Wee Beastie Gardens

Wee Beastie Gardens Sustainable garden maintenance service by scientist and gardener Dr Nadia Dewhurst-Richman (Herts)

Spotted this beauty in Dunkeld, Scotland - hair ice, one of winter’s strangest and most delicate phenomena.It forms on d...
03/01/2026

Spotted this beauty in Dunkeld, Scotland - hair ice, one of winter’s strangest and most delicate phenomena.

It forms on decaying wood when moisture seeps out and freezes into these incredibly fine silky threads — all thanks to a curious little fungus called Exidiopsis effusa. The result? Something between a frosted wig and spun sugar.

Just another reminder that the natural world rocks texture, structure, and sheer magic.

Adding to my collection of dead pot plants using the seedheads of Libertia grandiflora and Pennisetum Hameln
11/12/2025

Adding to my collection of dead pot plants using the seedheads of Libertia grandiflora and Pennisetum Hameln

I grew up in the Highlands of Scotland, a place that shaped how I design.It’s not a landscape known for abundance of col...
11/12/2025

I grew up in the Highlands of Scotland, a place that shaped how I design.

It’s not a landscape known for abundance of colour. Instead, it’s all about contrast: the form of trees against a pale winter sky, golden grasses holding the last of the day’s light. The atmosphere comes not from showiness, but from form, structure, and the way light and shadows fall across the land.

That’s where I learned to look closely. To notice the shapes of trees, the curve of a path, the architecture of a branch. It’s also where I learned the quiet drama of winter - the strength in simplicity.

I often find myself captivated by the grace of seedheads and the structure of plants in death - their silhouettes sharp against the light, their shadows creeping across walls as the low sun moves in.

That way of seeing now sits at the heart of my design work. I don’t just look for flowers that dazzle in spring - I think about how a garden holds itself in the depths of winter, how it glows when the sun is low, how it moves in a storm.

I’m grateful to Jeanetta Rowan Hamilton who played a big part in giving me access to that landscape in my early years, and who helped shape how I see these things now. Rest in peace.

Woke up to some beauties in my moth trap this morning. 1. Black Arches2. Lime-specked Pug3. Chinese Character 4. I'm rea...
02/08/2025

Woke up to some beauties in my moth trap this morning.

1. Black Arches
2. Lime-specked Pug
3. Chinese Character
4. I'm really hoping this not the case but Oak Processionary Moth - can you confirm?

Why “Wee Beastie Gardens”?Because the bugs — the wee beasties — tell me more than any soil test or spreadsheet ever coul...
31/07/2025

Why “Wee Beastie Gardens”?

Because the bugs — the wee beasties — tell me more than any soil test or spreadsheet ever could.

Insects and other invertebrates are incredible indicators of garden health. They show me what’s working, what’s struggling, and they help shape so many of the decisions I make — from planting choices to soil improvement, pruning times, and pest management.

Some groups of invertebrates can even tell me:

🔍 What kind of soil you’ve got – Certain ground beetles and centipedes prefer light, sandy soils, while others thrive in heavy clay. Seeing who turns up can clue me in before I’ve even touched a spade.

🧪 Whether key nutrients are missing – A lack of decomposer insects (like springtails, woodlice, and certain flies) might hint at low organic matter or poor microbial life — which could mean your plants are going hungry.

🦠 If a plant disease might be brewing – Some bugs are drawn to weakened or stressed plants. If I see certain aphids or leaf miners appearing in force, it can be a red flag that something’s out of balance — often before symptoms are visible.

🚫 How pest- and disease-prone your garden is – Gardens with a rich variety of predatory insects (like hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and lacewings) are usually better at self-regulating. If they’re missing, the garden is likely more vulnerable to outbreaks.

🌍 How biodiverse and balanced the whole system is – A healthy spread of pollinators, predators, decomposers and scavengers tells me you’ve got the building blocks of a truly resilient garden.

So that’s why I called my business Wee Beastie Gardens.
Because the insects are always talking — and I’ve learned to listen. 🧡

It’s been a while since I’ve posted — the last few months have been full of design work and exciting projects — but I al...
31/07/2025

It’s been a while since I’ve posted — the last few months have been full of design work and exciting projects — but I also had the huge privilege earlier this year of dialling back business for a short time to work at in Hertfordshire.

