- 2 weeks ago
Garden Rescue - Season 10 Episode 32 -
Stockport
Stockport
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00to make garden dreams come true Charlie Dimmock, Lee Burkill, Flo
00:14Hedlum and Chris Hull are here to answer your gardening
00:22emergencies. I feel disorganized a bit chaotic. It's a bit of a shocker. Each week
00:27two of our designers will go head-to-head. Pick me and let's do this. The garden we're
00:33gonna go with is... Drumroll!
00:37What? Lee! Oh yes! And whichever designer loses... The race is on. Go! Helps the winner
00:45build the garden. Good idea! Did you get that on camera? Lee said good idea Charlie! Amazing.
00:52Turning garden dreams... Open your eyes! I'm so overwhelmed! ...into reality. That is amazing!
01:04Today, the team are tackling a dull garden in Stockport. You're all sorted for work tonight?
01:11Yeah. It'll be a warm one tonight. It will be, yeah. But it'll be good to have a little
01:16stretch before work. Yeah, definitely. When they grow up, yeah. Two years ago, firefighters
01:20Lydia and Katie moved into their first home together. We met four years ago through work
01:26because we both work for the fire service. Yeah, we met on social media. Lydia was doing
01:31a workout and I commented on that. The rest is history as you say.
01:37While they love the home they share, the garden is where they want to be. Yeah, it's nice being
01:45out in the garden when the sun's out. Outside of work, as a couple, we love being outdoors,
01:51love being active, so we go camping, walking, kayaking, anything outside really. You ready
02:02for this? Tell me when you get in after me. How does that feel? Refreshing. She got me
02:10the ice bath for Christmas. I started jumping in there and I've never walked back since.
02:15It just makes you feel amazing, gives you a rush. You are freezing, but afterwards you
02:19just feel so good and full of energy. With such stressful jobs, their physical and mental
02:26health are of top priority, but their current outdoor space isn't quite the sanctuary they
02:32are craving. So when we first moved in we thought the garden wasn't actually too bad because
02:38it was just really overgrown, but then when we started cutting everything back we realised
02:42how much work would be involved with it. So, welcome to our depressing and dull garden. The
02:51things we hate the most about it, not very nice. You can see the gravel, stones everywhere,
02:56it gets in the house, in the tub, not very nice. Got bits of tree stumps, potholes in there,
03:04in the grass, it's very uneven. Yeah, and then there's just weeds everywhere, like this, it's
03:11never ending, they just grow back all the time. And the dreaded shed, that's one storm away
03:17from falling over. It's just a bit all over the show, it's just a bit, it makes your head
03:22a bit fuzzy. Erm, it's just uneven, unorganised and just a bit dull. Yeah, there's just no,
03:29no flow to it, like there's no, it's just not a positive place for us to be. But they can
03:36see the potential. It is a great size. Yeah, I mean like, it gets the sun all day, like nice
03:42sunny day today, and it's all over it. Erm, so it could be a really nice place to be.
03:51Amelia and Charlie are hoping they'll be the one to design Lydia and Katie's dream garden.
03:57That is quite pretty, isn't it? Yeah, it is, lovely.
04:04What have we got today then, Amelia? OK Charlie, ready? Yeah. So, we've got Lydia and Katie.
04:10They look very smiley, don't they? Very smiley indeed. Right, go on, show us the garden.
04:14Yeah, ready to see? OK, so, it's pretty big. It's huge!
04:20It's a bit of a blank canvas, I'd say. I mean, you've got this mature tree here,
04:24bit of paving and not much else. And then we've got, they're definitely braver than I am,
04:29cos I think that's a cold plunge pool. Do you think? Shall we see what we want?
04:34OK, let's have a look. So, we'd love a garden that focuses on wellbeing and mental health.
04:40That's such a lovely brief, isn't it? Wellbeing in the garden.
04:43We just really love if our garden could be an extension of our lives.
04:47OK, so, themes of countryside coming in there. That's nice.
04:51So, we'd love a wellbeing area in the garden, somewhere for the ice bath to go
04:56where we can relax in it and focus on our breath work.
05:00Then another area where we could perhaps do some stretching, meditation.
05:04I mean, it's sort of all in the same theme, isn't it? Which is interesting.
05:08Yeah. Meditation, yoga, spa.
05:11So, it's also really important to have a grassed area,
05:14somewhere for a lie down and relax together.
05:16OK, so, chill out area.
05:18So, planting-wise, we just want to go for a bit of a natural vibe,
05:21like we're almost in a wild meadow.
05:23So, it's great they want to use meadow turf and sort of wildlife planting plants.
05:28Yeah.
05:29Because it will make the budget go further.
05:31Definitely.
05:32Because it's a big garden. What is the budget?
05:34So, Charlie, it's 4K.
05:364,000. That's... I mean, it's a big garden.
05:40Yeah. Have you got any ideas up your sleeve?
05:43I'm loving the planting scheme.
05:46OK.
05:47I'd just like a little bit more money.
05:49I know. Wouldn't we all?
05:50Wow.
05:51Thinking cats on.
05:53Charlie and Amelia will create designs in line with the 4,000 pound budget.
05:58Lydia and Katie will have to pick their favourite, which the losing designer will help build.
