Our gardens on TV

Just before we opened the gardens last August under the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, Fiona Armstrong, an ITV presenter, contacted us and asked if could be featured on an episode of ‘Border Life’, a news programme on the ITV Border channel. As a former owner of Byreburnfoot House, she was also interested to see what we’ve done in the gardens since she lived here.

Fiona Armstrong, who is Lady Macgregor and Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries as well as a TV presenter, duly came with her photographer and spent the morning chatting and filming in the grounds. She enjoyed looking around the various garden areas, remarking that they’ve changed considerably since she lived in the house, and she was very complimentary about them.

This week the local newspaper ran an article about the upcoming programme, which is being aired on Friday 12 December 2025 on ITV Border; it can be also be found on ITVX.

Here’s the transcript of the article in ‘The Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser’:

 Earlier this year, Paul and Julie Taylor, the owners of Byreburnfoot House in Canonbie, received a request from TV presenter Fiona Armstrong for their gardens to be featured on the ‘Border Life’ programme on ITV Border.  Fiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor and Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries is a TV broadcaster, author and local celebrity, and a former owner of Byreburnfoot House.

It was partly out of curiosity that she wanted to return to see how the grounds have been developed since she sold the property.  She was also aware that the grounds were open to the public under the ‘Scotlands Gardens Scheme’ during the summer.

Since purchasing the property five years ago, together with their son Stephen,the current owners have set about developing the site.  With his flair and knowledge, he brings years of gardening experience and design to the mix.   He has collaborated with them to add expertise, creativity and colour to the planting.  Today the one acre garden boasts several distinct areas, each with its own character.  Besides flower gardens, seating areas, pergola, rose crown and raised beds, there is an orchard, vegetable beds and a polytunnel.  Two luxury holiday lets, in the former stables block, each have their own private garden area. Attractive stone pots of various sizes have been used to great effect around the site, along with decorative gravel pathways and arches.

Since the filming of the gardens for ‘Border Life’, the Taylors have added a fountain, wall trellises, a raised bed garden and a set of four statues to the gardens.  These will provide additional interest when the gardens are again open to the public under the ‘Scotlands Gardens Scheme’ on Sunday 2 August 2026.

The TV episode in which Byreburnfoot House is featured will be aired on Friday 12 December 2025 on ‘Border Life’ on ITV Border.