Carole Baxter was born in 1958 in Loose, near Maidstone, Kent, England. She developed an interest in gardening as a child while helping her father maintain the family garden. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for horticulture and working with plants.

She studied Geography at the University of Sussex and later trained in amenity horticulture at Elmwood College in Fife, Scotland. After finishing her studies, she worked in several gardening roles, including as an under-gardener at Kildrummy Castle in Aberdeenshire, gaining practical experience in garden management.

Baxter joined the BBC Scotland gardening show Beechgrove Garden in 1983 as a behind-the-scenes gardener. In 1986, she became one of the programme’s presenters and made history as the first woman to co-present a gardening programme in the UK.

The programme airs on BBC Scotland and BBC One Scotland, and Baxter has remained a key member of the presenting team for decades. Her expertise covers vegetable gardening, ornamental plants, and garden design, and she often shares practical tips with viewers.