A new garden celebrating the life and work of Robert Burns has been officially unveiled at Eglinton Country Park.
The Robert Burns Garden has been created within the park’s courtyard to mark the 200th anniversary of the formation of Irvine Burns Club.
Inspired by Scotland’s National Bard, the garden features flowers and plants mentioned throughout Burns’ poetry and songs.
The official opening took place on Sunday, August 30, and was attended by the Earl and Countess of Eglinton, members of Irvine Burns Club, North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson, the Marymass Royal Party, Patricia Gibson MSP, elected members and representatives of Burns clubs from across North Ayrshire.
Guests were entertained by the North Ayrshire Senior Schools Strings Orchestra and singer David Douglas.
Greenwood Academy pupils Riley McClory and Johnny Cripps also delivered a poetry reading while portraying Robert Burns and Captain Richard Brown.
Brown, an Irvine-born sailor, is credited with encouraging Burns to publish his poetry while the pair were walking through Eglinton Woods.
Irvine Burns Club was established on June 2, 1826, when 12 men, 11 of whom had personally known Burns, met and agreed that Irvine should honour the poet who once lived in the town.
North Ayrshire Council worked in partnership with the club to create the garden as part of its bicentenary celebrations.
Provost Anthea Dickson said: “It has been a privilege to have been part of the official opening of this inspiring community garden, established to reconnect visitors and local people alike to the legacy of our National Bard, Robert Burns.
“Thank you to everyone involved in this project that will further enrich the heritage and vibrancy that our local country park has to offer.
“Special thanks to Donald Wilson of Irvine Burns Club, who gave up so much of his time to sourcing, planting and creating this garden.”
Peter Latham, president of Irvine Burns Club, said the project was about more than opening a new public space.
He said: “It is about celebrating a man whose words have inspired generations, crossed continents and spoken to people from all walks of life for more than two centuries.
“Burns was a poet of the land, of the people, of friendship, love, equality and hope. It is therefore fitting that we honour him in a garden, surrounded by the beauty and tranquillity of nature that so often inspired his verse.”
The garden includes an etched portrait of Burns designed by local artist Jack Sutton.
He said it had been a challenging but rewarding project and described being involved as “an absolute honour”.
Paving sculptures created by Ian Cooper and commissioned by Eglinton Burns Club have also been installed in the garden.
Originally displayed outside the Carrick Hostelry at Irvine Cross, formerly the Eglinton Arms, the sculptures were created to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Burns’ death.
They depict medicinal plants used by the doctor who treated Burns during his time in Irvine and now form a centrepiece within the new heritage garden.