06:05The designers and top team of landscapers provide the labour for free, leaving the entire budget to spend on materials and plants.
06:13Right, let's watch the designs.
06:19Lydia, Katie, kept the design very simple, which will help with the calmness.
06:25So, we've got a brand new patio.
06:27Can you imagine sitting there having a coffee in the morning?
06:30And then a new lawn that sort of draws your eye down the garden, which will make the garden feel even longer.
06:38I like that you can see out of the window all the way down to the end of the garden.
06:43Amelia has also incorporated a simple patio area to replace the annoying existing gravel.
06:49The stones have gone. Yeah. Amazing.
06:52So, as soon as you come out, you'll have a new seating area and a collection of different terracotta pots.
06:59And those will have lots of lovely, aromatic, strong-smelling herbs and plants like rosemary, lavender and thyme.
07:07Oh, wow.
07:08Both designers have found a new home for Katie's beloved ice bath.
07:13Coming off the patio, we've got pathway stepping stones around to your plunge pool.
07:21I can do my hopscotch back to warm myself up on the way back from my tub.
07:26Got this very modern-feeling screen that goes round it, so you've got a bit of privacy.
07:31Yeah, it's hidden there. I like that, yeah.
07:33And as you get in and out, we've got chamomile sort of dotted through and lavender.
07:38All lovely, calming scents that will help you chill.
07:43Be calm. Yeah, definitely.
07:45You're both braver than I am, and I have included the cold plunge tub in the design.
07:51Nice and secluded. Still got the privacy around.
07:55I've cleverly hidden it in this section over here behind a new low timber screen.
08:00And that timber screen will be nestled in and amongst lots of gorgeous, verdant, wispy, naturalistic planting.
08:07Yeah, all the planting around it looks really nice because you can't even tell that it's there really.
08:12Yeah, I like that.
08:13The midsection of the garden is where the two designs differ.
08:17You come round the stepping stones and into this lawn area.
08:22So this is the garden within the garden.
08:25Again, with these screens that will match the one that's round your plunge pool,
08:30some lavender hedging here, and then we've got meadow turf round here.
08:34Like a secret garden. Yeah.
08:37As you move through the space, you'll be surrounded by taller, really perennial, naturalistic planting.
08:44And that will take the form of different grasses like Miscanthus and Steepa tenesima,
08:49Verbena benariensis, and low-growing thyme as well.
08:54I really like those stepping stones.
08:56They're like natural, aren't they? They're just blending.
09:00So when you're stepping over them, you really do feel that the planting is all around you.
09:05I've also included this timber sleeper bench, which will be nestled in amongst the planting on the right-hand side.
09:12That would be really nice.
09:14Finally, a place to unwind and welcome in some wildlife at the bottom of the garden.
09:20So you can set your barbecue up for when your friends come round.
09:24There you go, you get a barbecue.
09:26And I'm going to plant up the back and around here with lots of native sort of plants
09:30that will encourage the wildlife into the garden.
09:34So lots of oxide daisies in amongst the meadow tower.
09:38Pretty flowers as well.
09:39As you get to this section down here, you'll have this small reclaimed circular trough.
09:47Now, if you do fancy a spot of yoga or meditation or just reading,
09:52that's really a space to do all of those activities.
09:56And I've also proposed this really lovely multi-stem amelanchia lamarchii tree to go in this corner here.
10:04And they have gorgeous tiny white flowers in spring.
10:07I like those seasonally changes.
10:09I really hope, Lydia and Katie, that you love this design and can see that it's got loads of amazing elements to improve your wellbeing.
10:16So I hope you choose me.
10:18Ticked off everything on the brief, really.
10:20100%, yeah.
10:21So that's my design.
10:23It's full of lots of scent, calm and relaxing areas.
10:28So you can chill and maybe do a bit of yoga, a bit of sunbathing and a little bit of socialising.
10:35Wow, love both of them. That's going to be a really tough decision to decide.
10:39Yeah, they were both amazing. I'm just waiting some time to think.
10:45I think they both achieved the brief and fitted in quite a lot.
10:49Because we've still got the grass sections on Charlie's and obviously a large section there on Amelia's.
10:54Yeah.
10:55I like how it's obviously we managed to get decking on both.
10:58On this one as well, on Charlie's, I think those areas will be bigger than you think.
11:02Yeah, I definitely like that.
11:04So on this bit down here on Amelia's, that's where all the stepping stones are and they're like naturally hidden within the planting.
11:11Yeah, on Charlie's, this is like just a nice long rest area, which is also very nice.
11:16Both give us amazing, really good designs. I just don't know how we're going to choose.
11:25Hi, Charlie and Amelia. It's Lydia and Katie here.
11:28Thank you so much for your designs. We love them both. They both have positive points.
11:33The best bits we liked about Charlie's was we could see right to the end of the garden.
11:36I love the feature of the cold plunge pool in its own little section.
11:41So I made like a spa screened off area.
11:44Very nice.
11:45Amelia, I feel like you really hit the brief as well.
11:47We loved the big decking area at the end of the garden.
11:51Oh, so you were big on the seating areas?
11:54I did, yeah. I think that was a priority for them.
