0:00:02 > 0:00:04Do you have a small garden but a big idea?
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Do you know what you'd like it to look like,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09but no idea really of where to begin?
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Well, you're not alone.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Over the last year, I've been working with people
0:00:13 > 0:00:15right across the country
0:00:15 > 0:00:19helping them to make their garden dreams become reality.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23Monty Don has listened to their hopes and plans.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27It's an absolutely crazy idea
0:00:27 > 0:00:28and I love it.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30He's given advice.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Don't be frightened to push plants into crevices.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35And he's rolled up his sleeves.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Let's not talk about it let's just do it.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Talk about a lean, mean, gardening machine!
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Things haven't always gone to plan.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I thought we were going to make four raised beds.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I'm a bit worried that we might have killed it.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50But it's been worth it.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52What a beautiful garden!
0:00:52 > 0:00:53I'm so happy.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- Thank you, Monty! - ALL: Cheers.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59I do believe that however small your garden is
0:00:59 > 0:01:02everybody can cultivate a big dream.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15I love the way that we British are so passionate about our gardens,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18and that even the smallest space
0:01:18 > 0:01:20can have creativity poured into it
0:01:20 > 0:01:26and this passion leads us to spend £5 billion every year on gardening.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30But in this series I want to show that money isn't everything
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and size really doesn't matter.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Coming up, Monty meets two sets of gardeners for whom flowers
0:01:36 > 0:01:38hold a very special place.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Ah, that is beautiful!
0:01:40 > 0:01:42They have monumental plans.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46You need every break going, to get this done in time, don't you?
0:01:46 > 0:01:48They'll get really bogged down.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51We are never going to plant them in there.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53It'll stretch them to the limit.
0:01:53 > 0:01:54Two centimetres!
0:01:54 > 0:01:57But there'll be plenty to be proud of.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59It's really, really beautiful.
0:02:12 > 0:02:1449-year-old truck driver Gary
0:02:14 > 0:02:16has a zest for many things in life,
0:02:16 > 0:02:18but one thing comes out on top.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I love being in my truck, I love my job,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23I love good loud music,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25especially seeing it live
0:02:25 > 0:02:27but, above all, I love my plants.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32This truck-driving, rock-loving, garden-fanatic
0:02:32 > 0:02:35is on the road most of the week, but when he comes home
0:02:35 > 0:02:37it's to this estate in Wakefield, Yorkshire,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40which he shares with his girlfriend Rox.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Gary moved in with her six months ago.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Me and Rox have known each other for 30 years, since school-time,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49erm, but then lost touch.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Then we bumped into each other on a night out - didn't we? -
0:02:51 > 0:02:53and that was it, the spark was there
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- and...- Off we went. - ..off we went.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57He's the love of my life.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00He's made the last 14 months of my life very happy.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02- Fate is a wonderful thing. - Mmm.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06By moving in, Gary became part of a large family,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and he's desperate to transform
0:03:08 > 0:03:10this neglected and barren plot
0:03:10 > 0:03:13into something they can all enjoy.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Gary wants to create something that's ours
0:03:15 > 0:03:17because we're quite new together
0:03:17 > 0:03:18and it will be the first thing
0:03:18 > 0:03:22that we've done as a joint venture, so I'm looking forward to it.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30Our second lot of gardeners
0:03:30 > 0:03:32live in Swindon in Wiltshire
0:03:32 > 0:03:34in this town house.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36They are Sandra and her daughter Abi.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39They've always lived together
0:03:39 > 0:03:41but only moved into this house two years ago,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44when they were going through a traumatic period in their lives
0:03:44 > 0:03:48after Sandra's husband, Abi's father, was diagnosed with cancer.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53When we moved here my husband was already ill, he was in hospital
0:03:53 > 0:03:55erm, very ill really,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59and my daughter Abi and I we created this garden
0:03:59 > 0:04:01so that he'd have somewhere beautiful to look at
0:04:01 > 0:04:04when he came home.
0:04:04 > 0:04:05It gave us a sense of purpose
0:04:05 > 0:04:07because we were doing it for him,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and it was very therapeutic.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11Sadly, he died two years ago,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15and now they're leaving the special garden they created
0:04:15 > 0:04:17as Abi has decided to live alone.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Sandra is downsizing to this house,
0:04:20 > 0:04:21which has a garden
0:04:21 > 0:04:23but not a patch on her old one.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26It'll be a chance for a new beginning -
0:04:26 > 0:04:27new house and a new garden.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34It's early autumn in Wakefield, West Yorkshire
0:04:34 > 0:04:38and Monty is on his way to visit Gary and Rox for the first time.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I've met a couple of members of Queen,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I've toured with Hawkwind,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45but to me, meeting a legend like Monty, it kind of caps that -
0:04:45 > 0:04:46caps it all.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48- Hello, there!- Hello.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Great to meet you.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51But what will his hero make of the plans
0:04:51 > 0:04:53for this non-descript garden?
