Gardeners: Caroline & Andrew Thomson
Location: Backhouse Rossie Estate, Fife KY15 7UZ
Size: 1¼-acre walled garden set within 110 acres
Soil: Glacial valley with mixed pockets of clay, sand and stone
Been in garden: Since 2005
Open: April-September daily (except Tuesday & Saturday), 10am-4pm, £6
Contact: 0844 414 5803; backhouserossie.co.uk
Every garden has a tale to tell and the story behind Backhouse Rossie involves passion, determination, history, science and art. Caroline Thomson, a Backhouse family descendant, bought the property with her husband Andrew in August 2005. “When we arrived only 3½ walls surrounded the 1¼-acre walled garden, which contained the remains of a pheasant-raising enterprise, rampaging weeds, self-seeded saplings and bed springs and car parts by the wall,” says Caroline. “At least the broken walls allowed access for the machinery…