A recent posting by Sam Kelly included a newspaper cutting about lopping of the trees in St Mary St Gardens. Using this as another example of history from a snapshot I have gathered together some other photos showing the trees in the area over the years. See the end of this article. Alan James brought our attention to the production of a leaflet in 2018 revised in 2020 by Chris Ingram with details of the trees. Apparently a minister in the last century encouraged parishioners to
donate trees in memory of loved ones and in consequence a good many quite valuable specimens are growing here. stewartryu3a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Soaperie-Gardens-Leaflet.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3lEQcT2841xAqfd48q_VpU4Irnq2XIKznSHV5KW0m-sAF7agv5-1uYSJw
As for the debate about which name the gardens should be called. My understanding has always been that The Soaperie Gardens were the triangle behind the Selkirk Cross the remaining belonging to the Church and called The Church Grounds.