Transforming the Bothy Gardens. When Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler stumbled across a forgotten Georgian walled garden in Wiltshire during the height of the pandemic in December 2020, they were looking at more than a property. They’d discovered a wild, overgrown dream.
‘Think jungle-level brambles, crumbling walls and a greenhouse from a post-apocalyptic movie,’ Jules said. ‘For most, it would’ve been a hard pass. For us it was love at first sight.’
A special milestone
This December marks a special milestone for the pair behind Bothy Gardens. The reason being that they celebrate the fourth anniversary of discovering the site on the Burderop estate. Their journey of restoring the forgotten Georgian walled garden and Grade II-listed Bothy into a vibrant haven of creativity, nature and heritage has been ambitious.
‘When we first walked into the space, we thought, ‘How hard can it be?’ Jules laughs. ‘Spoiler: it has been very hard. But it’s also been the most rewarding adventure we could imagine.’
Restoring Bothy Gardens hasn’t been without its twists and turns. And the odd encounter with bats – both literal and figurative.
Planning approval alone, at first estimated at eight weeks, stretched to an eye-watering twenty-one months. That was due to sensitive conservation requirements. Meanwhile, their first contractor left behind a trail of leaky roofs, missing plumbing and unburied water lines. All that forced Jules and Mark to rebuild their team of trades people and much of the work.
Despite these setbacks, the duo retained their vision and sense of humour. This October, they celebrated a major milestone: installing all the windows and doors in the Bothy.
‘It felt,’ Mark said, ‘like the house was finally exhaling after holding its breath for decades. Every day we love it a little more.’
No ordinary project
Bothy Gardens is no ordinary restoration project. The vision is grand. A rare plant wholesale nursery, a gleaming Victorian greenhouse, a garden library and a creative studio for workshops and educational programmes.
But it’s not all about the big ideas. Jules and Mark have spent the past four years refurbishing the smallest details. For instance, saving all original stones, bricks, and metal guttering. And rejuvenating the soil in the walled garden that hadn’t been touched in decades.
Mark, also known as ‘The Plant Hunter’ for his expertise in rare horticulture, explains: ‘It’s a place that feels alive again. And as much as history, it’s also about the future. It’s about teaching people to grow, connect, and find inspiration in the natural world.’
Later in the year, horticulture, design, and creative thinking courses will welcome people from all walks of life to learn, create, and grow in this extraordinary space.
‘Bothy Gardens is more than a project—it’s a passion,’ Jules says. “We’ve learned so much over these four years. From the importance of choosing the right tradespeople to the joy of celebrating small victories like the day our greenhouse finally stood proud after its facelift.’
While the restoration is far from complete, Jules and Mark embrace the quirks and surprises of reviving this historic gem. Mark adds: ‘If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that gardens and old buildings have a mind of their own. You’re not only restoring them—you’re building a relationship.’
To find out more visit https://www.bothygardens.com/
Earlier this year I had the joy of visiting the Bothy and the garden and meeting Jules and Mark who are both delightful people. I decided to include the bothy in my Swindon in 50 More buildings series because of its history as part of the Burderop Manor estate and … well because it’s something a bit different. Find that post here:
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Thank you so much for sharing!
You are very welcome. It’s just such a lovely place.
Sending encouragement for a beautiful adventure x
Ruthie