The Calyx

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Background

The idea of The Calyx was first conceived in 1993 by Jim McColl MBE and Stan Green to serve community needs which were not being met. Jim McColl is a well known horticulture expert and broadcaster who has a wealth of experience working with communities, developing community gardens and experiencing first hand the rejuvenating effect gardening can have in socially excluded communities. Stan Green is a past president of the Horticulturual Trades Association (HTA), an experienced entrepreneur and has received the Business in the Community Award. Together, they recognised the huge community benefits which a project like the Calyx could deliver, they passionately believed in the project and were the drivers behind its initial development.

The Trust was formally constituted in 1997 as Scotland's Garden Trust (Incorporated 28th October 1997 No SC180016).

Scotland's Garden Trust

Current Trustees include:

Dr Andrew Cubie CBE FRSE WS - Chairman

Dr Andrew Cubie graduated from Edinburgh University and developed legal expertise with Fyfe Ireland & Co WS, becoming a partner in 1971 and chairman in 1987. He has been involved in a number of similar high profile projects, including Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. His experience of community development and welfare includes Chairman of BESO Scotland, Scotland's Health at Work Scheme, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Trust and he is also deputy Chairman of the RNLI Fundraising Committee. He brings strong business and management skills to the Board, through his experience as Chairman of Quality Scotland, also as a director of Murray Johnstone VCT3 plc, Kinloch Anderson Ltd, Norfrost Holdings Ltd and Bactokil Ltd., President of the RBLI and BESO. He also has a broad range of experience in the education sector as Chairman of Napier University, the Steering Group Graduates for Growth and Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework.

Stan Green, BSC Agri

Stan Green brings a wealth and depth of horticultural skills and experience, graduating from Aberdeen University with BSc. Agriculture, worked behind the scenes at "Beechgrove Garden", also developed and managed the leading plant supplier Growforth Ltd. He sits on the Horticultural Trades Association National Council (UK) who give their full support to the project, representing a wealth of experience through the 2,500 membership. Stan was the HTA Scottish Branch Chairman (1990-1995), is a founder member of the Scottish horticultural initiative (Scottish Joint Committee) and Fife Ornamental Growers Group (FOG). His strong business skills have been demonstrated through receiving a Business in the Community Award, the Provost's Award and by the awards received for Growforth, including being a finalist in STV's "The Business Game" and finalist in Radio 4's Enterprise awards. He also has strong experience of the education sector and has sat on the Validation Panel for BSc and HND Horticulture.

James H. McColl MBE

Jim brings a wealth of horticultural expertise to the board from his academic experience graduating from West of Scotland Agricultural College, then serving as college staff there and at the University of Reading. He has utilized his horticultural skills at Shropshire LEA, MAFF Advisory Service in the East Midlands, North of Scotland College of Agriculture in Aberdeen and the Horticultural R & D Unit at Craibstone. Currently, Jim demonstrates his effective communication skills and enthusiasm through presenting "The Beechgrove Garden" on BBC Scotland television, as well as leading roles in other television programmes, radio and regional newspapers and magazines. He has received a series of awards for services to horticulture including an MBE in 1996.

Jim has experience of the powerful potential of horticulture as a tool for social inclusion as well as improving mental and physical health through his position as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Toddhill Country Centre, as well as working with communities to develop community gardens. He brings an expertise in managing environmental best practice through Stanley P Morrison Ltd, managing their Waste Energy Project which was featured at the World Fair 1982 and Glasgow Garden Festival 1998. He was on the advisory committee of the Glasgow Garden Festival and has extensive experience of leadership roles within high profile organisations including: Scotland Glasshouse and Nursery Committee, Scotgrow Exhibition and Conference, Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, National Trust for Scotland, RHS Scotland's National Gardening show and Gardening Scotland. As a founder of the project, he believes in it passionately, he has been involved in a wide range of firsts in his career and regarding this project has commented that "I want to be involved in one more first before I am fit for composting."

