* The inspiring story of how one man, with limited funds, created his dream garden in the desolate Scottish Borders * The story of a twenty year labour of love, illustrated with photographs of the project in process as well as beautiful contemporary shots

Many of us dream of a place in the country and this book tells of one particular story. Polmoodie was a derelict sheep farm in the Scottish borders when Alan Tait bought it, piece by piece in the 1980's. Twenty years later it has become an oasis in an otherwise desolate landscape, with poor soil, a hostile climate, and in the twentieth century blighted by the Forestry Commission's blanket planting of conifers. This book tells the story of how one man, with limited funds, created this garden in the hills, and it will inspire and captivate anyone who has shared the author's dream.

Many of us dream of a place in the country and this book tells of one particular story. Polmoodie was a derelict sheep farm in the Scottish borders when Alan Tait bought it, piece by piece in the 1980's. Twenty years later it has become an oasis in an otherwise desolate landscape, with poor soil, a hostile climate, and in the twentieth century blighted by the Forestry Commission's blanket planting of conifers. This book tells the story of how one man, with limited funds, created this garden in the hills, and it will inspire and captivate anyone who has shared the author's dream.

Alan Tait was formerly Richmond Professor of the History of Art in Glasgow University and has written numerous books on landscape and architecture.