Scottish Branch - Annual Garden Visit - Fife

This year we are planning to visit three gardens in Fife on Sunday July 6th  and preparations are underway.  Start time 10.00am

 

10.00am -11.00am

Sugar Acre –  Organised by the Falkland Gardening Group

 Sugar Acre, Back Wynd, Falkland KY15 7BX

DIRECTIONS ARE LISTED BELOW FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

Gregor Milne,  Vice-Chair of the group is delighted to welcome us

Falkland Gardening Group (previously Falkland in Bloom) had been operating for 35 years & adopted their current name in 2021.

With more than 50 members, the volunteers use the group’s three polytunnels, two raised beds and 14 allotments in the village’s 'Sugar Acre Garden' to grow chillies, peppers, melons, physalis, plus an impressive list of fruit and veg.

Excess produce is donated to the wider community, while the tunnels are also used to propagate small plants for the village floral displays.

Now, just how the Falkland Gardening Group worked with the local landowner to use the land is being showcased as an inspiring community project in the Scottish Land Commission’s MyLand.Scot campaign – an online initiative aiming to highlight the many benefits that land brings to communities around Scotland.

11.00am to 11.30  Travel to Largo Estate

 

11.30am
Largo Estate
Entrance via Home Farm Cottage KY8 6EE

DIRECTIONS ARE LISTED BELOW FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

Largo Estate is owned by the Crichton family, passed down to Charles Julian MM Crichton in 1901. The now derelict house has been disused since the 1940’s. Largo house was requisitioned by the War Office and occupied by the Polish Parachute regiment during and following  WWII. Post war, the house was no longer habitable and the walled garden’s infrastructure was removed in the 80’s for pasture and grazing.
There are a few remaining fruit trees growing on the South facing wall of the garden, and ‘peach screen brackets’ are still installed on the upper edge of the wall. There are remaining cherry and plum and apple trees remaining in the walled orchard.  

In recent times, a small team commenced with reinstating the 2.5 acre walled garden and started to produce vegetables for veg boxes and numerous local farm shops.  Subsequently the Estate diversified with the addition of cut flowers supplying local florists, weddings & events. They are now entering their fifth season of reinstating Largo Estate’s .  the veg is grown both within their polytunnel as and a large outdoor area with organic and heritage vegetables.  A wide array of colourful cut flowers are grown throughout the year.  Starting this year (2025), Ian Machacek and Rachel Wake are running the walled garden with plans to keep producing delicious vegetables and beautiful flowers. 
 

 

12.45 Lunch -
The Levenmouth  Hub Café – Leven   45 High Street, Leven, FIFE KY8 4NE

A community Café , run by a local charity
Soup/sandwiches/sausage rolls etc   tea/coffee/cake/biscuits ( £10 / head)

 DIRECTIONS TO THE CAR PARK ARE LISTED BELOW FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

 

2.00 Ian Simpson’s Growing area at Montrave Estate’s walled garden

Montrave Estate, Leven KY8 5NY

Season 11  ( last visited in 2017)

DIRECTIONS ARE LISTED BELOW FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

Montrave Estate is owned by the Gilmour family, with owners Sir Nicholas Gilmour and his Wife Airin who work hard to develop and diversify the Estate, from local deer farming to  the  introduction of Wigwam holidays  within the grounds (including open swimming).  We last visited the walled garden in 2017 which is gradually being restored.  Within the walled garden, Ian’s growing area comprises of two large polytunnels, an open garden area and use of an old Victorian lean-too glass houses with fruit trees.  Three flower borders have also been created by Fiona Shenfield within the walled garden area.

To help with numbers for booking lunch, it would help greatly if you can please contact Fiona Shenfield to let her know if you are planning to attend, thankyou.  Tel  07740 137 204, land line 01592 890 284, email [email protected]