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’.
The Trustees
Chairman Michael Williams MBE
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.
Michael has been a Trustee of Haddington Garden Trust since 2013 and is currently the Chairman.
Brian Cox WS
A trustee of St Mary's Pleasance, I have an interest in historic buildings and gardens.
In my working life as a solicitor in private practice in Edinburgh I escaped often to East Lothian, the 'garden county' and also its wild landscapes and seascapes.
I now live in Dunbar.
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.
Karen Stevenson
Karen Stevenson has lived in Haddington for over 15 years. 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
Christopher lives in Sidegate in Haddington with his wife, Bornie and occasionally with their three grown up children, just a stone’s throw from the Pleasance Garden. He is a keen gardener who looks after his historic walled garden where he grows vegetables, an old orchard and too many weeds.
A chartered marketer, Christopher is a marketing consultant who has supported small businesses, particularly in East Lothian and Edinburgh.
When not gardening, he likes to spend any spare time cycling in East Lothian, walking his dogs, fishing, skiing or playing tennis.
As a trustee, Christopher enjoys being involved with St Mary’s Pleasance Garden, which is a tranquil horticultural sanctuary for everyone to enjoy.
Emily Stevens
Emily was born and educated in Edinburgh. Having obtained an Economics degree from St Andrew’s University she then trained and qualified as a Charted Accountant, before heading to London to work in Corporate Finance.
She returned to Scotland 8 years later and since then has lived with her family in and around Haddington. As well as a long-held passion for gardening, she also enjoys singing, tennis, Pilates, yoga, and walking her two Miniature Dachshunds. She volunteers with the RVS, Bethany Care Van and a local community group supporting people with mental health challenges.
The Trust:
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Kay, Dowager Duchess of Hamilton