0:04:53 > 0:04:56What is the big idea? What is this garden going be all about?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It's the Gypsy Road Garden - that's the idea behind it.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Because it's a line from a song - "my gypsy road takes me home"
0:05:03 > 0:05:06which is being at home surrounded by family.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07That's a very romantic idea.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09It is.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10Yeah, Gary gets up on a Monday morning,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13leaves for work, and I don't see him again till Friday.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16When I do come home, this is usually the place I come to
0:05:16 > 0:05:19to erase the week's woes.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20Tell me what you plan to do.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Right, we're standing in one of the main flowerbeds.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Walk me through it, walk me through it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Itching to start his dream family garden,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Gary's already marked it out with canes and ropes.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32Now, what's happening here?
0:05:32 > 0:05:35This will be the main patio, the main socialising area.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37In the middle of the garden?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Yes. It is a central point that everything else
0:05:39 > 0:05:41kind of revolves around.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44All roads lead to here - including Gypsy Roads.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45Absolutely. Yeah, yeah.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50Behind the main patio is the planned swimming pool - sorry, pond.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52So here we are in the deep end.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- All this is pond?- Yes. - It's a whopper!
0:05:54 > 0:05:56It is.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58- A lot of digging out to do, then. - Oh, yeah...!
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Don't worry, I'll wield the spade,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02you wield the kettle, it'll be fine.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Gary and Roxanne's plans include something for everyone -
0:06:08 > 0:06:09lots of flowers,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11a productive section,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14a central gazebo next to a sandpit
0:06:14 > 0:06:15and a barbecue area,
0:06:15 > 0:06:16a pond, a fire pit
0:06:16 > 0:06:19and a romantic arbour.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Their budget is £3,000,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24and it's a really big project to get ready by next summer.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Have you got plans on paper?
0:06:29 > 0:06:31- Several. - I'd love to see them.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- I'd like to see them, and a plant list, if you have one.- Absolutely.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35We can go and look at that.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Gary does indeed have these in spades.
0:06:38 > 0:06:39OK, gosh, I'm...
0:06:39 > 0:06:41A big bundle of plans.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44One of the things that concerns me
0:06:44 > 0:06:46are the spaces between the spaces.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48I would say, if you have a bed and a path,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50they must butt up tight.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52- Tight up to the path. - Yeah.- Right, yeah, OK.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55In terms of herbs... It'd be nice to see them have more sun.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Right.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59I would be inclined to make one of these,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- nearer the kitchen, a herb garden. - Yeah.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Just cos they'll grow better.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05It's quite an involved, busy, complicated design.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- Yeah, it is. - And there's a lot going on.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11You've got shrubs, you've got vegetables, you've got herbs
0:07:11 > 0:07:15and greenhouses and ponds and patios and fire pits and arbours and...
0:07:15 > 0:07:18So I would say, if in doubt, take it out.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23I would move the herbs to a sunny area nearer the house,
0:07:23 > 0:07:25fill the empty spaces
0:07:25 > 0:07:29by extending flowerbeds right up to the main path
0:07:29 > 0:07:31and just simplify the design.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Because I think Gary is over-complicating things.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38There was a great garden designer from Spain
0:07:38 > 0:07:42who said that no garden needs more than seven plants.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45But I would say that no AREA - no border, or piece -
0:07:45 > 0:07:47needs more than seven plants.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Even the greatest gardens don't try and do everything all the time.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Whichever way they do it,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57this messy garden will need a massive overhaul,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59and Monty's worried they've bitten off
0:07:59 > 0:08:01more than they can chew.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06So the whole thing is staggeringly ambitious.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07Mm.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10It's fundamentally you two doing the labour,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12we're going into winter.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16You need every break going to get this done in the time.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Yeah. I'll spend whatever time is necessary out here
0:08:19 > 0:08:22to get it done on budget and on time.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24I'm going to hold you to that.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Oh, definitely. So am I!
0:08:31 > 0:08:35Well, there's a lot going on there, it is ambitious -
0:08:35 > 0:08:37really ambitious, not so much any one part
0:08:37 > 0:08:40but the way that it's all trying to be put together.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41And it could happen.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44I think after talking to Monty he now knows that
0:08:44 > 0:08:48some of it is not possible.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50But I think Roxanne is probably
0:08:50 > 0:08:52going to have to steady the ship a little bit,
0:08:52 > 0:08:56and maybe one or two things have to be sacrificed.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58I'm open to constructive criticism.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00I'm open to other people's ideas.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03And if they fit in with mine, then I'll use them.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12There's only two weeks to go before Sandra moves into her new house.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Mum living by herself is hard for her, but also hard for me.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19I am really over-protective of her.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Initially, I felt really quite sad
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and a bit panicky, if I'm honest,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28because I've never ever lived on my own.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30But as time's gone on,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I've realised I will be able to cope.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Today Sandra's facing the daunting prospect
0:09:36 > 0:09:38of talking her gardening guru Monty
0:09:38 > 0:09:42through the plans she created with her daughter Abi.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46Well, I guess this amounts to as blank a blank canvas as you can get.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50- Absolutely. - Pretty much, yes!