11:56So, drum roll please.
11:58We have decided to go for...
12:06Amelia!
12:07Oh, wow!
12:08Well done.
12:09Oh, thank you, Charlie. I loved your design as well, though.
12:12I have to say, they said it was all about wellbeing, but I think they're party girls, really.
12:16Ah, what do you reckon?
12:17At the end of the garden gets all the sun and they're going to be up there with all their mates partying.
12:21You might be on something there, Charlie.
12:23Ben and his landscaping team have got two days to turn Amelia's design into reality.
12:34Come on in, team.
12:36So, we are in sunny Stockport.
12:40Let's break down the garden as it is.
12:42Lawn through the middle, not very nice at the moment.
12:45So I'm thinking we're taking all of it up.
12:48We're going to rip out all the borders, all the lawn,
12:51get this bit of paving up, all the path.
12:54Shed's got to come down.
12:56At the house, we have some lovely, smooth sandstone going in there, Andy.
13:00Yeah.
13:01So, me and you on that.
13:02Yeah.
13:03Monty, you like mixing, don't you?
13:04Sounds lovely.
13:05Yeah.
13:06And just in there, we have Lydia and Katie's plunge pool to go in.
13:10At the top of the stepping stones, we have two decked areas next to each other,
13:15but one lower down.
13:17Seems simple enough, but there is a lot to do.
13:20Shall we crack on with it?
13:22Let's get it done.
13:23First task of the day is to dismantle the dilapidated old shed.
13:28Come on then, Jay.
13:29Is this going out, is it?
13:30It has to, yeah.
13:38Before the digger can be brought in, the team needs to remove the tree stumps and borders
13:43all the random bits of old concrete.
13:46So, here we're just removing a section of the shed base.
13:49This is where the shed was, and the bit that's remaining that we've left in place
13:53is going to form part of the subframe for the deck.
13:56With 30 square metres of garden to dig over, reinforcements are going in.
14:02You're backside that scared.
14:03Does it?
14:04Yeah, you're through.
14:05You're beautiful, beautiful!
14:07So, we're a little bit behind as usual, but we're going to get all this earth dug out.
14:16Hopefully, if it's good soil, we'll use it in the garden.
14:19Then we'll get the patio stoned up, get it whacking and have to start laying.
14:23So, we'll go!
14:36Next, the team start on the patio directly outside of the house,
14:40laying the membrane and compacting the gravel ready for the tiles.
14:44This is my first slab.
14:46I'm going to do a nice L-shaped cut around the step.
14:50Now, I could just coach a rectangle fit in there,
14:53but then it throws the lines of my slabs out
14:56because I want them to wrap around the corner of the house perfectly.
14:59So, it's worth doing that extra little bit of work there
15:03to make it slightly easier later on in the build.
15:09Meanwhile, at the back of the garden, Lee's making a start on the main deck.
15:14Once this is in, this is going to determine how big a lower deck is going to be.
15:18It's going to be more of a bistro area that is down there,
15:21with staggered ends so it goes round that cherry tree.
15:23This is the yoga zone.
15:32If it be time we and Jamie have finished, we'll need some sort of stretching to sort of self-heart,
15:37especially working in this heat.
15:38Yeah, bit of downward dog.
15:40How about that? More like falling asleep downwards.
15:44With the main deck complete, it's time to add on the frame for the second decked area.
15:51This lower decking that we're doing here is more of like a chill-out kind of relaxing area
15:56where they can just have a nice coffee underneath the cherry tree,
16:00a nice morning and relax really.
16:02That's twice a year then.
16:04Yeah.
16:05With day one of the build drawing to an end, the patio is close to being ticked off.
16:11I think...
16:14I don't like it that, is it?
16:16But before they wrap up for the day, the team have an invitation from Katie
16:20to try out her ice-cold plunge ball.
16:23That's our day done.
16:25We have a little punishment stroke reward.
16:31We're going to do it.
16:32Rock, paper, scissors.
16:33Last one standing, basically.
16:35You ready?
16:36One, two.
16:37One, two.
16:38One, two.
16:39One, two.
16:40One, two.
16:41One, two.
16:42One, two.
16:47That is chilly.
16:50All that's needed now is a fresh refill on the plunge pool
16:53and two designers to help get this garden in shape.
17:00The following morning, Charlie and Amelia are in early to try and get ahead.
17:05So, this is a bit different.
17:07Yeah, it is.
17:08We're going to rescue their garden when they normally rescue us.
17:10I know.
17:11We've done a bit of a switch around today.
17:12Yeah.
17:13Oh, wow.
17:14This is looking a bit different, isn't it?
17:16It is.
17:17I mean, because this was a bit of a bear of a garden, wasn't it?
17:19It was.
17:20I think I am feeling a bit ill and sort of...
17:23Don't know where to begin.
17:24Right.
17:25What do you want me to do?
17:26Well, I think, Charlie, if you can tackle this section here
17:29with the stepping stones and the sort of spa area with the plunge pool...
17:33OK.
17:34..I can focus on our yoga, meditation, zen area.
17:38Amelia's design is all about wellbeing, beginning with a large decked area
17:43at the rear of the garden in place of the old shed.
17:46What I've created is a raised yoga and meditation deck.
