Bea - Head Gardener

Getting to Know Our Head Gardener: A Q&A with Bea

Welcome to our latest 'Meet the Team' blog! Today, we're stepping into the vibrant world of River Garden's Head Gardener, Bea. From childhood memories of sowing Nigella to ambitious plans for a new Fernery, Bea shares her journey, passion, and the incredible impact of gardening in recovery.

My Roots in Gardening

"My love for gardening truly bloomed when I was about 10 or 11, working alongside my grandmother. The very first seeds I ever sowed were Nigella, and they still hold a special place in my heart today. There’s something incredibly satisfying about propagating plants, especially from cuttings. I can easily lose hours in the glasshouse, meticulously sowing seeds, pricking out seedlings, potting on, and planting out."

From Therapeutic Gardener to Head Gardener at River Garden

"I joined River Garden in 2023, initially as the Therapeutic Gardener, and now I have the privilege of being the Head Gardener. However, the therapeutic aspect remains a daily, integral part of my work. I have the honour of working alongside our residents who are on their recovery journey from addiction, as well as our dedicated volunteer team. Together, with our residents, volunteers, and recovery support workers, we truly make a formidable garden team. It fills me with immense pride to see several of our former residents return to us as volunteers, bringing their invaluable knowledge, wisdom, and lived experience."

My Go-To Garden Essentials & a Controversial Belief

"I'm often asked what plant or tree I'd have in every garden, and honestly, that's a tough one! My background is in Landscape Design, so every scheme depends entirely on position, light, soil, weather, and so on. Personally, I adore Betula Pendula (Silver Birch) for its airy branches and dappled light, but living in a west-facing coastal spot, it simply wouldn't survive the elements. I've opted for Tamerix Tetandra (Salt Cedar) and Rosa Rugosa in my own garden, both of which can truly handle 'some weather'!

My top tip for every gardener? Knee pads, sharp secateurs, and a good hand fork! My Japanese tilling fork goes everywhere with me. Oh, and always remember to bend from the knees!

Now, for something a bit controversial... I often hear the saying, 'Weeds are just plants in the wrong place.' While I'd agree if we were talking about buttercups or dandelions, my polite disagreement kicks in when we're discussing Bind Weed or Mare's Tail! (Though I'm always open to being convinced otherwise!)."

The Natural Wonders of River Garden

"Our Lower Arboretum at River Garden boasts some truly amazing specimen trees. The Japanese Ginkgo is a personal favourite; its golden leaves in Autumn are simply glorious, and the unique shape of each leaf is the prettiest thing. The mighty Metasequoia (California Redwood), with its fantastic spongy bark, never ceases to impress me. I'm also thrilled about a gorgeous young, variegated Maple (Acer Drumundii) that I recently 'rescued' from between two huge Rhododendrons – it's just been released this week! Please do come and see if you can find it on our grounds."

The Rhythms of the Seasons & Our Bountiful Harvest

"Autumn is my favourite season. The tree line at River Garden is spectacular, and everything naturally slows down, allowing me to focus on design and planning. This month, the team harvested the last of the tomatoes and cucumbers, cleared the polytunnels and glasshouses, built five new raised beds, and settled everything for the winter.

Learning to grow vegetables, and not just a few, but enough to supply our café kitchen and sell to the public, has been a real joy and a steep learning curve since joining River Garden. Coming from a design and maintenance background, I’m thankful for the help of some very skilled growers who really 'know their onions' (pun intended!). We had a great year, and with our residents, volunteers, and support staff increasing weekly, we're set to do even better next year!"

Looking Ahead: Projects & Visions

"I tend to plan three significant projects each year. For 2025, these include the installation of our new Rose Garden, the restoration of the rockery and Alpine bed by the Gardener’s Cottage, and the creation of a Pétanque court.

Our big project for 2026 is the ambitious creation of a Fernery. This will be a dedicated space within the easterly section of the Lower Glasshouse, where we can cultivate specific conditions for a diverse selection of ferns to thrive. My vision is to create a serene space where the public can wander or sit amongst an abundance of different ferns. This project will likely take a couple of years to complete, but it will be a fantastic and incredibly interesting addition to our beautiful grounds."

"The Restoration of Auchincruive"

"We continually refer to our work as 'The Restoration of Auchincruive' because the gardens had been neglected for so long. We're working towards a five-year plan, and we warmly invite you to come and enjoy our gardens and be part of this incredible progress. We're also hoping to open our gardens again in 2026 as part of the Scottish Open Garden Scheme – last year was a great success with live music, plant stalls, and a wonderful festival atmosphere on a sunny day!"