At the turn of the 20th Century, the Scottish adventurer Ella Christie returned home from a trip to Japan inspired to build her own Japanese Garden.
As might be expected from the first western woman to meet the Dalai Lama, Ella's approach to developing the garden was trailblazing. She chose a female designer – Taki Handa – to create the seven acre site in the grounds of Cowden Castle. In doing so, The Japanese Garden at Cowden - between Muckhart and Dollar in Clackmannanshire - became the first garden of its size and scale to be designed by a woman. It remains a unique bridge between Scottish and Japanese culture.
Garden at Cowden - Pic by Stewart Taylor - Flickr
Vandalised and abandoned in the 1960's, the garden is being brought back to life by a team of experts including the renowned Japanese architect and garden designer Professor Masao Fukuhara. The Professor is best known for winning the Gold Medal at Chelsea Flower Show as well as the restoration of The Japanese Gardens at Kew, London and Tatton Park, Cheshire.
Ella named the garden 'The Place of Pleasure and Delight'. The restoration programme has now passed its halfway mark, and the garden has opened to the public.
Tickets are £8.50 per person, time and date of arrival should preferably be pre-booked, as visitors are limited.
The Cowden Estate is located on Upper Hillfoot Road between Muckhart and Dollar, the garden can be accessed via the A91, half a mile west of Muckhart.
The Japanese Garden at Cowden
Upper Hillfoot Road,
Dollar,
Clackmannanshire
FK14 7PL
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