0:09:50 > 0:09:52What's going to make you feel comfortable?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55When I've got this empty patch
0:09:55 > 0:09:59made into my dream garden.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01What is your dream garden?
0:10:01 > 0:10:03My dream garden is a cottage-style garden
0:10:03 > 0:10:05where all my roses,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07my wild flowers,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10everything that's really special to me,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12I'll just be sat in my garden surrounded by it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Are these plants that you want to buy
0:10:15 > 0:10:17or plants that you already have?
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Largely plants that I already have -
0:10:19 > 0:10:21especially my roses.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Any other plants in particular that have a meaning for you?
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Er, bluebells, white bells...
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- You want to bring bluebells into this garden?- Yes.
0:10:29 > 0:10:30Are you mad?!
0:10:30 > 0:10:32No!
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Bluebells will just take over
0:10:34 > 0:10:37- and become the biggest weed you've ever seen.- No...
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Well, hey, what the hell?
0:10:39 > 0:10:41What the hell! I like your spirit.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47Sandra's dream garden features raised veg beds
0:10:47 > 0:10:50and a shed at the back and is dissected by a Y-shaped path,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53this creates one central rosebed
0:10:53 > 0:10:56bordered by a box hedge and two large flanking beds,
0:10:56 > 0:10:59which will also be planted full of roses
0:10:59 > 0:11:01that she's bringing from her old garden,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and this is divided from the patio by more raised beds.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Her budget is £1,000,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09but I'm surprised that such an enthusiastic gardener
0:11:09 > 0:11:11hasn't included a greenhouse.
0:11:13 > 0:11:14If you love raising plants -
0:11:14 > 0:11:17a greenhouse really is part of that.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21I really thought I would love one then I dismissed it because I thought the garden's not big enough.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25If a greenhouse would improve the garden
0:11:25 > 0:11:27then make it fit.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Build the garden around the greenhouse, not the other way.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- That sounds brilliant, doesn't it? - Yeah.- Mm!
0:11:32 > 0:11:36The greenhouse seems to be inspired, and a big hit.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37Now all they need to do
0:11:37 > 0:11:40is find a place for it in their plans.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41So patio here...
0:11:41 > 0:11:43This is one thing that we're not sure about -
0:11:43 > 0:11:46how to make the patio really private,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48which was what Mum was really worried about.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51If you use quite a wide lattice trellis...
0:11:51 > 0:11:53they give a sense of privacy,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57and then, of course, you can clothe it as much or as little as you like
0:11:57 > 0:11:59with honeysuckle, with clematis...
0:11:59 > 0:12:01That's a thought.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03This is what I suggested, originally.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- You did, yeah. - So I'm thrilled that you said it!
0:12:06 > 0:12:10And I was saying, no, I think it'll be too much of a barrier, but...
0:12:10 > 0:12:12- I don't think it would. - OK.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13OK, well, there's...
0:12:13 > 0:12:15We're winning. We've got there.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- So these are various roses.- Yes.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20You want to move your roses.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24The one thing I would say is when you start a new garden
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and it's a fresh start, it's no good taking your old garden
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- and thinking you'll recreate it elsewhere - it doesn't work.- Mm-hm.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33You take all the good things from it
0:12:33 > 0:12:35and the heart and the spirit,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38but you also have to start again.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I would place a greenhouse where Sandra's veg beds sit
0:12:41 > 0:12:44and intersperse the vegetables throughout the flowerbeds,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47and that would fit in with her dream of a traditional cottage garden,
0:12:47 > 0:12:51and make it less formal by mixing in other plants with the roses,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54including ones that would bring real height to the garden
0:12:54 > 0:12:57and I would replace those raised beds by the patio
0:12:57 > 0:13:00with a trellis to make it feel secluded.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02So you're not too keen on the idea of just a rose garden?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Would you put different plants perhaps in there?
0:13:05 > 0:13:07I would if it was my garden.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- But it's your garden. - Mmm.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12I mean it's a stylistic thing.
0:13:12 > 0:13:17I think if you want a loose cottagey feel, you should mix it up.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22Now is a chance to try things out you've never done before.
0:13:22 > 0:13:23Fine.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28This is a fresh start
0:13:28 > 0:13:31taking all the happy and the good memories from the past.
