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.