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Transforming run-down walled garden into dream home

Barbara Leatham Jules and Mark standing in front of the Victorian greenhouse which they are restoring. Jules is wearing blue trousers and a white shirt with her hand in her pocket and her arm around Mark, who is standing to her left wearing blue jeans and a denim shirt. Behind them is a low brick greenhouse with new white roof rafters, but no glass panels fitted yet. The couple are looking at the camera and smiling.Barbara Leatham
The couple say they embrace the quirks and surprises of reviving this historic gem

A couple who took on an ambitious project to restore a forgotten Georgian walled garden into their dream home say the place "feels alive again".

Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler stumbled across the Grade II listed property on the Burderop estate near Swindon, Wiltshire, during the height of the pandemic.

They soon conjured a vision to restore the walled garden to its former glory and start a rare plant wholesale nursery, a creative workshop studio, a garden library and Victorian greenhouse.

Bothy Gardens will be opening its gates for public open days in the early spring, inviting visitors to explore the ongoing restoration and attend horticulture classes.

The disused bothy on the perimeter of the walled garden. It looks very old and abandoned, with bricks that are coming away from the mortar, mouldy windows, moss and dead branches on the roof, and algae growing everywhere. There is a main building on the left, and a one-storey extension on the right. The bricks are cracked and faded, and there is a man in a hi-vis vest pulling the wooden door closed.
Estate workers would once have slept in the loft area of the bothy, while the ground floor was used for gardening purposes

The pair said upon discovering a disused bothy in the 1731 Georgian walled kitchen garden, they became determined to restore the structure and make it their home.

A bothy is a basic outdoor shelter which were often used as the sleeping quarters of gardening staff on country estates in the Georgian and Victorian eras.

"Think jungle-level brambles, crumbling walls, and a greenhouse from a post-apocalyptic movie," Ms Gilleland said.

"For most, it would've been a hard pass, but for us it was love at first sight."

Bothy Gardens A computer generated image of what the finished bothy will look like. It shows the north elevation of the building, with a long main section and a one-storey extension on the right. The brick looks slightly whitewashed, with big glass windows covered by green sliding barn doors. The roof is covered in dark slate with a large skylight window.Bothy Gardens
The disused bothy will be transformed into a contemporary living space that sensitively retains the original design and feel

But the fairy tale dream did not come without its obstacles.

Planning approval alone, initially estimated to take eight weeks, stretched to an eye-watering 21 months due to sensitive conservation requirements on the listed building.

"It's been very hard, but it's also been the most rewarding adventure we could imagine," said Ms Gilleland.

Mr Wheeler said: "It felt like the house was finally exhaling after holding its breath for decades. Every day we love it a little more."

A side by side image showing what the property looked like when they got the keys. On the left there is the Victorian greenhouse, with a floor covered in ferns and brambles, and countertops covered with gnarled roots, branches, old black buckets and watering cans. On the right is an overgrown pathway made of granite slabs, which are barely visible under the greenery. The path is lined by tall plants with yellow flowers.
This is what the overgrown property looked like when they first got the keys in 2021

The couple intend to preserve the site's unique history by saving scraps of the past- including the original stones, bricks, and metal guttering, as well as rejuvenating the soil that has not been touched in decades.

Mr Wheeler, affectionately known as "The Plant Hunter" for his expertise in rare horticulture, explains: "It's a place that feels alive again.

"As much as history, it's also about the future - teaching people to grow, connect, and find inspiration in the natural world.

"If there's one thing we've learned, it's that gardens and old buildings have a mind of their own.

"You're not just restoring them, you're building a relationship," he added.

Barbara Leatham Mark and Jules leaning through an open window in a light washed brick building. Jules is on the right, with short blonde hair and wearing a white shirt and watch. Mark is on the left, wearing a blue denim shirt rolled up at the sleeves and a dark bandana around his neck. He has dark grey hair swept to the side and a full white beard. They are both smiling at the camera.Barbara Leatham
The couple say Bothy Gardens "is not just a project, it's a passion"

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