But why he should drag Brodick Castle into what is clearly a much wider debate is mystifying. And why he, as a respected rhododendron expect, should go so far as to say he could not recommend the famous Arran gardens to visitors any more seems just sour grapes.
Mr Cox, it appears, is a gamekeeper turned poacher. He is a former member of the trust’s gardens and designed landscapes panel but now says that ‘shorttermism’ in appointing inexperienced gardeners to replace veteran employees was causing ‘significant and non-eversible deterioration’ in Scotland’s protected gardens.
As well as writing to trust bosses, the published author chose to share his views with the publication of his choice, The Times.