Another Green World

Another Green World: Linn Botanic Gardens, Encounters with a Scottish Arcadia is a beautiful new book on one of Scotland's most impressive botanical gardens located on the Rosneath Peninsula, just a short drive from Cove Park.

Since encountering Linn during her residency at Cove Park in 2011, artist Alison Turnbull has worked with award-winning writer Philip Hoare on realising the publication. Alison's photographs and drawings and Philip's essay in the book are complemented by local photographer Ruth Clark's stunning images of the Gardens.

Cove Park have a limited number of books available for sale on our website and for this weekend only from the Cove & Kilcreggan Book Festival 2015. Proceeds from the sale of each book purchased from us will be donated to Linn Botanic Gardens.

Another Green World in the press

'A beautifully crafted artwork.'
Timothy Mowl, Times Higher Education, 5 November 2015

'The book is a unique representation of the garden's place in the landscape... A work of art in itself.'

Marianne Taylor, The Herald, 24 October 2015

'Linn Botanic Gardens: A Scottish Arcadia - in pictures'
Philip Hoare, The Guardian, 15 October 2015

Cove Park and Linn Gardens, Alison Turnbull, October 2015

'Artists find a Cove Park residency inviting because it comes with no specific requirements or rules of engagement - other than the opportunity for ‘inspired thinking’.

I arrived at Cove Park in the summer of 2011 with the intention of developing a new group of paintings and drawings.  Little did I realise that there, on its doorstep, I would also discover a unique and idiosyncratic botanic garden that would prompt me to new ways of working and lead to a collaboration with a writer, a photographer and an ecologist - not to mention two botanists, Jim Taggart and his son Jamie, the creators – and curators – of Linn Botanic Gardens.

These encounters resulted in the publication Another Green World - Linn Botanic Gardens published by Art/Books in association with Cove Park, designed by A Practice For Everyday Life and generously funded by Creative Scotland.

Working on the book has been an absorbing experience. After Jamie’s tragic disappearance in Vietnam in 2013 we decided – with Jim’s blessing – to continue with the project. If Another Green World – the book, and the exhibition that accompanies it at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh – help in some small way to safeguard the future of Linn Gardens, it will give me great satisfaction.'

Another Green World is published by Art/Books and supported by Creative Scotland and Historic Scotland. 

Its official! 'Construction of Cove Park's new Artist Centre begins'

Today we announced our delight that the construction of our new Artist Centre had begun and is due for completion in April 2016.

The £1.4 million capital project is funded by Creative Scotland and a number of trusts and individuals, including major awards from the Robertson and the Monument Trusts. The new Centre has been designed by architects CameronWebster and is being built by Clark Contracts for Cove park's expanding programmes of artist residencies and public events, with spaces for workshops and performances and comfortable communal space for visitors. 

The build includes two accommodation units and two studios, which will increase Cove Park's capacity to twelve and allow a greater diversity of residencies for individuals and groups.

The Centre will be fully disabled accessible, is designed on sustainable principles and enables Cove Park to host residencies and events all year round. The orientation of the new building will maximise views across Loch Long, so that visitors and artists will for the first time be able to enjoy Cove Park's spectacular west coast setting in all weathers.

Chair of Cove Park's Board, Seona Ried said:

"This is an exciting time for Cove Park. The Centre will offer facilities for artists and the public that will enhance our growing international reputation as a centre of excellence for the arts."

Lesley MacDonald of the Robertson Trust said:

"The Robertson Trust supports projects and activities which widen access and increase participation in all forms of artistic activities for people throughout Scotland. We are delighted to support this new phase in the history of Cove Park." 

Abraham Cruzvillegas, recipient of the Hyundai Commission at Tate Turbine Hall and Cove Park resident in 2008 said:

"Cove Park's residency programme has been crucial as it provided me not only with lots of freedom in terms of the development of my practice, but also an immense experience of learning and sharing with others."

Looking forward to the new Artist Centre

This evening we welcomed members of our local community, funders and supporters to engage with our plans for the new Artist Centre and the potential this improved space offers to develop our residency and public programmes. 

Guests heard from Architect of the new Artist Centre, Miranda Webster of Cameron Webster, our Chair, Seona Reid and Director, Julian Forrester.

The major capital redevelopment programme, funded by Creative Scotland and a number of trusts and individuals, will allow us to significantly develop our residency programme and for the first time offer an expanded and fully integrated education and participatory programme from Summer 2016. 

At the gathering we invited people to tell us how they thought a public programme of creative activities could be developed relative to their organisation, projects or initiatives for the benefit of the region. Thus we initiated conversations we plan to continue with our local and regional community.