Meet your supervisor
Brian Cunningham has been the Head Gardener at Scone Palace since 2012, but his passion for plants started much earlier—back when he was just nine years old, helping out the greenkeeper at the local bowling club where his mum worked.
After school, Brian followed his growing interest in horticulture by taking up an apprenticeship at Craigtoun Country Park. From there, his career blossomed with roles at some of Scotland’s most prestigious gardens, including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, St Andrews Botanic Garden, and the Backhouse Rossie Estate near Auchtermuchty.
In 2014, Brian had an unexpected turn in the spotlight when Beechgrove Garden came to film a segment at Scone’s Chilli Festival. During the visit, presenter Carole Baxter roped him into a chilli-eating contest—and he’s been a regular face on the show ever since!
Today, Brian leads the ongoing transformation of Scone’s historic walled garden. From formal borders and neatly clipped topiary to blossoming orchards, cut flower beds, and a thriving plant nursery, his work blends tradition with creativity. He’s also passionate about opening the gardens up to the wider community—running practical classes, hands-on workshops, and creating spaces where people can learn, connect, and enjoy locally grown produce.
This course has been newly developed by horticultural and education experts and is made up of six units which cover a wide range of essential horticultural skills and knowledge. They will cover the various disciplines with an emphasis on allowing you to apply what you learn in practical settings, preparing you for employment in the horticultural industry.
UHI Argyll
What will you study?
Production Horticulture
This project-based unit focuses on the production of ornamental, cut flower and edible crops. Covering production planning and the propagation and production of crop plants, as well as IT, finance and marketing in the context of planning a commercial crop.
Maintaining Gardens and Greenspace
You’ll get an introduction into seasonal tasks, machinery and equipment, plant protection issues such as weeds, pests and diseases, maintenance of plants such as nutrition and pruning and maintenance of hard landscape features.
Designing Gardens and Greenspace
This is a project-based unit in the principles of garden design. Covering analysis and creation of plant combinations, garden design drawing skills and costing and implementation of planting plans. You will design a real garden area which could be your own garden, a family member’s garden or an area of a college or public garden.
Plant Biology
You’ll learn about the main structures that develop in the plant life cycle such as germination, the growth of roots and shoots and plant reproduction and give an understanding of the physiological processes that are carried out such as photosynthesis and transpiration.
Social and Community Horticulture
We’ll look at horticulture’s place in society, the value of gardens and green spaces for health and wellbeing, and the benefits of therapeutic horticulture.
Ecology and Environment for Horticulture
How do ecological and environmental issues inform design? How can we maintain and create gardens or green spaces fit for the challenges that an unpredictable future will present? Covering native plant habitats and conservation and sustainability and environmentally friendly production such as organic systems.
About Scone Palace
Scone Palace, just outside Perth, is steeped in Scottish royal history—but its gardens are just as impressive. These grounds are lovingly cared for by Head Gardener Brian Cunningham, who has led the gardening team since 2012. A regular presenter on Beechgrove Garden, Brian is passionate about blending heritage with community involvement.
The Walled Garden is currently being revitalised under his guidance. It features formal borders, topiary, cut flowers, orchards, and a working plant nursery. It also serves as a community hub, offering practical workshops, gardening classes, and locally grown produce.
Beyond the walls, visitors can explore the Pinetum with its giant conifers, peaceful woodland walks, and the David Douglas Trail, which celebrates the famed plant collector born nearby. For families, the Murray Star Maze, made from over 2,000 beech trees, offers fun and fantastic views.
Scone’s gardens are a living, evolving part of Scotland’s cultural landscape—rooted in tradition and thriving under modern care.
A day in the life of our HNC Horticulture students at Scone Palace