The Thomson Family
RUNNING A FAMILY BUSINESS
TREADING LIGHTLY
With ownership comes responsibility
As the 6th generation of the Thomson family, we are proud to bring the award-winning, groundbreaking horticultural legacy of our Quaker ancestors back to life for you to enjoy. From the garden to the Backhouse Kitchen and the Backhouse Rossie Heritage and Education Centre, we are dedicated to preserving and sharing the work that once caused such amazement in its day.
Following in the footsteps of our forebears, we aim to tread lightly on the land and embrace sustainability in all that we do. In the Backhouse Kitchen, we focus on food yards, not food miles, and take pride in sourcing the finest seasonal ingredients. Our garden is managed with sustainability in mind, featuring biomass heating, rainwater harvesting, and recycled timber used in our woodland paths and estate projects. Every effort we make is designed to honour the land, its heritage, and the future we’re building together.
At the heart of Rossie Estate is a family-run business led by Caroline, an Artist, Andrew, an Engineer, and their son, Hamish, the heir apparent. Caroline serves as the Designer, Andrew takes on the role of Project Manager, and Hamish is the Events and Social Media Guru.
“We are truly a family business,” says Andrew. “With Caroline, myself, and our son Hamish leading the way, alongside the incredible team who help us, we’ve restored the walled garden and the surrounding grounds. We’ve also developed the Backhouse Kitchen, the Backhouse Pantry (where we indulge in cooking, preserving, and enjoying our own produce), and the Backhouse Nursery, offering a variety of plants for sale. For those who can’t visit in person, we’ve also created an online presence so people can still enjoy a taste of our country goodness from afar.”
Caroline explains, “It was the garden—though run down and in desperate need of restoration—that captured our hearts. When we first arrived, the south wall of the walled garden was crumbling, a pheasant rearing cage dominated the centre, and the ground was so compacted that waist-high weeds had taken over. It took five years to get the weeds under control, and even today, we continue the process of rejuvenation.”
Today, the garden is renowned for its rare heritage daffodils and its Walled Garden that celebrates themes of art and science. The garden now proudly houses our family’s award-winning daffodils, which are part of the National Collection of Narcissus Backhouse cultivars, accredited by Plant Heritage. Our managed woodland walk and RHS Partner Garden are open as part of Scotland’s Garden Scheme, Discover Scottish Gardens, and have been featured in Ken Cox’s book, ‘Scotland for Gardeners’.
Caroline is a direct descendant of the Backhouse family, famous horticulturists and daffodil breeders, through her mother’s line. This family connection inspired the creation of the Backhouse Heritage Daffodil Collection and the associated exhibition at the Backhouse Heritage & Education Centre.
We are also thrilled to offer our barns and gardens as a stunning venue for weddings and events, and we are fortunate to work with many talented individuals who help bring these occasions to life.
A warm welcome always awaits you at Rossie Estate.
