THE future of a popular visitor attraction near Helensburgh is expected to be made clear this summer.

An economic impact assessment on Geilston Garden in Cardross, commissioned by the attraction’s owners, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), is expected to lay out the long-term prospects for the garden after the Trust warned in 2017 that it was “considering the future” of the facility because of low visitor numbers.

Allison Hillis, chair of the Friends of Geilston support group, which was formed in response to the NTS’s concerns about Geilston’s future, said: “This much loved garden is still at risk of closure and it is important that you come to support it and to show how much it is valued as part of the NTS portfolio.

READ MORE: Future of Geilston Garden still up in air ahead of AGM

“The NTS have commissioned an economic assessment of the garden, which will shortly be completed and sent to the Trustees.

“A decision on the garden’s future will be taken within the next few months.”

Two years ago the NTS warned that annual losses of £85,000 a year at Geilston were “unsustainable” – sparking the formation later that year of the Friends of Geilston to campaign for the attraction’s future.

The Friends have also organised a series of events over the past two summers in a bid to attract more visitors to the garden – which was named in October as one of the UK’s top 100 green spaces – and to raise its local and national profile.

READ MORE: Geilston garden named in poll of UK's top 100

An NTS spokesman told the Advertiser: “The report from the consultant concerning Geilston is due shortly.

“Thereafter, we would expect it to be reviewed by the Trust’s management team and discussed by our board of trustees.

“It is therefore likely to be some time yet before any decisions can be based on it.”

Meanwhile, staff and volunteers at Geilston opened the garden’s doors to the public this month at the start of a new season.