Ella's Garden

I went on a trip with one of the local groups I involved in to the Japanese Garden at Cowden.  We had a guided tour and it was really interesting to hear about their history - they were originally developed by Ella Christie , an intrepid well-to-do women who travelled the globe (I suppose you would have to have the means to travel as extensively as she did). She was rather taken by the gardens in Kyoto and decided to create her own in Clackmananshire. She initially employed Taki Handi, a Japanese women living in the UK to design the garden.  

The gardens fell into disrepair in the later part of the 20th century but have recently been  re-created. It was lovely walking around them, especially having heard about some the design principals behind them. 

We also enjoyed coffee in the sun on arrival and lunch afterwards.