The couple behind Bothy Gardens in Wiltshire are urging gardeners to consider not just their planting but also the soil in their gardens. Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler have spent years bringing back to life a walled garden and Bothy near Swindon
As spring arrives, the couple behind Bothy Gardens in Wiltshire are urging gardeners to consider not just their planting but also the soil in their gardens.
Jules Gilleland and Mark Wheeler have spent several years curating and bringing back to life the walled-garden and Grade II listed Bothy at Burderop, Chiseldon, near Swindon into a vibrant natural space which will be both a business and a meeting place.
They will be holding their first open day in May this year for visitors to book and browse around the site – and soil will be a big topic for the event.
Mark said: “Healthy soil is paramount when it comes to sustainability. The secret to a thriving garden is the soil beneath one’s feet.
“Healthy soil is soil that’s alive with bacteria, fungi, and earthworms breaking down organic matter and releasing essential plant nutrients and retain moisture. Gardeners need to create well-structured soil which acts like a sponge, soaking up rainfall and preventing flooding.”
Wiltshire’s soil is chalky and limestone-rich with high alkaline pH level and therefore really supports plants such as Cornus Mas, Acer Campestre, and Carpinus Betulus (Common Hornbeam). Whereas Rhododendron Cultivars, Azalea, and Hamamelis (Witch-Hazel) struggle in these environments because they need more acid.
Jules said: “Adding organic matter (compost or well-rotted manure) to lower pH levels and this will improve soil structure. If plants prefer alkaline conditions, lime can be used to keep pH level in the plant’s comfort zone. Be sure to regularly test your soil to ensure plants can thrive.”
The couple can also talk about testing/identifying arsenic which is present in most soils at low and safe levels. At Bothy Gardens, soil testing confirmed that arsenic levels are within normal background concentrations. There are plants which can mitigate as well.
“By keeping soil neutral to slightly acidic, growers can reduce arsenic uptake in plants. Three plants that aren’t prone to accumulating arsenic from the soil are: European Beech, English Lavender, Japanese Rose,” Mark said.
Practical changes have been implemented at Bothy Gardens when it comes to planting. Stock plants have been planted along walled edges with recycled organic matter being added to improve fertility and lower pH.
Mark and Jules have also installed a potting machine which can pot up to 5,000 plants per day using peat-free compost and recycled plastic pots.
Their horticultural advice is amongst the many opportunities available on their first open day of 2025 on Saturday, 10 May. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour, a beepkeeping class and nature art workshops as well as food and drink.
Jules Gilleland of Bothy Gardens, said, “Our first 2025 open day is going to be an exciting day for the start of summer, we can’t wait to welcome people and offer our amazing opportunities for people to learn about Bothy Gardens and all that we can offer. It will be a day of soil, sustainability, and sparkle.”
Those who interested in the open day can drop in and for more information visit www.bothygardens.com
Register now to receive free email alerts of press releases or login to manage your preferences. You can also subscribe to RSS feeds of press releases by category or keyword here.
Sign up to receive press release alerts of your choice by email, or manage your subscription
Journalist enquiries to PRs.
Featured recruiter: click to view its vacancies
Join the Wonderly editorial team at Volkswagen Group UK's Milton Keynes HQ! They are looking for a confident, curious, and creative individual who is passionate about cars and digital content
Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news, tips, jobs and more
End that deadline stress today and find help in our freelance directory
Cargo Force stuns the world: free 10kg shipping to India in celebration of ICC Trophy victory – offer ongoing until Sunday, 16 March!
Our 35th Newsrewired conference will be held 13 May 2025, News UK, London.
Balance quality content with strategic growth
A new report by FT Strategies and smartocto reveals how newsrooms are increasing relevance, engagement and revenue by focusing on why readers consume news rather than what journalists think is important
The Scandinavian media company is using innovative tools, including bullet-pointed explainers embedded in crime stories, to rebuild trust among young audiences and counter growing news avoidance
How do the likes of DER SPIEGEL and L'Equipe turn fly-by readers into loyal subscribers? The Audiencer's Madeleine White dives into top case studies, best practices and benchmarks