0:13:31 > 0:13:37And I really trust Sandra's desire to make it work,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39and her skill - she's a gardener.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41It was just so lovely to meet Monty,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43it was absolutely amazing.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46It was even better than I thought it was going to be.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Over the following days,
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Sandra prepares to leave the garden in Swindon
0:13:54 > 0:13:56that helped her through the loss of her husband.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00After he died, erm, my garden became even more special,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03because it was one place where I could just be myself -
0:14:03 > 0:14:05and if I wanted to cry, I could cry,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09erm, if I wanted to smile at some sweet memory, I could.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Now she has to work out which plants to take with her.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16This one is Shine On, the rose that we bought
0:14:16 > 0:14:18just after my husband died
0:14:18 > 0:14:20and memories of my husband always shine on in my heart.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23The tall one over there reminds me of my mum
0:14:23 > 0:14:27and the Pilgrim - that's very special, too
0:14:27 > 0:14:29because two dear friends gave that to me.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33So all of those, and lots more,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35will be moving with her to this garden.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Sandra wants them to be transplanted before the frost sets in,
0:14:41 > 0:14:42so she's called for reinforcements
0:14:42 > 0:14:44to get the new beds ready.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47My son and daughter have come to help me today
0:14:47 > 0:14:49and that's made me feel really happy.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51I just feel that the grey cloud
0:14:51 > 0:14:53that was hovering over my move,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56has now lifted and I just feel full of enthusiasm,
0:14:56 > 0:15:00and I just want to get going and create this wonderful new garden.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05It does feel like the beginning of the next stage of our lives really,
0:15:05 > 0:15:08and changing the garden is quite significant for us,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10hopefully, it will all go to plan.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12To add a bit of muscle, Sandra's son Chris
0:15:12 > 0:15:14is trying out a power digger.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18After a few hiccups, he's off.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It's hard going, and the strain begins to show.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Oh, dear. It's bent.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31But by the end of the day,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Sandra is beginning to see her new garden in a new light.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- It's really positive, isn't it? - It is!
0:15:37 > 0:15:40And, really... We've not been doing it for hours, have we?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Speak for yourself!
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Well, no, but I mean, I think we've achieved a lot
0:15:44 > 0:15:47- in the time that we have... - We have, yeah!
0:15:47 > 0:15:50We really have, and because we've worked well together as a team...
0:15:50 > 0:15:55- Yeah.- ..already the garden looks much, much bigger.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- I'm beginning to visualise the borders already.- Good.- Yeah.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02All that's left to do, is to prepare the flowerbeds for next week
0:16:02 > 0:16:05when Monty will be coming to lend a hand.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Gary in Wakefield has spent hours teaching himself about plants.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17His knowledge of plants is amazing.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19He knows all the Latin names.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21To me he has to use the common names
0:16:21 > 0:16:23because I wouldn't know what he's talking about.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27He would love to put every plant that he could find in this garden.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32This passion for gardening started during a bleak period in his life.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Gardening... It became more of an obsession due to depression.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Being in quite a dark place for two or three years,
0:16:40 > 0:16:41gardening became my focus.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44It was the one thing that I WANTED to do,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46and it gave me a light at the end of the tunnel
0:16:46 > 0:16:48and I know it will never leave me.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51But before he can indulge his love of plants,
0:16:51 > 0:16:52Gary's starting the mammoth task
0:16:52 > 0:16:56of digging up virtually his entire garden by hand.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03The plan for today is to strip the turf from about a third
0:17:03 > 0:17:06of the garden, which is most of the pond area.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Then it's a case of levelling that area.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15Unfazed by Monty's warning about his over-ambitious plans,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19he's ploughing on regardless with his original design.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22But four hours in, he's hit a stumbling block.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Well, it definitely doesn't feel like soil.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31We seem to have found a structure.
0:17:32 > 0:17:39But it seems to be too ordered to have just been dumped and buried.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Just trying to work out where it all is.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48It's definitely going to make life interesting.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51I think that's it.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Sadly not.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04At least Rox's son, Steven, is on hand to help out.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07It started there and it's kind of...
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Well, it's all the way along here.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13I keep saying to myself, "Oh, that's the last one."
0:18:13 > 0:18:15But it's not.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17While you're picking all them up,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20I'll get these moved with t' barrow.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23To be fair, where you're digging,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26there's a dimple all the way through t' middle of the garden.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28You can kind of see it. It kind of goes like that.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32Well spotted! I couldn't see it from down there.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35It's definitely a path.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Here, pass us that spade.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38We'll soon find out how far it goes.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40There.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44It's solid there as well.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- It's definitely a path, isn't it? - It's got to be.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49By the time Rox gets in from work,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52the back garden looks more like an archaeological dig.
0:18:52 > 0:18:53Decided to join us?
0:18:53 > 0:18:55I have, yeah.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57Er, we've found something.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58What have you found?
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Well, we think it's a path.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01It will have been, yeah, cos erm...
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Did you know it was here?
0:19:03 > 0:19:05I did say.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07When? Was I asleep?
0:19:07 > 0:19:11No, about... Well, I moved in here 20 year ago, right?
0:19:11 > 0:19:13And before that it were like a vegetable garden
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and apparently there was a brick path that ran all the way up.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17Yeah, we found it.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19We thought we'd got most of it out but obviously not.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21No, you didn't.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24I wasn't expecting unearthing Constantinople.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Oh, dear!
