COUPLE’S AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR HISTORIC ‘BOTHY’ TAKE SHAPE IN SWINDON

A couple’s vision to re-create a modern version of a walled garden and a Grade II* listed Bothy on the outskirts of Swindon is taking shape.

Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler, affectionately known as ‘The Plant Hunter’, are investing their savings and lives into turning a forgotten Georgian walled garden and its historic bothy into a vibrant haven of creativity, nature, and heritage. It’s located on the edge of the Burderop estate outside Chiseldon, near Swindon.

Their passion project, lovingly named Bothy Gardens, will include greenhouses, flood plant beds, nurseries for rare plants, including orchids, a garden library, and an atelier/classroom. After years of meticulous planning and waiting, this ambitious vision is finally taking shape. It’s been a long journey for the couple who bought the site in 2021.

“This site is our dream location for our lives together,” Jules said. “"Mark is the mastermind behind the plants – an award-winning horticulturist with a reputation that precedes him. As for me, I’m an established designer with a huge passion for art and design, including painting and creating spaces for learning. The Bothy Gardens will combine our lives and passions alongside a wholesale plant business.”

The bothy is a building that forms part of Bothy Gardens. The term comes from the Georgian and Victorian eras, when such buildings, usually attached to a walled garden, were the humble homes of so-called ‘Bothy Boys’. They were employed—often in poor conditions—to maintain and look after the greenhouses, gardens and grounds of stately homes. They were servants and did not have the status of the Head Gardener, who would direct their daily tasks and would have had his own property within any estate.

In this case, the bothy fell out of use for many years, and when Jules and Mark purchased the property, it had been abandoned for over 20 years. The bothy will become their dream home while the surrounding gardens will be restored to their former glory.

The Victorian greenhouse was marked for demolition and on the brink of collapse, tangled in vines and brambles, with a pair of unruly fig trees bursting through the shattered glass. However, where others saw ruin, Jules and Mark saw potential. As we speak, the greenhouse is being restored to become both Jules's creative studio and a sanctuary for propagating rare orchids. That's just the beginning.

“To get to this point where we can now start to plan the future of Bothy Gardens has required so much hard work,” Jules said.

“We've put our hearts and souls into this project,” Jules said, “and we're committed to preserving the heritage of this place while infusing it with new life. We want to share Bothy Gardens with others who share our love for gardening, art, and the simple joys of nature.”

Mark already has an established plant nursery in North London but has always dreamed of owning a walled garden. He is well known in the ‘gardening’ world for his encyclopaedic knowledge and love of plants, particularly rare breeds/species, such as Schefflera Rhododendrifolia (Umbrella tree), Ruscus Hypoglossum (spineless butcher's broom), and Salvia Oxyphora (Fuzzy Bolivian Sage).

His expertise has earned him accolades, including contributions to 19 winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show exhibits. Now, he's bringing his vision to Bothy Gardens, creating a space where the rare and the beautiful can thrive.

“My vision for Bothy Gardens is not just about restoring a historic space, but about creating something truly unique - a living legacy of rare and extraordinary plants,” Mark explained.

“I’ve spent years collecting and cultivating plants that are often overlooked or forgotten. Here, within the walls of this garden, I see an opportunity to build something that will outlive us - a sanctuary where rare species can thrive and be appreciated by future generations.

“It’s about more than just a business; it’s about preserving and sharing the beauty and diversity of the plant world with like-minded enthusiasts. I want Bothy Gardens to be a place where people come to learn, to be inspired, and to leave with a deeper appreciation for the natural world.”

Jules is an accomplished designer who has been running her company, Turtlewings, from Brussels, Belgium, for many years. With a background in design she has a passion for creating spaces that inspire wonder and well-being. In 2014, she founded Think with Things after winning the Open Education Challenge, earning a spot as one of the top seven EdTech companies in Europe. Now, Jules is thrilled to bring both Think with Things and her design studio, Turtlewings, to Wiltshire.

 The couple, who met over six years ago in Brussels, are eager to contribute to Wiltshire’s creative and cultural scene.

“I absolutely adore the English countryside,” Jules shared with a smile. “It takes me back to the farmlands of Iowa where I grew up. But unlike Iowa, you have these little villages, and every turn reveals a scene straight out of a postcard. After 24 years in the bustling city of Brussels, I'm more than ready to reconnect with my roots, live in the countryside, and cultivate a space that blends English charm with the traditions of Iowan country living – just like my mother and grandmothers did.”

In the spirit of community, Jules and Mark recently opened Bothy Gardens to volunteers for four days a month after many locals expressed an interest in discovering more and learning from the couple after following the Bothy Gardens blog and Instagram feed. Jules posts regularly about their work and journey so far.

By the spring of next year, she hopes to be running her first art & garden classes on the site for small groups. To find out more about the volunteering opportunities and to register an interest in upcoming classes, visit https://www.bothygardens.com/