The former head gardener at Bell’s Cherrybank Gardens has died at the age of 70.
Norman “Norrie” Robertson was born on December 12 1944, the second of Mina and Bob Robertson’s two sons.
He was brought up at Megginch Lodge near Errol and Flawcraig, Rait, and attended Kinnaird Primary School and Errol Secondary School.
After leaving school he served his apprenticeship as a landscape gardener and gained extensive experience. In 1976 he joined Bell’s Scotch Whisky at Cherrybank as head gardener.
By 1982 around 45,000 shrubs and 1,200 trees had been planted in the gardens. A seven-acre extension was added in 1984 and in 1988 they became the National Heather Centre, show- casing more than 900 varieties of heather the largest collection in the UK.
It had been Mr Robertson’s idea to offer Cherrybank as the twin for the National Heather Centre at Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate and it was a great success.
He became known for his gardening expertise, and featured on TV on the Beechgrove Garden, Gardeners’ World and Over the Garden Wall.
He was also involved with Perth in Bloom, serving on the committee and was there when they won many awards.
In the last 10 years, Mr Robertson had travelled far and wide visiting South Africa, Canada, Alaska, Panama and Australia.
In his younger days he enjoyed trout fishing and won many trophies. Later in life he turned to bowling, playing with the Scone Park Recreational Club and also Perthshire Bowling Association.
His daughter Fiona said: “Norrie was a much-loved husband, father, grand-father, brother, brother-in-law, nephew, son-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend. ”
Mr Robertson is also survived by his son Murray and granddaughter Emily.