0:19:29 > 0:19:32It's a nice day. You may as well crack on. Build up a sweat.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Coffee, please. Ta love.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Monty is back in Swindon.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Sandra is going to be moving in a few days' time
0:19:45 > 0:19:48and she's always made it very clear from the outset that she
0:19:48 > 0:19:51wants to take all her beloved roses with her,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55so today I've come to help dig them up and move them to her new garden.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Well, it's nice to see them with a bit of sunshine.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Yes. Absolutely.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08And sad to dig them up but it's got to be done.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09It has got to be done.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11But we want to be careful about it
0:20:11 > 0:20:13because these are very important, aren't they?
0:20:13 > 0:20:15They are very special.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18'These precious roses could go into shock with the stress of being
0:20:18 > 0:20:21'transplanted so we must do what we can to minimise this
0:20:21 > 0:20:24'and the first step is pruning.'
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Are you a vigorous pruner? Do you prune your roses hard?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29I do normally, yes.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30Now, why is that?
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Just something I've always done.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Well, there's no need for shrub roses and, with great respect,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Sandra, not all your roses are vigorous healthy shrubs, are they?
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- No, they're not.- One or two of them have got strong stems.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45I suspect that's because you're pruning too hard.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50The basic rule is if you've got any weak growth, prune it very hard.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54Now, you can see here we've got branches that are crossing
0:20:54 > 0:20:58and rubbing so if I cut that back hard, like that.
0:20:58 > 0:21:05If you've got any strong growth prune it very little like that
0:21:05 > 0:21:07and probably like that, that's it.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- Because we're going to dig these up...- Yes.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11..I'm going to prune them a little bit harder.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14I'm going to take it down by half.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Cutting down the top growth lessens the strain on the roots
0:21:17 > 0:21:20which are being moved and it helps to dig them up
0:21:20 > 0:21:23with as much of the roots as possible.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26What we're looking for is a root ball.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Then immediately bag it and tie it up to keep those roots moist.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32OK, while you're labelling I'll dig up another one.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- Thank you.- I'm going to dig that up.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36That's Elizabeth.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Right, Elizabeth, you're coming out, my dear.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41As Sandra lovingly labels her plants,
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Monty gets on with uprooting the roses.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45But even Britain's favourite gardener
0:21:45 > 0:21:47is finding the going tough here.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Sandra, I would say that your soil is some of the most unpleasant
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I've ever worked with.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57After weeks of rain, the earth here has become, well... Just solid clay.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00The soil at the other house isn't a lot different.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03To deal with this, you need to put a mulch on every year.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05You don't need to dig at it, just put it on.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- On top and then it'll work down. - It'll work down.- Yeah.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09There it goes.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14It's yet another two hours before the last rose is bagged up.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Right. With daylight as it is, we ought to crack on.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22As speedily as they can, they pile themselves and the plants
0:22:22 > 0:22:24into a rather small car.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26The new house is just down the road
0:22:26 > 0:22:29so there's still enough daylight to finish off the transplanting but
0:22:29 > 0:22:34the plan goes badly awry when Monty sees the state of the new garden.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39We are never going to plant them in there.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- No.- It's not ready.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43No. It's just been so much rain just lately
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and we've worked really hard but it's just hindered us.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48A pretty good rule of thumb is
0:22:48 > 0:22:50if the soil is sticking to your boots...
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Which it certainly is.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54..then it's... You shouldn't be planting.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57The roses will need to be put in pots so they can be watered
0:22:57 > 0:22:59but they have reached their new home.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02OK, so are you happy that at least we've done half the job?
0:23:02 > 0:23:07Oh, I'm really happy, yes. I'm just so glad that they're up safely
0:23:07 > 0:23:09and they're here safely. Thank you.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20It's a dismally wet winter.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23In Wakefield, Gary has to wait until February
0:23:23 > 0:23:26for the first dry spell to get going.
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Very heavy.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38Five months in, he had planned to have all the hard landscaping
0:23:38 > 0:23:41done by now, but most of the garden is untouched.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I've not really got as much done as I'd like but that's the great
0:23:45 > 0:23:47British weather for you. There's not a lot you can do for that.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49As time ticks away you'll have the odd moment of,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52"Oh, my God, am I going to get it all done, am I going to be able to
0:23:52 > 0:23:54"get everything finished on schedule?"
0:23:54 > 0:23:56It's just so frustrating.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Today, he's excavating the central hub,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02which is now a basic square shape.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04But it's back-breaking work.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07With the soil all sticking together the way it is,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10it's just coming off in, like, lumps of clay really so it's er...
0:24:10 > 0:24:13It's not ideal, and it does make the work a bit harder.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Despite the uphill battle, Gary's not going to take Monty's
0:24:18 > 0:24:21advice and simplify his ambitious design.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Even with the hiccups, the hurdles,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26I'm not going to go scale back on the plans.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29The garden is going to be the garden that we want, er...
0:24:29 > 0:24:32And I'm not prepared to change that at all.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45It's April in Wakefield, West Yorkshire,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47and Gary and Rox are seven months into
0:24:47 > 0:24:50working on their dream gypsy road garden.
