A PREMIER tourist attraction in Clackmannanshire has celebrated a decade since it began.

Restoration of the Japanese Garden at Cowden officially began in 2014 and has since seen the vacant land be transformed into a luxurious nature spot.

To mark the milestone, the Garden held an invite only evening full of special guests, who provided stories, speeches and toasts to celebrate 10 years since the project began.

The evening was attended by the Provost Donald Balsillie, council leader Ellen Forson, supportive politicians including Alexander Stewart and even the Japanese consulate, Tadashi Fujiwara.

Sarah Reynolds, general manager for the Japanese Garden, has been on board the project for three years and has been thoroughly amazed at the work they’ve done.

“What they’ve achieved is pretty stand out,” she said. “When I arrived, the restoration was around 90 per cent complete.

“Even in the short term that I’ve been here, the restoration has been fully completed in my first year here.

“It’s really nice to see that all come together, I know how much hard work has gone into it over the years by the Stewart family and everyone involved.

“It’s a really unique place as well – there’s not really anywhere like this that you can hop over to Clackmannanshire to see.

“It’s amazing, we get more than 40,000 people here a year so it’s clearly all been worth it.”

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The Japanese Garden at Cowden started when Sara Stewart inherited a large space of land on the edges of Clackmannanshire.

She set at work restoring the area into the current garden for people to enjoy, the way her great aunt Ella Christie intended.

Ella travelled the world and created the garden after being inspired by the sights she had seen in Japan, with the site prospering for five decades before falling into disrepair.

Now, the garden has been fully restored for people to see, open throughout the week, and managed by Sara and her brother Johnny Stewart.

Sarah explained that the next step for the project would be to work on the construction of a permanent building for them to work out of.

“Next big plan is a permanent building,” she added. “We currently function out of a small port-a-cabin building.

“Planning and big funding push for a permanent structure would be the next big change.”

The event was well attended by members of the community, including Alex Stewart, Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife.

Mr Stewart has been a long term supporter of the project and was delighted to see the garden mark 10 years since restoration began.

He said: “As deputy cabinet secretary for the constitution, external affairs and culture and a local MSP who greatly supports this wonderful garden, I was privileged to attend this excellent anniversary commemoration.

“As deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on Japan, it was very special to have been there with the consul general of Japan in Edinburgh, Mr Tadashi Fujiwara who also delivered an excellent speech.”