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Background

In 1969, Amisfield Park was sold by the Earl of Wemyss to Haddington Town Council, who leased the grounds to Haddington Golf Course. In 1980 East Lothian District Council used the Walled Garden as a tree nursery, but the Council was unable to use it effectively due to changes in local government management. The trees, however, remained and continued to grow.

In 1999 two bodies were formed to look after the interests of the garden - the Friends of Amisfield, and the Amisfield Preservation Trust. The Trust was responsible for securing Heritage Lottery Funding for the stabilisation of the Summer House lying to the northwest of the walled garden. In March 2007 the two bodies were combined into a single organisation. The Trust is now responsible for major fund-raising and is the holder of the lease from the Council under which it operates. It is also responsible for the management of the garden and promoting awareness of the project amongst the local community. It actively seeks new volunteers and community support.

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Prior to the Amisfield Preservation Trust starting to restore the garden it was a tree nursery and contained several hundred closely packed  trees, many of which had grown over 30 feet tall. This Satellite view of the garden c2004 gives an idea of the density of the trees at that time.

Looking towards the north west corner pavilion
before the trees were cleared.

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The garden became a wilderness when the tree nursery was abandoned.