ARCHIE animals go on safari at Castle Fraser

If you go down to the woods at Castle Fraser, you’re in for a big surprise, thanks to The ARCHIE Foundation.

Topiary animals that are more at home in Africa than Aberdeenshire have come for a visit at the National Trust for Scotland attraction, as the temperature plummets.

The pair of giraffes and three elephants are usually found outside the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.

They have packed their trunks for a safari in the woodland garden at the estate while the outside space at the hospital undergoes construction work.

The ARCHIE Foundation, the official charity of RACH, has donated the magnificent figures, which were first installed outside the hospital as part of their garden project in June 2016, instead of placing the topiary animals into storage.

ARCHIE approached the National Trust for Scotland to see if they could find a temporary home where visitors could still enjoy them while experiencing Scotland’s heritage.

Iain Hawkins, National Trust for Scotland General Manager for the North East said: “We’re very excited to welcome these beautifully designed topiary animals to our stunning grounds at Castle Fraser. They have brought lots of happiness to children and families at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and we hope that families have fun tracking them down during their visit.”

Chief Executive of The ARCHIE Foundation, David Wood, said: “We’re really grateful to the National Trust for Scotland for helping us find a home for the animals while improvements are carried out. The giraffes and elephants are really popular at RACH, and we hope families continue to enjoy seeing them while they’re on safari at Castle Fraser.”

The animals will remain at Castle Fraser for approximately a year or until the works to the hospital have been completed.