West Port Garden

The West Port Garden was initiated by Patrick Geddes in 1909 as one of several gardens in the Old Town to allow slum children to experience nature, green space and gardening. The space was designed by his daughter Norah who was a landscape gardener. And her friend and future sister-in-law Louisa Mears.  It was destined to become the showpiece of Geddes’s six Old Town gardens.

Over the decades the Garden has experienced good times and bad times until rescued by the local community group, GRASS (Grassmarket Residents Association). The Group received the keys to the Garden in 2013.A team of volunteer gardeners care for the garden on a challenging steep slope leading up to the College of Art in partnership with Edinburgh Council.

The Garden has proved to be a vital community resource especially as many residents do not have access to private gardens. Active gardeners grow potatoes and summer salad ingredients in their vegetable boxes while wildlife appreciates the flowering bushes and small pond. The Garden has come into its own during lockdowns as a safe place to enjoy fresh air and to meet people.