Yesterday we had the pleasure of having Lucy Lintott and her father come down from their home in Garmouth to plant a tree in the garden. Since being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease 10 months ago, Lucy has shown her fighting spirit and has drawn up a list of dreams, which includes being a bridesmaid, walking the Jurassic coast and number 37, planting a tree. The list was spotted in the daily record by tropical horticulturalist Pat Clifford who suggested that we might be able to help with Number 37.

Lucy is fundraising for MND Scotland and has so far raised £38,151.58 towards a £100,000 total. MND Scotland is the only charity providing care, information and research funding for people affected by Motor Neurone Disease in Scotland. Donations can be made through Lucy’s Just Giving website.

Lucy Lintott and Martyn Dickson

The tree we asked Lucy to plant was a Tilia tuan, a native of NW China. We usually say every plant has a story but this has many. It has Lucy’s story, the tree’s story in the wild and its uses by indigenous people,  the story of its introduction by Ernest Wilson and its story within the garden. This tree was propagated by grafting from the original Wilson introduction which is elsewhere within our collection. The grey hairy shoots distinguish it from other Tilias and it should grow up into a fine tree.

You can follow Lucy’s fight on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/lucysmndfight