Jimmy Doig OBE

Jimmy has developed expertise through a long and successful career in local government, having first been elected as an Independent Councilor in 1966 and is presently the Leader of the Joint Partnership Administration and Convener of the Strategic policy and resources committee. He has played an active role in development in Perth and was a founder member of Perth Tourist Association, also a member of the Perthshire Tourist Board, Perth Enterprise Company and Perth Partnership. He chaired the construction committee for Perth Concert Hall, a £20m project which opened in 2005 on time, on budget. He is a past director of the Volunteer Befriending Society and is presently Direct of the Perth & Kinross Recreational facilities.

Bruce G Ballantine BSc, C. Eng

Bruce graduated from Edinburgh University with BSc Electrical Engineering, has developed strong experience working in the land based industries sector and is the Chairman of HTA Scotland. As Managing Director of Belwood Trees Limited, one of Britain's leading semi-mature tree growers, he has demonstrated strong business skills with a great depth of experience and is also Managing Director or Chairman of a wide range of other businesses.

Hans Rissmann OBE

Hans brings a wealth of experience in hospitality sector, through leadership positions at the Hotel de Crillion in Paris, Crest Hotel in Glasgow and the Renaissance at Heathrow, when it was awarded "Best Conference Hotel of the Year" for 3 years running. He has strong expertise in operating conference venues, and developed the £42m Edinburgh International Conference Centre Ltd from its inception, and is currently developing a £27m extension to the multi award winning centre. He has received many awards for his achievements, including the much coveted Catey Award for Tourism, by the Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, for raising the profile of British Hospitality to international visitors and the Quality Scotland Leadership award in 2001. He is Chairman of Investors in People Scotland and a director of Investors in People UK.

Ken Robertson

Ken has a strong expertise in communication and managing relations and is Director of Communications and External Affairs for Diageo Global Supply. He also has strong experience in journalism and media relation through working with one of the UK's leading regional newspaper groups and the Scottish Office where has was involved in overseas publicity and Scottish media relations. Ken was Press Officer for Central Regional Council and worked for Charles Barker, one of Europe's leading advertising and public relations agencies, supporting clients that included British Shipbuilders and Trafalgar House Group.

Penny Brodie

Penny is Chief Executive of Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service and has held this post since July 2002. In this post Penny has overall responsibility for managing eight projects and 48 staff. The projects include the CVS, the Volunteer Centre, services and support for adult and young carers, support for adults with mental health issues, Shopmobility, Direct Payments and Christmas Goodwill. Penny is also the Chairman of the Board of Management for Perth College , as well as a representative on the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Foundation and Board of Governors. Penny was recently appointed to the Ministerial National Alcohol Licensing Forum, following a recommendation from SCVO. She is also a Director for Invertay Social Investment Fund. Penny is a member of the Perth Club of Soroptimist International, serving in the current year (05/06) as the Vice-President and Regional representative as well as serving as the Development Officer for the Regional Executive Committee.

Judy Wagner

After graduating from Edinburgh University, Judy qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked in both the profession and industry before moving into the recruitment industry in 1986 where she was appointed to the board of a national consultancy. In 1993 she co-founded the Executive Search Specialists, FWB Ltd, where she advises clients on the appointment of directors and senior management across a broad spectrum of industry sectors and functional areas. This has included senior appointments within the property, construction, retail, catering, tourism and education sectors, researching both nationally and internationally to attract key players within these to the boards of Scottish companies. Most recently the growth in the Sustainability sector has been significant, and there has been an increasing requirement for both executive and non-executive director searches in this. Judy is a former Director of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Scottish committee of the Malcolm Sargeant Cancer Foundation. She is a member of Court of the Edinburgh Merchants' Company and Vice Chair of Governors of the Erskine Stewart Melville Schools and sits on the Advisory Board of the Spektra Research Institute. She is a Trustee of a charity set up to support disadvantaged children in Edinburgh and the Lothians, a member of the Appeal Committee for The Scottish Accountancy Trust for Education and Research and is on the Development Board of the RSNO.