighty fallen trees on Strathmore estate.
Castle general manager Tommy Baxter said the spectacular woodcraft had been an instant hit with visitors.
“We have a lot of wood from trees which have fallen over the years and decided to try to do something unusual with it, so have come up with the idea of the carvings of characters from Macbeth.
“On they are all completed they will be positioned on a Macbeth trail, hopefully in an area around the pinetum here at Glamis, which is perhaps one of the areas that visitors do not explore as much as other parts of the grounds.
“We put the witches out in front of the castle just to let people see them, and the visitors think they are wonderful,” added Mr Baxter.
Yorkshire-based Neith Art are carrying out the Glamis commission, based at the castle, and head gardener Des Cotton said the project would utilise centuries-old timber from some of the magnificent trees in the grounds.
“We do lose some big trees and we make good use of them around the estate, but it is a shame sometimes just to cut them up for planks and so on.
“I knew the style of Neith Art from having previously seen their work and thought it would fit well with the project, which will take people through the story of Macbeth, starting with the witches.
“Some of the oak trees will be 500-years-old, and the sculptors will also be using Douglas fir, which is younger, but gives a nice link to the pinetum, which was planted when such trees were being discovered and it was fashionable to bring varieties over from North America.
“The witches look striking in front of the castle, but in the area around the pinetum it will be a different feel and we think it will work well,” Des added.
Pinetum’s place in Glamis Castle history
The castle pinetum was planted by the 13th Earl of Strathmore around 1870 with a variety of exotic trees, many of them conifers native to North America.
Following difficulties in maintaining the pinetum after the death of the 14th Earl in 1944, the 18th Earl – Michael Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who passed away in February 2016 – commenced a programme of replanting and restoration.
The Glamis Burn runs close by, flowing into the Dean Water which drains Forfar Loch and flows into the Tay tributary of the River Isla.
Crossing the burn is the Earl Michael Bridge, originally built in 1890, and reopened by the late Queen Mother in 1996 during one of her frequent visits to her childhood home after restoration by the 18th Earl.