17:51And that'll be somewhere just to relax on a weekend, really recharge, reconnect with each other.
17:57And then next to that section here, we've got this separate raised deck.
18:02So that's more of a drinks area, quite informal relaxation space.
18:06And now on your wellbeing journey as you move through the garden,
18:10this zone is sort of about a journey through nature.
18:14So we've got stepping stones which will be dotted in and amongst some lovely, billowing planting.
18:20We then come to what I think is the bravest section of the garden,
18:24which is the cold plunge pool.
18:26Lydia and Katie, I take my hat off to you because I would not be getting in that.
18:29But that is going to be sat here, surrounded with gorgeous, billowing planting again.
18:36Before, it was sort of sat kind of awkwardly near the house.
18:40And this way, it's much more integrated within the space.
18:43So the team's done an amazing job so far, I have to say.
18:46It's a big job and they've really tackled it well.
18:49But there is a lot to be getting on with, so I best crack on.
18:57First on Amelia's list is to check on her bespoke decking.
19:01All right, guys, how's it going?
19:04Great guns at the minute.
19:05Yeah, it's looking really nice, isn't it?
19:07So really good stuff.
19:08Yeah, so happy with the staggers we've put on there.
19:10Yeah, I think that's going to work really nicely
19:11because we've got bits of planting to sort of intersect with the decking.
19:15So over time, when that's all grown in,
19:17it will feel nice and sort of nestled within the planting beds.
19:20So, good stuff.
19:23Meanwhile, Charlie's making a start on the stepping stones
19:26that will lead from the new cold plunge pool down to the raised decking at the rear.
19:31Andy!
19:33Hello!
19:34Hello!
19:35Let's have a look.
19:36So we've got these preformed stepping stones, which are nice and I really love them.
19:42So that's a sandstone, yes?
19:44Indian sandstone.
19:45But we've only got, I don't think we've got enough,
19:48because I don't want the stepping stones to be so far apart that it's difficult.
19:52Yeah, the only thing we could do, we've got this sandstone,
19:55we've got the big slabs.
19:57Right.
19:58Can we not make some bigger ones out of them?
20:00Is that the royal we?
20:01Well, me then.
20:02Yeah!
20:03Why don't we put that there?
20:05And then me or you get a pencil and we just do a bigger...
20:09You?
20:10Me?
20:11Right, yeah, okay.
20:12Okay.
20:13I mean, we just sort of copy that.
20:15Okay, that seems like a plan.
20:17Yeah.
20:18With the stepping stones underway, the team are busy prepping the soil for the new grass to be laid.
20:32And Charlie's keen to get cracking on another of Amelia's design specs.
20:37Now, I really love the screen to be moveable.
20:41So I'm thinking, you know, like when you go to the beach and you have a windbreaker?
20:45Yeah, yeah.
20:46You can do that, but like a wooden version.
20:48A wooden version of it, yeah.
20:49Yeah, yeah.
20:50Well, I mean, we've got these 4x4 posts.
20:52Right.
20:53So if we put them in the corners, so it makes it stable.
20:55Yeah.
20:56And then we can come off it with...
20:57We've got some offcuts of deck board.
20:59We've got some offcuts of 6x2.
21:02So it could be quite an eclectic, sort of arty screen.
21:06Yeah, with some odd gap in it or something.
21:08Okay.
21:09That's great.
21:10What sort of height, you think?
21:11Well, that's got to be that high, because it's a bit of privacy, but to be honest, I mean,
21:15this is not a thing of beauty, is it?
21:17It's just a screen this, isn't it?
21:18Screen this, really, yeah.
21:19You can see over it.
21:20Yeah.
21:21That's quite a little shelf for us.
21:22Let's put the bear on.
21:23Is that defeating the object?
21:24I think that is defeating the object.
21:25You think?
21:26They can put their freshly squeezed cranberry juice on it.
21:29Whatever floats your boat, I suppose.
21:31Whilst Lee makes a start on the cold plunge frame out front, Amelia's plants have arrived,
21:37and she's keen to get her first peek.
21:40Wow!
21:41Look at that!
21:42Look at them!
21:43That is gorgeous.
21:45Frothy, whimsical.
21:46Yeah.
21:47Makes you go...
21:48A deep breath.
21:53This colour palette is really, Charlie, all about creating a sense of wellbeing and tranquility.
21:58So, lots of soft purples, whites and pinks.
22:02Yeah.
22:03Look at these gorgeous scabiosa here.
22:04Yeah.
22:05You know, we didn't want to pick anything that was going to be too high maintenance, too
22:09fussy.
22:10You know, things that will just do well year after year.
22:12Yeah, so what we call the doers.
22:15Exactly.
22:16Get on and do what they're next to.
22:17Like this beguinea here.
22:18Beguinea, yeah.
22:19I mean, it's fantastic.
22:20You know, the contrast of the leaves with the more frothy stuff.
22:23Absolutely.
22:24And grasses.
22:25Look at these grasses.
22:26They are gorgeous.
22:27And what I love about these sort of grasses is that they create that sort of rustling
22:31effect in the wind, which is just so relaxing.
22:36Look at this an enemy.
22:38I mean, that is just a whopper, isn't it?
