About the garden
Owned by
Michael Lawrie
Threave Garden has been the School of Heritage Gardening since 1960, and has trained generations of horticulturists and botanists and continues to do so in a practical-based training programme including the RHS Level 2 and 3 practical certificates. The large 64-acre garden itself is an outdoor classroom, offering a staggeringly diverse plant collection in a series of garden rooms including areas such as the secret garden, rock garden, water features, woodland and display glasshouses.
The garden's planting provides inspiration to all, housing specimens of rare and unusual character while demonstrating seasonal display emphasising the strong educational qualities of the property. Of particular note is the walled garden, which continues to be used as a productive garden with vegetables, soft fruit, apples, pears and flowers. In season, vegetables and fruit are on sale and also used in delicious home-made food served in the Terrace Café.
Iconic to Threave is the swathe of Narcissus ‘Southern Gem’, one of nearly 200 heritage cultivars of daffodil growing on site that provides a dazzling spring spectacle in April.
Threave House is a late 19th century Scottish Baronial home, open by guided tour on advertised days, and the wider estate with its nature reserve beside the River Dee. Standing on an island is 14th-century Threave Castle, accessed by a small ferry boat (managed by Historic Environment Scotland). Threave Garden welcomes weddings, events and private functions in the garden, Terrace Café and Threave House.
