Threave House, built in 1872, was bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1948. The NTS developed the house and the 24 hectares of gardens around it as a visitor attraction, and set up a School of Practical Gardening for students to gain direct hands-on practical gardening experience in a 'live' classroom.

The gardens are on generally west sloping grounds, and there are lovely views from the upper areas and the house. The gardens have developed over the years, largely by student work, with new projects often being initiated by the needs of student training, and so have become an amazing array of types and styles of gardening. The grounds include extensive woodlands, herbaceous borders, conifer beds, ornamental borders, and walled gardens for growing fruit, vegetables, and cut flowers. There are greenhouses, water features, and several discrete gardens such as the Secret Garden, Discovery Garden for children, a woodland garden, and a Rhododendron garden.

The placement at these gardens will follow the Threave School of Practical Gardening Certificate course, which means full time practical gardening work, skills training, involvement in garden development projects, and supportive instruction.