22:40I love these plants because they're so good in the garden.
22:43They're reliable.
22:44They're brilliant for late summer colour as well, when everything else is looking a
22:48little bit drab.
22:49Yeah.
22:50That's a lovely little pop of colour.
22:51You can get them in pink as well.
22:53Going full on sensory, aren't you?
22:54Absolutely.
22:55You've got the colour, you've got the scent, and then you've got the sound.
22:58It's all about the scent.
22:59Yeah, it's going to be gorgeous.
23:00Gorgeous!
23:01With the groundwork in full swing, Charlie's cracking on with Amelia's plans for the perimeter
23:15fencing.
23:16So Amelia wants us to put wires up for climbers.
23:20So basically, we're future proofing, so the wires are already in there.
23:25We've got a few climbers, but once the wires are in, they can train it all the way down and
23:31on the other side as well.
23:33It's great that these concrete posts are here because the wires will be slightly off the
23:38fence.
23:39So if you're putting up wires for climbers, you want to set off the eyelets away from the
23:45fence so that the plants can get behind the wires and then they can support themselves
23:49much more readily.
23:51I've obviously upset the neighbour's dog.
23:53We get worse when I start drilling.
23:58Charlie drills the holes for the eyelets before attaching the tension device.
24:03So that's my tensioner.
24:05This is my wire.
24:06I'm going to thread the wire through the eyelets and then tie it off with some special clips.
24:11It's a case of just working methodically.
24:19There we go.
24:20Almost there.
24:21Alright.
24:22There we go.
24:24Boing, boing.
24:26Amelia's making some on-the-spot adjustments to her plans for a small feature tree.
24:32The amelanchia was going to be in that corner over there, but actually we've moved it to
24:37this spot here because that way when you're relaxing, doing your yoga on this deck here,
24:43it's going to be much more of a focal point.
24:45Elsewhere, Amelia's design has moved the cold plunge pool to a slightly more central space
24:51in the garden.
24:52Sort of central with the window in a way.
24:55Okay.
24:56And then we'll have the screen round.
24:58Yep.
24:59Which is going to make it a lot more usable.
25:01Yeah, because they can literally plunge into it.
25:03They can plunge in.
25:04Exactly.
25:05Brave souls.
25:06Brave than I am.
25:07Yeah.
25:08How are you going over there in your bit?
25:09Well, not too bad, I think.
25:11The sort of yoga area is coming together quite nicely.
25:14So much preparation, but that's going to be so key for the garden.
25:19100%.
25:20It's a key area and zone in the space.
25:28This is looking really nice.
25:30We're getting there now.
25:31Yeah.
25:32It's finally starting to take shape at last.
25:33Yeah, definitely.
25:34And I think it's just going to really make that cold plunge pool more of a chic feature in the garden, isn't it?
25:41Yeah.
25:42Rather than drawing your attention to the sort of black plastic.
25:45I think this is really smart.
25:47It's not the most attractive thing, is it?
25:48It's not.
25:49But you know, now it's really becoming part of the garden.
25:53The team are levelling the ground where the plunge pool will sit on rubber matting.
25:59Right, levelled.
26:00That's it, yeah.
26:01Yeah, ready for that plunge pool?
26:02Yeah.
26:03Here we go.
26:04Oh!
26:05What the hell?
26:06Step back.
26:07Step back.
26:08I'm sorry.
26:09I'm going to take it from there, I'm afraid.
26:13So I'm just laying this sand, ready for the rubber matting.
26:16Trying to get it as levelled as I can really, so that when the plunge pool goes on, it's nice and even.
26:21That's it.
26:26You ready?
26:27Yeah.
26:28With the cold plunge pool in place, Charlie can finally start placing out the stepping stones.
26:34OK, so not too far apart.
26:36Oh, you've got a medium size.
26:38Medium.
26:39There.
26:40Like dinosaur prints.
26:41Yeah, you were around then, weren't you?
26:43Hot!
26:47Looking great!
26:48Do you want a stepping stone up onto the deck?
26:50Well, I don't because what I want Lydia and Katie to be able to do is to really journey through the space.
26:57Oh!
26:58They've got to take the long route to get there.
27:00So it's the...
27:01It's all about wellbeing, mindfulness.
27:02Slowing down.
27:03Slowing down.
27:04To get down before you do your yoga and your meditation.
27:07Exactly.
27:08Also, we've got planting going in through it, haven't we?
27:10So we don't want too much.
27:16Meanwhile, Lee started on Amelia's contemplation seat design.
27:21That's the last wall standing there, so it's just a matter of assembly.
27:24It's looking really smart already actually, I can see it coming together.
27:27Chunky.
27:28Nice and chunky and sturdy.
27:29So, we're most looking forward to loads of aspects, but for me, it's going to be just having some time together when it's a nice day and just being able to go out and sit together and just have a chat, have a coffee.
27:42Just for it to be relaxing, like at the minute we sort of go out there, it's not a relaxing place.
27:48We want it to be like an extension of the house.
27:50We'll probably, if it's a nice area and we feel positive there, we'll probably spend more time in the garden than we actually do in the house.
27:58Sort of in, it's not levelled yet, but just so you've got an idea of position.