I spent time in the extraordinary plant library — a living resource of around 2,000 perennials, created by and cared for by the incredibly multi-talented head gardener, . Being immersed in such a diverse collection deepened my understanding of planting design, plant hardiness, and the nuances of what different species need to thrive.

I was also involved in building the new sand beds, which opened up a whole new world of thinking about drought-tolerant planting and growing mediums — a timely and important focus in our changing climate.

But what really set Serge Hill apart was its atmosphere of creativity and care. The project is rooted in the belief that gardening can nurture wellbeing, and during my time there I met so many people engaging with horticulture in different and inspiring ways. It’s really shaped how I now think about the future of my own work — not just designing beautiful spaces, but making space for community, art, and healing through plants.

If you’re nearby (or even if you’re not!), the Serge Hill Project is open to the public. They run brilliant workshops and talks — from flower pressing and wreath making to family art sessions and talks on the many dimensions of horticulture — and throughout August, there are open Thursdays for families, with lots of hands-on activities for kids.

It’s a really special place — do go if you get the chance. 🌱

👉 Find out more and book via their website: https://www.sergehillproject.co.uk/whats-on

Over the past 12 months, I've had the enormous pleasure of working with the incredibly talented, ultimate bee nerd 🐝, (...
31/07/2025

Over the past 12 months, I've had the enormous pleasure of working with the incredibly talented, ultimate bee nerd 🐝, (aka Stacey McGovern), on a range of garden design projects that have been deeply fulfilling — creatively, intellectually, and ethically.

Stacey and I share a core set of values around designing truly sustainable gardens. And not just in the vague, buzzword-y way — we’ve spent real time reflecting on what sustainability means in practice, and how it can be translated meaningfully into design.

That means thinking carefully about the locality of each garden: the surrounding landscape, the ecological context, and how the garden can be supported by its environment rather than working against it. We aim to create gardens that are not only more ecologically resilient, but also lower-maintenance and more financially sustainable for clients over time.

We're both keen observers of the spaces we work in — often spending time just watching and listening to what a garden is already trying to tell us before any plans are drawn. I bring my ecology background into the process, sampling plant and invertebrate communities, while Stacey brings her phenomenal knowledge of bee diversity, plants, and pollinator dynamics to the table. Together we assess soil health, diagnose potential long-term problems, and root our design decisions in a strong foundation of evidence.

It’s thoughtful work. And collaborative work. And joyful work. And I’m so grateful to be doing it with someone as generous, grounded, and brilliant as Stacey.

Not all my garden endeavours go to plan 😩
06/09/2024

Not all my garden endeavours go to plan 😩

Had an incredibly inspiring weekend walking through the wildflowers at the Linn of Dee in the . What a stunning performa...
06/09/2024

Had an incredibly inspiring weekend walking through the wildflowers at the Linn of Dee in the . What a stunning performance from the wildflowers in late August! I enjoyed seeing so many of the native grasses and perennials that I use in my designs, in their natural habitat. I learnt more than I could have imagined possible in one day, my husband can confirm there was a distinct lack of walking and a lot of photographing, observing and studying. It made me ask whether landscape design students would greatly benefit from less time in the classroom and more time in the wild observing how nature does it. The stand out features for me were the scabious, Molinia, Calluna and the Lycopodium lagopus (the finger-like projections); a stunning combination of plants all within a metre squared but typically used in plantings spanning drought tolerant to the Arctic.

What an abundance of life and performance in the Plant Library at the . One of the very many great benefits that comes w...
06/09/2024

What an abundance of life and performance in the Plant Library at the . One of the very many great benefits that comes with volunteering here is the opportunity to see which plants are performing through the seasons. But my time here has also shown me the value of really understanding the conditions necessary for good flowering performance, as I spend time in many gardens where there is the opportunity for people to be gaining many more months of performance from their plant stock simply though re-positioning. Today, I really enjoyed the Oenothera, the stunning Centaurea gigantea and Miscanthus pairing, Panicum, Actaea, Persicaria and the Astrantia.

I presented my client with this little bouquet of prunings I'd taken from her garden, all of which were broken stems and...
19/08/2024

I presented my client with this little bouquet of prunings I'd taken from her garden, all of which were broken stems and destined for the compost pile but now reside on her kitchen counter. I love this winning combination of Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Silberspinne' and Sanguisorba officinalis 'Red Thunder' ❤️

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Berkhamsted

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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