0:24:50 > 0:24:55The plan includes a pond, gazebo, sandpit and flowers.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57There's something for all the family.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01During his first visit, Monty suggested Gary should scale back
0:25:01 > 0:25:05his plans, but so far the advice has fallen on deaf ears.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Today, Monty's come to catch up on their progress.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13Gary's plans were extremely ambitious.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16To be honest I thought probably over-ambitious
0:25:16 > 0:25:18but if he is to achieve them
0:25:18 > 0:25:22he needs to have finished the hard landscaping by now.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25So I'm expecting to see the garden laid out
0:25:25 > 0:25:27and I want to help him start the planting.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31Monty's in for a surprise.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35He's going to need waders rather than a spade to help these two out.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Hello. - Hello.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Hello again.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Come out your hole, come on,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43come and talk to me. How are you?
0:25:43 > 0:25:45So you've more or less dug this enormous pond.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47Yeah.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50It's at least twice as big as I thought it was going to be
0:25:50 > 0:25:52but that's fine, that's good.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54Well, it's kind of the focal point,
0:25:54 > 0:25:56it's kind of the essence of the garden, really.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00If you're going to do something go mad.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Have you had the wet winter that we all had?
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Oh, yes. We have been so put back by it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Well, I was going to say. I've got to be really honest.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11I thought you would be about a month ahead of where you are now.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- Yeah?- Yeah, I did, I thought you'd have all your beds ready.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16But where are all the plants?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Er... Yet to be bought. That's going to be a...
0:26:19 > 0:26:21It's going to be a weekend job, isn't it?
0:26:21 > 0:26:22You're cutting it a bit fine.
0:26:22 > 0:26:23- Yeah, yeah.- Yeah.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25You are cutting it a bit fine.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I'm here today, how can I most help you?
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Erm, well, you can help us by removing a bit more soil from
0:26:32 > 0:26:36this big hole and then sticking a pond liner in it maybe.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38OK. OK.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Let's not talk about it, let's just do it.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49'Wildlife ponds like Gary's should have a flowing design
0:26:49 > 0:26:51'and be set in a sunny position.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58'They also need shells for marginal plants
0:26:58 > 0:27:01'and a shallow area to attract more wildlife.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05'But this is where Gary has had a battle on his hands.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08'He's hit an old air raid shelter.'
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Have you tried removing it?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Yes. There is just... It was built to withstand a bomb attack ,
0:27:13 > 0:27:18so me and a lump hammer and a chisel is going to have no effect on it.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Gary has felt a little bit defeated, especially sort of like
0:27:22 > 0:27:25when we did hit that air raid shelter.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28I mean, it did sort of knock him for six a little bit
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and he didn't know what to do.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32It was a bit stressful.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Gary and Monty share more than just a passion for plants.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39They've both taken comfort from gardening in difficult times.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41How are your dark days?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I have had days when I've thought, "This isn't going to happen.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46"I can't do it, I just..."
0:27:46 > 0:27:49One problem just escalates in your head.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51You know, I've not hidden the fact that
0:27:51 > 0:27:53I have suffered from depression in the past
0:27:53 > 0:27:59quite severely a number of years ago and finding this was such a trauma.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02If anything was going to knock me back it was, it was this
0:28:02 > 0:28:03and it did temporarily.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06The fact that I've got over it, dealt with it,
0:28:06 > 0:28:11and things are still progressing is of huge importance.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16Like you, I know about depression and, sort of, been there, go there.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20I find this work incredibly beneficial.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23It's physical, it's skilful, you're making something.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25It's part of the greater plan, yeah.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Do you not think the fact that YOU'VE dug this out...?
0:28:28 > 0:28:30The satisfaction is immense.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32- You will know that.- Yeah.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34When you see a beautiful water lily on the water
0:28:34 > 0:28:37- you know what lies beneath it. - Yeah, yeah.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39I know what went into that there.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45'Once the inside is smooth,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47'we need to check that all the sides are even.'
0:28:47 > 0:28:51If I mark that, it's literally spot on.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53You know what you're doing, don't you?
0:28:53 > 0:28:55I do try.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58That's done, so we can start putting the underlay in.
0:28:58 > 0:29:01Right. So this is to protect the liner.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06'Gary is using a shop-bought one.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10'You can use a carpet, turf or felt as cheaper options.'
0:29:11 > 0:29:14All right. Good, that's the easy bit.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Right. Cup of tea and then the hard bit.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20'Next comes the liner.'
0:29:20 > 0:29:23So we're going to open it right out along this fence
0:29:23 > 0:29:25and then fold it over that way.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27And take it over that way.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31'I'd recommend a butyl liner as it'll last for decades.'
0:29:31 > 0:29:35This is a flexi liner, it's more of a polyurethane tarpaulin
0:29:35 > 0:29:38type, which is a lot easier to use.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40A lot easier to use but not quite so flexible.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43The whole point about butyl is it stretches so it goes in the nooks
0:29:43 > 0:29:46and crannies, but it's incredibly heavy and incredibly expensive.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49- Yep.- This is cheaper, much easier to put in,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52but will be difficult to get...
