GARDEN designer Graeme Moore accused the Royal Botanic Garden in
Edinburgh yesterday of blatantly disreputable behaviour unexpected of an
institution of international standing.
He claimed it had copied his ''highly original'' scheme for creating a
formal garden on the lawn in front of Inverleith House within the
botanic garden by cutting grass at different heights, a proposal which
it rejected twice in the past three years.
Mr Moore, of the Old School, Dunsyre, Lanarkshire, a lecturer in
horticulture, has written to the curator of the botanic garden, Mr John
Main, demanding an explanation.
He has complained the work carried out ''occupies the same site and is
the same size as my original proposal and is similar in design to it''.
Mr Moore said it had been done without reference to him and without
payment.
Mr Alan Bennell, head of external affairs at the Royal Botanic Garden,
denied the horticulture staff had deliberately copied Mr Moore's scheme
which they had found ''inappropriate'' when first submitted in 1990.
He had explored Mr Moore's claim and was convinced it had been done
with ''their own inspiration, possibly prompted by various articles in
the horticultural press''.
He added: ''Quite innocently and quite off their own bats, our staff.
. . decided it was the only logical space where they might do such a
thing.''
Mr Bennell recognised it was an unfortunate coincidence.
He hoped Mr Moore would consult with garden staff to find ''an
amicable way forward''.
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