The aim of the Trust is…
‘To preserve the garden as an open precinct for the enjoyment of the public and to encourage the study of old Scottish gardens and gardening methods’.
Jenny Bell Harman
Jenny has been delighted to be the Haddington Garden Manager since January 2026.
Gardens and flowers have long been a huge interest and passion for Jenny and in recent years her professional work has transitioned into horticulture, often gardening alongside others to develop and care for beautiful, loved and wildlife friendly spaces.
As a gardener, Jenny is committed to ongoing learning, best practice and keeping up to date with new ideas in the field.
Of particular interest is the key role gardens, and the gardeners within them, have to play in these times of climate change. She believes our gardens and green spaces are ever more important for our wellbeing, enjoyment, heritage, community and learning, as well as for supporting wildlife.
Jenny values working in a public space with historical and community importance such as St Mary’s Pleasance Garden, in looking after it and nurturing a good culture within it for the volunteers and visitors to engage with.
Jenny’s previous roles include working as a community artist, museums educator and florist. Her horticulture training includes the RHS Level 2 from RGBE and the completion of a WFGA apprenticeship based at Tyninghame Walled Garden.
Her garden and creative floristry business, Studio Seapink, continues and compliments her role at St Mary’s Pleasance Garden.
First, Let’s Introduce The Haddington Garden Manager
Photo copyright Greg Mcvean
Stuart Crawford
Stuart Crawford was born and brought up in Glasgow. After university he joined the army and served for twenty years with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment.
On retiral from military service he settled with his family in East Lothian and became a self-employed political lobbyist and freelance journalist.
He now works mainly as a writer and broadcaster and lives in Haddington.
The Trustees
Karen Stevenson
Karen Stevenson is the Chair of the Haddington Garden Trust SCIO.
Karen has lived in Haddington for over 15 years. She is a previous Haddington and District Amenity Association (HADAS) chair and Board Director of the Haddington Community Development Trust - as an advocate for the Vision for Haddington town centre initiative - supporting town centre improvements including the lime tree plaque commemorating the Trades of Haddington.
Originally from the west country, Karen trained as a landscape architect and planner, initially working for an architect practice in Durham before moving to Edinburgh to join the City of Edinburgh Council in 2000 as an urban design specialist and champion of the design professions. She led the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland as Acting CEO up to 2021 and recently took up a post as Associate Director at the Scottish Futures Trust leading on programs aimed at improving construction delivery in Scotland.
Christopher Lamotte
For 27 years Christopher lived in Sidegate in Haddington with his wife, Bornie and their three now grown up children, just a stone’s throw from the Pleasance Garden. He is a keen vegetable and fruit gardener who now has a new garden with an orchard, bees and a small holding to look after down the road in Ford near Pathhead.
A chartered marketer and former chartered surveyor, Christopher has his own little marketing consultancy and has helped grow 250 small businesses, particularly within East Lothian. Clients have included exclusive use events venues, construction businesses, schools and technology companies.
When not gardening, he likes to spend his spare time cycling, walking his dogs, fishing, skiing or playing tennis.
As a trustee, Christopher enjoys being involved with St Mary’s Pleasance Garden, a tranquil, natural sanctuary for everyone to enjoy.
Carol Matthews
Carol’s link to St Mary’s Pleasance began in 1973 when her mother was Organiser to the Lamp of Lothian based in Haddington House. She has visited the garden many times to enjoy the beautiful space and its surroundings.
Carol’s roles have included business manager for Glasgow Museums & Art Galleries, and Director of Operations and Communications at Glasgow Science Centre.
While running her own marketing agency, Matthews Marketing, Carol chaired both the Chartered Institute for PR in Scotland and the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, which involved fundraising initiatives.
More recently, Carol led the tourism team at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park focusing on tourism infrastructure and business support to benefit local communities and the economy. When she retired in 2024, she helped set up a charitable Trust for the 96-mile West Highland Way.
Carol is married and lives in Glasgow. Hobbies include reading, gardening, film club and travel.
Patron: Michael Williams MBE
Michael was a Trustee of Haddington Garden Trust from 2013-25 and spent most of his tenure as its Chairman. The Haddington Garden thrived under Michael’s dedicated leadership and the Trustees are very grateful for all his hard work.
In late 2024, Michael was appointed the Patron of the Haddington Garden Trust.
Born in 1946 and brought up in Winchester, Hampshire. Michael served in the Army (Royal Tank Regiment) for 20 years.
Michael now farms near Haddington, East Lothian, where he has some 350 acres of arable land. He was awarded the MBE for services to biodiversity, conservation and agriculture in East Lothian in 2002.
Appointed a DL in 1997, Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2010 and Lord-Lieutenant of East Lothian in 2013-2021.