Len Lennie, who was originally from Aberdeen, spent a quarter of a century tending to the traditional herbaceous borders, fruit trees and vegetable patches at Culter Allers.

And he never had a day off.

The one-and-a-half acre walled garden, which can be traced back almost 400 years, was a labour of love for the horticulturist.

And his legacy is now being looked after by new gardener Lindsay Kinnaird.

Mungo McCosh, who owns the late Victorian baronial house and its grounds at Coulter, hopes green-finger visitors from across Peeblesshire will take advantage of the open doors on Sunday. He told us: “The walled kitchen garden is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Len.

“He was very much from the old school of gardeners and never took a holiday, as he didn’t know what to do with holidays.

“He enjoyed his work and that is evident in how well he kept the garden.” Culter Allers is one of the very few Victorian kitchen gardens and surrounding policies which avoided the plough during World War II.

And almost all of its original features - including an 18th century apple walk through the historic espalier trees - remain intact.

The policies of the house are also open on Sunday, and include woodland walks and an avenue of 125-year-old lime trees leading to the village church.

Mr McCosh added: “The good thing about these open days is that the gardener will be there to offer advice and show people what can successfully grow where. We will have a plant stall as well as teas and refreshments being served.” As part of the Scotland’s Gardens scheme, Culter Allers has opened for a day each August to raise money for charity. And this year part of the proceeds will go towards the Coulter Library Trust.

Culter Allers is in the village of Coulter - just three miles south of Biggar on the A702. The garden and policies will be open from 2pm until 5pm.