In 2008 a Shetland croft garden won a gold medal at Chelsea. It included 20 tonnes of Lewisian gneiss stone from the island of Yell and was designed by Martin Anderson, a regular visitor to Shetland, in aid of the Motor Neurone Association.
When we stayed in North Roe in 2009 we were surprised to find the Chelsea winner transported to the walled cemetery of the Church of Scotland kirk on the South Haa. The garden had been reconstructed, using more of the red stone common in the North Mavine area, and permanently planted in North Roe. When we visited again last week we discovered that the garden is still there and has been extended to take over the whole walled area and become a community garden growing flowers and vegetables and providing opportunities for local children to have hands-on gardening experience.
Summer in Shetland 