Every day is a school day and a visit to the Japanese Garden in Cowden is a day well spent learning.
I was lucky enough to be contacted by Nicola Dibley, an interpretation specialist I know well. She was tasked with creating an audio tour and asked me to help her out with some voiceovers.
It involved site visits, lots of research and some fun recording audio for their new Visitor Audio Guide. I’ve done a bit of voiceover work before and love it. I just have to be mindful of not letting that Invernessian/Californian/Kinross-Shire twang run away with me. As 100mph is my usual talking speed. Luckily Nicola is a patient editor.
So, I got to spend a a couple of lovely mornings in the stunning gardens recently restored to their oriental glory, walking around and taking in the atmosphere before recordings.
Ella Christie – Adventurer & Visionary
Located in Cowden, under the wide skies of the wee county of Clackmannanshire, the gardens are a hidden gem of tranquillity and beauty. Originally designed by Ella Christie, the daughter of the owners of the sadly now demolished, Cowden Castle, the gardens have a rich history.
Ella was an adventurer and travelled widely around Asia, which is where its assumed her love of Japanese botany came from. On her return, she worked with renowned Japanese garden designer Taki Handa. Together they created Sha Raku En – the Garden of Pleasure and Delight.
And a delight it is too. A relaxed haven of gentle beauty that features landscapes not out of place in rural Japan. They blend seamlessly in their Scottish surroundings. So trust me, you could do worse than spend a pleasant afternoon marvelling at the attention to form and design and learning about its fascinating history.
I’d highly recommend a visit.
