Bonsai More Info For National Bonsai Collection of Scotland (Bonsai Exhibitions)

The National Collection of Bonsai in Scotland is based around the "Graham trees" as they are known. Bill Graham, of MayBOLE in Ayrshire was a master butcher, and when he retired he concentrated on creating and collecting bonsai.Over nearly thirty years, he developed his knowledge and his collection of 300 trees,

When Bill died in 1983, his widow donated the trees to the Local Authority Parks DepartMEnt of Kyle and Carrick so that some them at least, could continue to be displayed at their Annual AYR FLOWER SHOW. Eventually, Patrick Gibb, then principal organiser of the Show, passed the "Graham Trees" to the Scottish Bonsai Association in November 1984. A group of members set up the first ever National Collection of Bonsai in Britain. Mrs Graham then legally gifted the trees to the SCOTTISH BONSAI ASSOCIATION (SBA).

The collection is located at BINNY PLANTS, Binny Estate, Ecclesmachan, West Lothian, Scotland, EH52 6NL.

A selection of suitable trees from the National Collection are regularly displayed at both GARDENING SCOTLAND currently held annually at Ingliston Showground near Edinburgh annually and the SBA National Exhibition. The displays at Gardening Scotland regularly win awards for the stands. See images of the displays and other bonsai trees on the SBA Image Gallery.