0:29:52 > 0:29:54- But a lot less workable.- Yeah, yeah.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58'Gary may have saved money but getting it smooth
0:29:58 > 0:30:02'so the pond looks good is going to be a struggle.'
0:30:02 > 0:30:04Straightaway, can you see, you've got a wrinkle?
0:30:04 > 0:30:08We're going to take all this up and work back again.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11Get that end and I'll pull this way.
0:30:11 > 0:30:12'To get the last creases out,
0:30:12 > 0:30:15'it helps to weigh the liner down with water.'
0:30:20 > 0:30:24With the pond filling up, Monty's bought baskets to give Gary
0:30:24 > 0:30:27a quick lesson with the only plants he's managed to get so far.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31You've got some lovely plants here. Caltha palustris alba.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34- So it's a buttercup, but with white flowers.- White variety, yeah.
0:30:34 > 0:30:35Fantastic.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39OK, well, let's plant up. So you need an aquatic basket.
0:30:39 > 0:30:46It's got holes in and that means that the roots can get out.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49A piece of hessian. Not essential but not a bad idea
0:30:49 > 0:30:52because it holds the soil and stops it leaking out.
0:30:52 > 0:30:57This is a special aquatic compost and you have to use it.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01It's very heavy and very low in nutrients.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05The only acceptable alternative is a sub soil.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Really all this is doing is anchoring it.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Uh-huh.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11So that goes in there like that.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14This one here, it's pretty root pot bound.
0:31:14 > 0:31:15Yeah, yeah.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17You can just gently tease it.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20You don't need to open it right out.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22If it's a fleshy root like this, go steady,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24if it's fibrous roots, I'd break.
0:31:24 > 0:31:25Pull them, like pull them out.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Just give them a bit of a break
0:31:27 > 0:31:29and that stimulates fresh growth.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31And we'll just top up round them.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37And pop that in the water so that...
0:31:37 > 0:31:40These are marginal plants
0:31:40 > 0:31:45so ideally the water will come just about to that level there,
0:31:45 > 0:31:51so the roots never dry out but the top is never wholly submerged.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53You're going to need quite a lot of plants.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55- Going to need an awful lot of plants.- Yeah.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59'These can't be planted straightaway as the water needs a week
0:31:59 > 0:32:01'to settle, which gives the chlorine time to evaporate.'
0:32:02 > 0:32:05If you're stuck for space you can still have a mini pond
0:32:05 > 0:32:10by planting aquatic plants into a container. It needs to be at least
0:32:10 > 0:32:1435 centimetres deep and positioned in as much sun as possible.
0:32:19 > 0:32:24With Rox on final pond duties it's been good progress in Wakefield.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26Thank you so much for your help today,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28I would have struggled on my own doing this.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32The truth is not many people tackle a project like this in their lives.
0:32:32 > 0:32:33No, exactly.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37You know, so to be part of it and just to help out a little,
0:32:37 > 0:32:39a tiny bit is fun.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42There aren't going to be many more times in my life where I'm
0:32:42 > 0:32:45- going to put in a pool like this. - Same here.
0:32:45 > 0:32:46THEY LAUGH
0:32:48 > 0:32:52Gary is tremendously enthusiastic, he's good fun,
0:32:52 > 0:32:56he's hard working but there is one truth that remains that
0:32:56 > 0:33:01if he is to have any chance of making his dream come a reality
0:33:01 > 0:33:08he has still got to work flat out every day from now till mid-summer.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Back in Swindon, Sandra is ready to get planting.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20She's creating a traditional cottage style garden which will
0:33:20 > 0:33:23include the 30 roses she brought over with Monty.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Now the mud has subsided it's time to get them out of the pots
0:33:27 > 0:33:28and into the soil.
0:33:28 > 0:33:33I think I am going to put this one...here.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38They are in position. She's got some root grow powder to hand
0:33:38 > 0:33:41but what she wants now is some last-minute advice from Monty to
0:33:41 > 0:33:43make sure she's doing it correctly.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45I bought that mycorrhizal powder you suggested
0:33:45 > 0:33:48so what exactly do I have to do with it?
0:33:48 > 0:33:51The key thing with mycorrhizal powder
0:33:51 > 0:33:53is that it must be in contact with
0:33:53 > 0:33:57the roots. Sprinkle it onto the roots themselves...
0:33:57 > 0:34:01- Yes.- ..and also sprinkle some into the bottom of the hole.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03Right, the bottom of the hole and on the roots.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Do you think they might flower this year?
0:34:06 > 0:34:11I would be very surprised if they didn't. I would expect them to flower.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Oh, that's wonderful, thank you very much, that's brilliant.
