Winch was perhaps the first botanist to take seriously the problem of geographical distribution of plants. He published work on the botany of Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham and had a herbarium of some 12,000 species. He became FLS in 1803 and Associate in 1821. He was secretary to the Newcastle Infirmary and died in Ridley Place, Newcastle.
Winch's herbarium went to the Hancock Museum and his name is preserved in the genus Winchia.