Back to Visiting Barwinnock Herbs

Barwinnock is probably the most remote and exposed herb garden you are likely to visit. It is open to all the westerly gales and storms of a South West Scottish Winter. Only the willow, the salix viminalis, which can be used for coarse basket work is the wind break.

We believe that a herb garden is to be walked into, to enjoy the fragrance of the plants or to harvest them for use. Within this garden you are encouraged to walk into the beds, through small paths and along stepping stones to discover what might be growing. Larger plants have to peered around to find others. Wherever possible, paths and borders merge. There are shrubs over-hanging and plants under-foot so that you really feel welcomed within the garden rather than just looking at it from afar.

Emphasis is on placing plants in the type of conditions they prefer so they may thrive naturally. A scree slope and raised beds are used for the alpines and plants which prefer dry conditions while the shady, lower ground has the damp loving varieties

Straight lines and classic regimented symmetry is right for some herb gardens. At Barwinnock however, we have taken a different view. To be in keeping with the spirit of the herbs growing naturally and with the minimum of imposition from ourselves, regular geometric shapes have been avoided. We like to leave the seed heads so that plants "self sow" and we then let them grow on the site they have chosen.

The garden of course, still takes a great deal of work to keep and there is always weeding and planting taking place.