28:01Brilliant.
28:02Have a seat, see what you think.
28:03I'm going to give it a test, Lee.
28:06Ooh!
28:07Yeah, that passed the test.
28:08Yeah, that's pretty comfortable.
28:12The team are halfway through the day, and Amelia's planting a new tree next to her bespoke decking.
28:22Okay, so I'm just planting up this Amelanchia lamarchii now, and it's a really lovely, what I would call small tree, or a big shrub.
28:32And it's deciduous, so that means it will lose its leaves in the winter, but what you do get is a really lovely seasonality to it.
28:40So you get gorgeous, vibrant orange leaves in the autumn, small little white flowers and berries in the spring, which the birds love.
28:48And I think most importantly about this tree, it's not going to get too big.
28:54So I think it's the perfect tree to go next to this yoga and meditation deck here, because it's going to give you a really nice amount of coverage and dappled shade over time, but it's not going to get too unruly.
29:08Yeah.
29:10Lee's putting his plunge pool frame in its new home.
29:14Brilliant.
29:15That's why I've left gaps underneath it, so when you drain it, it'll drain out.
29:18Drain into the cupboard.
29:19Get the water on the plants!
29:20There you go.
29:21You thought about this, didn't you?
29:22It's one job less to do in the garden, isn't it?
29:24Right, Amelia.
29:25Yeah.
29:26You can start filling that up.
29:27And then I'll jump in.
29:28Get your shoes and socks off and jump in.
29:29Perfect.
29:33Charlie's planting up the plunge pool borders with some perennials.
29:37So this is an astilby.
29:38Now there's loads of different astilbys.
29:41You've got white, you've got pale pink, dark pink, red.
29:44They all have a ferny-like leaf, so it picks up the other leaves that have got that ferny feel to them.
29:51Sometimes they're tinted with a bit of red colour to them, which Amelia's sort of picked up with the other plants.
29:57And that just carries the theme through.
30:00Now I love this one because it's white and it's sort of quite sparse and open.
30:05But you also get ones that have got quite a dense, thick plume.
30:09So like the pink ones over there that are dotted around the garden.
30:12Again, great for bees and butterflies and wildlife.
30:16Likes a moisture-retentive soil.
30:19And here, because Katie and Lydia will be emptying out the plunge pool fairly regularly and refilling it,
30:29the soil will stay nice and moist so they will get watered in.
30:33They will do full sunshine as long as the soil is moisture-retentive.
30:37Otherwise, put them in a slightly shadier bit.
30:40And I've just noticed, I wonder what was biting me.
30:43It's a great big stinging nettle.
30:45What do they say?
30:46Grass the stinging nettle hard and quick and then it won't sting you.
30:53See? Big stinging nettle.
30:54Get out before those roots take off.
30:57So I'm just placing plants at the moment and this is the really exciting bit that I love
31:06because it's when the garden starts to come to life.
31:08And this here is a gorgeous Verbena benariensis.
31:12And I think it's a bit of a garden favourite, to be honest.
31:16It's tall, it's impactful, pollinators love it.
31:21So it's going to draw the wildlife into the garden.
31:23And again, it's sort of got that billowing, whimsical theme to it.
31:29And I find it really relaxing to look at.
31:32So I hope Lydia and Katie find it that way too.
31:39Just digging the hole for this amazing plant here.
31:43It is Eupatorium or common names, Hemp agrimony or my favourite, Joe's pieweed.
31:50I love a fun common name.
31:52And it's gorgeous.
31:53As you can see, it gets to a metre, a metre and a half tall.
31:57It's herbaceous.
31:58So it dies down every year and then comes back up.
32:01And it's got these lovely dark red stems which contrast with the leaves,
32:06the lancelate leaves that are sort of in circles around, in tiers around the stem.
32:13And then at the very top, you get this dome of pink flowers.
32:18They're daisy flowers because it's related to the aster.
32:21So a dome of pink flowers which the butterflies and bees absolutely love.
32:27Now, some people say it's a bit of a thug and can take over.
32:32No, it's okay.
32:33You just need to just keep on top of it.
32:35And once the flowers have gone over and it's starting to set the seed, tip them out because you don't want the seed sort of spreading everywhere.
32:44And the other thing is to split them through occasionally just to keep that young sort of growth and vibrant, vigorous growth.
32:52But I think it's absolutely gorgeous.
32:54It's going to get a lovely backdrop.
32:57Look at that.
32:58And we've got them dotted around the garden.
33:00Amelia's sort of arranged the plants so you've got these drifts of colour.
33:04So we've got one here, one there, and then there's one right down the back under the cherry tree.
33:09So you get this sort of naturalistic sort of colour flow down the garden.
33:16Woohoo!
33:17And look at that.
33:18I can imagine Katie sat in there and seeing the seed head.
33:23Looks gorgeous.
33:28There's just enough time to roll out the new grass and address the pots for the patio area.
33:37Right, so I'm just planting up the last bit of planting now, which are these aromatic, soothing herb pots.
33:44Now that is part of the patio area here.
33:47So when Lydia and Katie come out, they'll be greeted with a lovely aroma of herbs.
33:52You've got quite a big selection here and herbs are great for growing in pots as well.
