However, by 1932 Speir’s School had financial difficulties and the County Authorities acquired the school after a protracted campaign in 1937. The school was finally closed in June 1972 when the Garnock Academy was established at Kilbirnie. After the closure, the buildings were badly vandalized and in 1984, all were demolished.

The woodlands and gardens are now open to the public. The head gardener of Eglinton Castle designed the 66,900 m2 (16.53 acres) grounds. He used a variety of shrubs and trees, eventually creating a very fine background for the Speir’s school; much of his garden designs remain to this day.

The grounds had originally a part of the Marshalland farm. A few orchid species are present and ivy dominates the grounds near the Geilsland Road. A survey on the grounds recorded 136 species of plants and 19 species of birds. The woodlands have an abundant amount of fungal growth, partially due to the large quantity of decomposed fallen timber.

Parrot Waxcap (Hygrocybe psittacina), a rare bird species is occasionally spotted. Speir’s is a site for birding with, amongst others, thrushes, finches, tits, chiffchaff, greater spotted woodpecker, willow, garden warbler and blackcap. The grounds are periodically patrolled by the Countryside Ranger, while the Grounds Maintenance Section maintain the entire grounds by removing fallen trees, mowing grass, and using it for InService Training sessions.

In 2008, an event was organized by the Beith Community Council to clean up and improve the grounds, fix an old track, and clean up litter. Gateside Primary School planted bulbs and trees donated by the Eglinton Country Park and local community. Ardrossan Academy pupils constructed new paths through the grounds and the woods.