It’s finally happening in Valleyfield Woodland Park

Fife Council has recently commenced restoration of the key elements of a former Humphry Repton designed landscape at Valleyfield Woodland Park, near Shiresmill.

This woodland once formed part of the estate of Valleyfield, owned by the Preston family from 1543.

In 1904 the family seat moved to Ardchattan in Argyll. Valleyfield was subsequently sold to the Fife Coal Company in 1907, after which the house was allowed to fall into disrepair and eventually demolished in 1941.

Valleyfield was at its best in the early nineteenth century when owned by Sir Robert Preston, better known for his maritime exploits with the Honourable East India Company and later as a successful trader in London.

By the time Sir Robert came to inherit Valleyfield in 1800 he was a very rich man. One of his first actions was to engage Humphry Repton, the foremost landscape designer of the day, to improve the appearance of the house and its grounds.

Repton produced one of his famous Red Books, these showing the customary before and after views. His proposals were accepted by Sir Robert and implemented by around 1804. The book survives to this day and is held by the Preston family.

One of the key features of Repton’s design was a walled flower garden with an ornamental canal along its foot. These would have been visible from the house. Although in a poor state, the perimeter walls remain, along with two curved flights of stone steps and a stairway up the middle of the garden. It is these elements that Fife Council is about to restore.

Other features of the landscape were an ornamental archway and two bridges across Bluther Burn, all with a rusticated finish to give the glen an Arcadian appearance. These are also to be restored, including the unusual parapets of the bridges which were formed from large boulders.

Credit for persuading Fife Council to carry out the restoration work has to go members of the local community, certain members of whom have pushed tirelessly not only for restoration of the designed landscape, but also remedial work to the banks of Bluther Burn.

Another component has been Lady Catherine Erskine of Cambo and other people closely involved with the Scottish historic gardens scene. The picture shows them in front of Repton’s ornamental arch. In the centre is Sarah Troughton (née Campbell-Preston) holding the treasured family relic, the Valleyfield Red Book.

In addition to the heritage works there is also long overdue tree management being undertaken. Together these are likely to take up to three months. Fife Council has stressed that the wood will not be closed during this period but is asking visitors to heed any safety notices.