33:57Because you can just pop out from the kitchen, use the ones that you want to in cooking and they're sort of there and ready to go.
34:03So we've got this gorgeous rosemary here, which is just so lovely and heady.
34:09That smell, really gorgeous.
34:11That will get, you know, reasonably big.
34:13So I'll probably plant that with one other thing in this pot, give a bit of room to spread out.
34:18Got some really nice lemon verbena here, which is just perfect for making a relaxing tea.
34:25So I pick five or so leaves off of that, put it in boiling water and that is a very relaxing cup of tea.
34:32We've also got some purple sage here, which is a normal sage, but these gorgeous purple leaves and they have a slightly sort of iridescent fuzzy feel to them.
34:45So really textural and really coming into that sensory idea in the planting.
34:51So that's really lovely.
34:52We've also got some buddlier mint, some ginger mint.
34:55And also for those of us at home that like cooking, oregano, brilliant herb.
35:02And it's really ornamental as well because you've got this type here, these gorgeous little pink flowers.
35:08So I'm hoping that Lydia and Katie feel very greeted by a vast array of gorgeous smells when they come onto their new patio.
35:19As the garden enters its final stages, the last of the flowers go in.
35:24The garden looks so different.
35:27Amelia adds the essentials to the chilled space.
35:31Wow, what a lovely relaxing area for a spot of yoga.
35:36And the birdbath completes the design.
35:39Nice place for them to sort of wash their feathers.
35:43Yeah, to have a little splash around.
35:45Absolutely, a little splash.
35:46Hook up in the tree down.
35:47Exactly.
35:53So are you happy with the garden?
35:54I am Charlie, I'm really delighted with it actually.
35:57It just looks fantastic, I mean so different from what it was.
36:00Yeah.
36:01It was a bit of a mud berth earlier wasn't it?
36:03Yeah, yes.
36:04But it's come a long way.
36:05It has, it's going to be fantastic for them.
36:08I hope they like it too.
36:09And this area, it really works with that.
36:12I love this bit that you've got to go up and in.
36:14Yeah.
36:15And then when they're doing the yoga, they'll just be looking through the plants.
36:17Absolutely.
36:18And I think it does make you slow down, doesn't it?
36:20It does.
36:21You can't take the quick, easy route, you've got to take the longer, meandering route through the garden.
36:25Everybody's going to be happy.
36:26Everybody's going to be happy.
36:27Their cat's going to be happy.
36:28The birds and the bees and butterflies are going to be happy.
36:29The birds and the bees and butterflies are going to be happy.
36:30We're all happy.
36:31Yeah.
36:32Shall we get them out?
36:33Because I think they are going to be overwhelmed.
36:34Let's do it.
36:35Oh, I hope so.
36:36Two days ago, Lydia and Katie's garden was a bare and depressing space, which they avoided
36:45spending any time in, apart from a quick sprint out to their beloved ice bath.
36:52Now with a budget of £4,000, it's been transformed into a tranquil sanctuary, bursting with aromatic
37:00plants, wildflowers and an abundance of chill out space.
37:05So I'm just going to lead you over here.
37:08But will it be all that they wished for?
37:11So Lydia and Katie, you wanted a garden that was all about mental wellbeing and sort of recharging,
37:18reconnecting in nature and really just having somewhere to relax at the end of a long, strenuous
37:25day.
37:26So are you ready to open your eyes?
37:27Yes.
37:28Yeah.
37:29Okay.
37:30And go for it.
37:32Wow.
37:33That is amazing.
37:34We've got a garden.
37:36Have you done that?
37:37I don't even know what to say.
37:41The first time in my life I've been speechless, so...
37:45Overwhelmed.
37:46Don't know what's going on.
37:48They don't know where to look.
37:50I'm actually enjoying...
37:52I don't even know what to say.
37:53Oh, thank you so...
37:54Oh, you're so welcome.
37:55Oh, it's amazing.
37:56Oh, I'm so pleased you like it.
37:58Before, a dishevelled, graveled area was uncomfortable underfoot.
38:03Now, a smooth laid patio is the gateway to their new space.
38:08So you've got your new patio here.
38:09Oh, there's no stones, there's no gravel.
38:10The gravel's gone.
38:11Yeah.
38:12Nice and, yeah.
38:13You've got some really nice aromatic herbs here.
38:16I'm so excited.
38:17I love it.
38:18I just love it so much.
38:20So when you're walking down to the end of the garden, hopefully you'll feel really immersed
38:24in nature and planting and wildlife.
38:27I want to draw your attention to this cold plunge pool, which hopefully feels a bit more integrated
38:33within the garden now.
38:35Yeah.
38:36It looks amazing.
38:37Previously, their ice bath was plunked in the middle of an empty space.
38:42Now, it's transformed into a featured wellbeing spot for them to easily step into.
38:48You're both very brave getting in that thing, honestly.
38:51Tomorrow morning before work.
38:52You'll be straight in.
38:53First dip, yeah.
38:54Fantastic.
38:55Come out in the morning, cup of tea, cup of coffee, chill, go to the plunge pool.
39:02So this is our walking through nature zone here.
39:05We've got these really playful little stepping stones, which the cat's already using, I can
39:10see.
