Next month it will be four years since we first set eyes on the what we now call Bothy Gardens. When we first discovered the walled garden at Burderop Park in December 2020, we felt like we had stumbled across a forgotten world.

Greetings, garden enthusiasts! Since our last update in March, we’ve made tremendous strides at Bothy Gardens. Our journey to restore this historic gem, nestled in the Wessex Downs of Wiltshire, continues with passion and dedication. We’re thrilled to share our latest progress as we strive to return the garden to its former Georgian glory with modern twists.

Join Us in the Garden: Volunteer Days at Bothy Gardens. Now, as we move into the next phase of our project, we’re opening the garden gates to welcome volunteers passionate about gardening, history, and making a difference. We’ve set aside four days each month for volunteer days, with two-hour time slots available twice a day (10:00-12:00 & 15:00-17:00). Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just looking to lend a hand, we’d love for you to join us.

In the early 19th century, the renowned horticulturist and writer John Claudius Loudon proposed an innovative idea to revolutionise gardeners' education and professional development, his proposal was to establishing libraries within gardeners' tool houses. When we encountered the rich history of garden libraries in walled gardens, we knew it had to be part of the Bothy Gardens’ story.

Our primary focus has been renovating the charming old stone bothy cottage, a genuine relic dating back to the 1730s. The interior has undergone a remarkable transformation, with non-original flooring removed, the stone walls sandblasted to remove the thick white paint, and new insulation and concrete foundations installed.

This last week, from August 21st to 25th, we embarked on a journey to the enchanting county of Cornwall. Our five-day adventure took us through a tapestry of botanical wonders, historic landscapes, and lush gardens, leaving us inspired and invigorated for the ongoing Bothy Gardens project.

As summer nears the end at the Bothy Gardens, we are excited to share some of the captivating books we have been reading. These nine books have found their way into our hands this summer, providing inspiration, knowledge, and a deeper understanding of the world we nurture within the walled garden.

On a rainy Saturday in August, I sought shelter and history within the walls of the Chiseldon Local History Group's museum. Two gracious curators welcomed me and revealed a wealth of information about Burderop Park, the very grounds where our restoration journey has taken root. The museum's exhibit on Burderop Park stretches across an entire wall, a tapestry woven with tales from the estate's past.

As much as we would love to welcome you to tour the Bothy Gardens, we are not yet at that stage, so until then, we have made a list of other amazing walled gardens you can visit today!

Step into the enchanting world of 18th-century England, where walled gardens reigned supreme as horticultural treasures. These meticulously designed and enclosed spaces held a special place in the hearts of garden enthusiasts, offering a sanctuary for both practical cultivation and aesthetic pleasures.

We are thrilled to unveil our new branding for the Bothy Gardens, an embodiment of our commitment to honouring the rich history and timeless beauty of this remarkable space. Taking inspiration from vintage signs and seed posters of yesteryears, our branding seamlessly blends nostalgia with contemporary design elements.

Spring 2023 proved to be a challenging yet fruitful season for the ongoing restoration project at the Bothy Gardens. Despite the persistent rain that turned the garden into a muddy oasis, our team persevered, focusing on various tasks to bring this historic space back to life. In this blog post, we'll take you through the progress made between April to the end of June, highlighting the steps taken towards our vision of a flourishing and enchanting garden.

During the 1700s, walled garden paths were an essential feature of grand estates and kitchen gardens. These paths served practical and aesthetic purposes, providing access to different garden sections while adding structure and elegance to the overall design. While specific details about walled garden paths from that era may vary depending on the region and the preferences of the garden's owners, some general characteristics and considerations can be observed.

It seems fitting that our wonderful new project gets a lovely new Red Tractor to help it become the magical garden we dream it will eventually be. Say hello to Ferdi, our charming red Branson tractor. We named her Ferdi as a nod to The Story of Ferinand, the 1936 children’s book by Munro Leaf.

“The earth laughs in flowers” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Early April and another busy work weekend at the Bothy, but I did manage to take a break and shoot some nice photos of all the new life popping up. We have done a lot of clearing and the plant life seems to appreciate that we have taken an interest.

Enjoy our new spring life images at the Bothy Gardens!

On February 18th, 2022, our walled garden suffered a significant setback when our Southeast wall collapsed during the powerful windstorm that swept the UK and Central Europe. This wall was one of the thinnest walls in the design and perhaps one of the first. The lower 1 meter of half the wall was built of stone with brick on top. The outside of the wall was covered with Ivy, which acted as a sail taking even more wind than elsewhere. This, along with a few already existing cracks, was the reason for its collapse.

2022 will be the year! In January 2022, we finally had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the walled garden, embarking on a long weekend of work that was filled with excitement and anticipation. After receiving the keys finally in November 2021, it was a long-awaited moment to step into this space that we had dreamed of calling our own. You might remember that we signed the papers and had our walk through with the architect way back in July! Lovely, bureaucracy, but now finally we can begin work!

On July 13th, we signed the papers and met the architect at the Bothy to have a walk through of priorities. It was so lovely to be back in the garden, albeit very, very different from my last visit in December. My fantasies of making a magical garden would not be hard as nature was fully living here and loving the freedom and lack of people!

I finally traveled back to the UK on June 14th after a long 6 months away. Even until I arrived, the plan was to move the camper van up to the Bothy and start working. When I came, I ordered all the materials; chainsaw, strimmer (weed wacker in the US), Hedge trimmer, buckets, shovels, brooms, gloves, etc. We spent the first week preparing the camper van, as we had just gotten it back from being renovated. That week slipped by, then another, then another! It also was unbelievably rainy and cold!

After a month of dreaming, researching, and planning, stepping into the walled garden for the first time in December 2020 was a moment of pure enchantment. Despite the persistent rain on my journey from London, the sky cleared as I arrived, revealing the awe-inspiring beauty of the garden even in the winter. The skeletal trees and moss-covered stone walls created a captivating backdrop, while the scents and sounds of nature enveloped me. It was a glimpse into the timeless allure of this sacred space, fueling my excitement for the journey ahead and the transformation that awaited the Walled Garden and Gardener’s Bothy.

In November 2020, our journey into the enchanting world of the Bothy and Walled garden began. It all started when Mark was invited to visit the Burderop Park development near Marlborough in Wiltshire. As he walked through the site, a cold and dreary day couldn't dampen his excitement. The vision of the walled garden captured his imagination, and he discovered that it was part of a larger plan to sell the Bothy house with a small piece of land for an approved extension.