25/06/2026
We started a project last year, to begin to replant some of the wild flowers which grew at Wooers' Alley in the 19th century, at the time of the Patons living there.
The aim? To encourage biodiversity and to create a beautiful place to inspire the local people of Dunfermline, just as it inspired the Patons.
With the help of academic Dr Allan Lennie, and with funding from the Finnis Scott Foundation, we searched through Joseph Noël Paton's fairy paintings and Joseph Neil Paton's damask designs, as well as dozens of historical records, to identify 50 different species of trees, plants and flowers which used to grow at Wooers' Alley.
It will take time for some of the species to re-establish, but we had some lovely primroses and snowdrops back in the Spring and now we are beginning to see some of the summer wild flowers coming up - buttercup, poppy, speedwell, woundwort, herb robert, broad-leaved willow herb, wood avens, foxglove, and many more.
By bringing back the native wildflowers, there's a good chance the native fairies will re-establish themselves too, so watch this space...! 🌸🌼🧚♀️🧚♂️✨