39:11Once, the lawn area felt sparse and gloomy.
39:15Now it's evolved into a stepping stone-clad oasis of wildflowers.
39:20The idea is that you just meander through nature, take in all the sort of wispy, whimsical
39:25planting, and I hope feel really relaxed when you're doing that.
39:28We've actually got color.
39:30You've got some color now, you've got some soft blues and pinks.
39:34Oh, look.
39:35Notice anything major that's gone in the garden?
39:38The shed.
39:39The shed.
39:40The dreaded shed has gone, yes.
39:43And it has been replaced with this lovely new area here.
39:47Gone is the dilapidated old shed at the back of the garden, replaced by a raised deck with
39:53idyllic views, taking in their new space.
39:56Getting rid of that shed.
39:58Taking the liberty of putting out the yoga mats.
40:01No pressure.
40:03Yeah, I don't want to, you know, suggest anything there, but I think it just works really beautifully
40:07for a spot of yoga.
40:08It's an amazing area.
40:09Yeah.
40:10Yeah.
40:11I love it so much.
40:12And the sun's still there as well.
40:13It is, yeah.
40:14It's huge.
40:15It actually feels...
40:16Yeah, it is.
40:17It's a proper space now that you can use, definitely.
40:18Yeah.
40:19Yeah, yeah.
40:20You can see this amelanchia over here will eventually get bigger and provide you a little
40:25bit more shade and dappled light when you're doing a bit of yoga.
40:28It's amazing.
40:29I just, I don't want to go back inside.
40:31Have you seen the smile on our face?
40:32It's like, that says it all, doesn't it?
40:34We're so happy.
40:35Honestly, we...
40:36Yeah, it's...
40:37It's amazing.
40:38Unreal.
40:39Unreal.
40:40It's amazing.
40:41I can see that Katie and Lydia will be outside more than inside.
40:49This is your sort of chill-out bench here.
40:54And the idea is that you're kind of nestled by all of the planting, so you should feel
40:58really safe and cocooned there.
41:00Do you want to give it a quick test run?
41:02Yeah, show it.
41:03All right?
41:04It's very comfortable.
41:05I have tried it already.
41:06I feel happy being out here for a change.
41:09Oh, that's amazing.
41:11Oh, these plants and greenery.
41:13Yeah, they might tickle you a little bit.
41:14It's welcomed after the garden we've had at.
41:16I'm just, I'm happy.
41:17You can just drape yourself in the leaves.
41:20I'm immersing myself.
41:21It's a new accessory.
41:22I'm new, isn't it?
41:23Yeah.
41:24So, obviously, I didn't actually do all of this by myself.
41:27I did have a little bit of help.
41:29OK, Charlie, do you want to come out?
41:31Oh!
41:32I have to say, oh, my goodness, you two, when you walked out.
41:36You look like Cheshire cats.
41:38Yeah.
41:39Definitely.
41:40What a fantastic garden.
41:41Do you love it?
41:42Amazing. Unreal.
41:43Thank you so much.
41:44She did well, didn't she?
41:45As did Charlie.
41:46As did Charlie.
41:47Nailed it right.
41:48I mean, I just love it.
41:49Although, I have to say, I was watching you and you looked like a child that wanted to run
41:53around and see everything really quickly.
41:55I think we'll never change.
41:56I'm just so excited and so happy and grateful.
41:58So, has it all been worth it?
42:01One million percent.
42:02Yes, yes, yes.
42:03Yeah, definitely.
42:04Definitely.
42:05Can't thank you enough.
42:06And, like, everyone for all the hard work.
42:08It's been amazing.
42:09Enjoy.
42:11Are you going to show us some yoga moves?
42:13Well, you...
42:14I think that's a no.
42:15You're going to lead by example while we're here.
42:18I'll do the cold bloods.
42:20We'll do the yoga.
42:21Cold bloods.
42:22Old lady yoga moves.
42:23Thanks.
42:30When we first opened our eyes, we just couldn't believe that the garden looked as it did.
42:36In my wildest dreams, I've pictured what I've just seen.
42:39We just can't wait to invite our friends around after a busy day at work.
42:43We're outdoorsy people.
42:45We just can't wait to chill in the garden and just enjoy this space.
42:49Yeah, we definitely can't.
42:51I'm sure we're going to be the most popular on the fire station.
42:54Inundated with barbecue requests and RSVPs are going to be coming in thick and fast, I think.
43:01Do you?
43:02Get your name on the guest list.
43:03Yeah.
43:04Name's knocked down, not coming in.
43:05Inundated with barbecueous produce for 20 minutes to spend height.
43:06I think that's a huge part.
43:07There we go!
43:08Sure!
43:09This came from theyardане.
43:10Ever since it was launched.
43:12Na Na Na na.
43:13hhh!
43:15I think that's a nice sound of Own The Door.
43:16I think so, wait a minute.
43:18We're actually planning on it.
43:19Inundated with wine, it's amazing!
43:23How good about them!
43:24Oh, wow, am I YouTube?
43:25The pride that you are doing this!
43:26I've only been through hearing.
43:27A having come medium health joy,
43:30determination.
43:31And you're trying to follow.
43:32You
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