Poole in Bloom awards for ‘bee man’s’ secret garden

If you live in Poole, you’re probably aware of Jim Gardner, aka ‘the bee man’. He’s often in the headlines for his incredible work with bees and he has just been given three awards by Poole in Bloom for his creativity and his ‘secret garden’ in Poole.

At the awards, held in The Italian Villa at Compton Acres and supported by BCP Council, Jim won Gold in the Large Back Garden category and his ‘secret’ garden won Silver Gilt in the Community Garden category and Bronze in the Queen’s Jubilee Category. 

“It was a nice surprise, it's great to get the garden noticed,” said Jim, “I would love to get it on Gardeners’ World.” 

Gardner by name, gardener by nature, Jim took over the space in 2016, when it was just an overgrown lane running from Danecourt Rd, parallel to North Rd, down to the college. 

“Back then it was just a load of brambles and nettles – and a few pretty double-flowered daffodils,” said Jim. “But the council would come down on mowers and go straight over them, so I said: if that’s the best you can do, I will take over! But I had no idea it would evolve into what it has.” 

Since then, he has worked tirelessly to create a thriving wild garden for local wildlife, including slow worms, butterflies, birds, frogs, and of course, bees, which he refers to as his ‘obsession.’ There are bird boxes in the trees, a pond, and a rockery, not to mention some weird and wonderful sculptures and art, making it a fun place to take a walk.  

Asked why he does it, Jim opened up: “My love of nature and gardening started when I was on a youth opportunity programme, aged 14, at Hampreston Manor Farm, doing all sorts of farm stuff. The herdsman, Chris, was a fantastic chap; he was a rugby player, big-built, fingers like sausages. He had such a love for nature and gardening. He married a church girl, gave up rugby and drinking and took up showing sweet peas and daffodils. Seeing him straightening the stems of sweet peas with his huge arms and massive fingers was amazing. We were friends until he died, far too early, of throat cancer. I miss him so much. But that's where this all started.” 

Jim suffers with depression and anxiety and finds gardening helps his mental health. He started the garden around the time Chris died and another friend, a neighbour, passed away, as did his beloved dog Izzy. “I think we all need to do our bit for nature and for mental well-being in this very unpleasant world we are living in,” said Jim. “The garden has become well-loved for wildlife and humans alike. It's odd that people come to view the garden now; I get to meet loads of different people of all ages - I hear good news, sad news and everything in-between.” 

Jim is not your ‘typical’ gardener. He drives around in his gold convertible, complete with BEE registration and a Batman model. He is heavily tattooed and pierced and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. The Sloop dog, recovered from his local, The Sloop, (recently demolished to make way for yet more flats) now takes pride of place in the garden. 

He enjoys the macabre and his garden is testament to this with grotesque masks on trees and ghouls and skeletons, particularly at Halloween. “I’m unsure where my love of oddness comes from,” said Jim. “My home garden is full of mannequins and oddness; so is my car, which causes smiles and laughs - and that is what we all need these days!” 

The 56 year-old is hands-on with nature; every summer he is summoned to move swarms of bees that have become displaced from all sorts of places – up trees, in sheds and even in car bonnets. He wears shorts and a t-shirt, often plunging his bare hand into the swarm, claiming he is rarely stung by the “fantastic friendly little things.” 

“Collecting bee swarms is a thing I love doing; they are just such amazing little insects. If we were as organised as them, the world would be a much nicer place,” said Jim. 

“I’ve been to some amazing stately homes and other beautiful properties, but we need to educate everyone that these 70,000 bees are not out to kill you, they are just looking for a new home!”  

He does admit to being occasionally stung by the odd “miserable” bee though. 

Asked how he would describe himself, Jim replies “A bit of a loner, a lot of a Victor Meldrew, with a very dry sense of humour. Oh, and a tad mad!” 

Jim always appreciates financial donations or plants for his garden. You can find him on Facebook at The Mad Dorset Bee-man or Poole’s Secret Garden.

By Emily McGregor, Local News and Lifestyle Reporter