0:34:14 > 0:34:15Bye-bye. Bye-bye.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20He's quite confident that they will flower this year
0:34:20 > 0:34:23so I'm really confident now to go out and get them in.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27The first rose to go in is the most important one.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30The Shine On rose she bought in memory of her late husband.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35That's it. That's the first rose in, sun shining,
0:34:35 > 0:34:37birds singing, first rose in my new garden.
0:34:38 > 0:34:43Her daughter Abi is coming to check that the design is going to plan.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46- Yeah, so it looks a little bit clearer, Abi.- Well, it's getting there.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49I've placed the roses in approximate places.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51Is there going to be any room for any other plants?
0:34:51 > 0:34:54Yeah, can't you see all the empty soil?
0:34:54 > 0:34:57It looks as though Sandra has forgotten Monty's advice to
0:34:57 > 0:35:01mix in other flowers to create the cottage style garden she dreams of.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04I think we've probably got too many roses, haven't we?
0:35:04 > 0:35:08Well, you think I have. You said, "You're going to have to get
0:35:08 > 0:35:11"rid of half your roses, Mum." And I said, "No, I'm not," and I was
0:35:11 > 0:35:14quite upset with that and I thought I can't get rid of half my roses.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Some. I still think you're going to have to get rid of some.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19No, two or three are going in the front garden. You can
0:35:19 > 0:35:21have one or two duplicates.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23- Didn't you want ornamental veg and stuff?- Yes.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25- Is that still happening? - Yes.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28We'll have one or two dotted in-between,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30that's what they used to do.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- So that will be fine. - OK.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36My only concern at the moment is that there's
0:35:36 > 0:35:41so many roses, which I know Mum loves, but there are a lot
0:35:41 > 0:35:45and I think maybe we're losing a bit of the design of it being
0:35:45 > 0:35:50a cottage garden. I think we just need to see if we can just
0:35:50 > 0:35:53tighten it back into a cottage garden again but I'm sure mum will
0:35:53 > 0:35:57ignore me entirely and there'll be roses everywhere but that's fine.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08When Monty first met Gary and Rox he thought their planting plans
0:36:08 > 0:36:12were too complicated to achieve in one year. So he's sent them
0:36:12 > 0:36:15here to Great Dixter in East Sussex to get some tips.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21This 15th-century Tudor house was restored in 1910
0:36:21 > 0:36:25and is surrounded by a wonderful Arts and Crafts style garden.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Each corner has a profusion of plants in a fluid
0:36:28 > 0:36:30but structured design.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Fergus Garrett is the head gardener and CEO who oversees the gardens.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41Hiya, Roxanne. Come on, I'll show you a bit in here.
0:36:41 > 0:36:42Oh, that would be fantastic.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46He's happy to give Rox and Gary the inside track on border design.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Here in the sunken garden we've got this very cottage-y
0:36:49 > 0:36:51planting which is multi-layered
0:36:51 > 0:36:54because we want this garden to look good next month and the month after
0:36:54 > 0:36:58and the month after so we practise what we call succession planting.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Fergus's team under plant each bed so that
0:37:01 > 0:37:03when the current ones die others come into season and take
0:37:03 > 0:37:07their place but it's essential to get these combinations right.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11So you've got some tulips that have got big fat leaves
0:37:11 > 0:37:13and very broad leaves.
0:37:13 > 0:37:14- Look at that, look at the size of that.- Yeah.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18You have that densely planted throughout your bed it's going to kill...
0:37:18 > 0:37:19It's going to smother it, isn't it?
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Whereas you've got other tulips which have got much narrower leaves.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24Look at that lily flower tulip there,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26so that's easier to plant through a border so
0:37:26 > 0:37:29you have to think about those sort of things.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32It's complicated, though, isn't it? Because I started off on paper.
0:37:32 > 0:37:36I've taken lists of plants that I love and thought, "Right.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38"I want that, I want that, I want that." But then you have to look
0:37:38 > 0:37:42at it realistically and think, "Well, right. Is that going to work with that?"
0:37:42 > 0:37:45I think what you do is get over enthusiastic
0:37:45 > 0:37:48and you throw the kitchen sink at it but I think it's important to
0:37:48 > 0:37:53start simply first of all. You know, get those main groups right.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58To stop Gary throwing everything but his kitchen sink into his
0:37:58 > 0:38:01flowerbeds, Fergus wants to show him how to get the basics right.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07If we take that bed as an example, let's put a hosta there
0:38:07 > 0:38:10so if you just stay there and I'll show you.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Fergus uses canes to mark out the area he'd plant with hostas, which
0:38:14 > 0:38:18are large architectural plants, and stands back to look at the effect.
0:38:18 > 0:38:23Big bold leaf. So is that too small a group, too large a group?
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- No, I think that's about right. - I think that's about right, yeah.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28So that's that bit done.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31So we're going to see the hosta from here, as well.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34OK, so how many hostas do we want in this space?
0:38:34 > 0:38:40So one hosta here. That plant will cover, you know, an area
0:38:40 > 0:38:44like this. OK? So the next one needs to be here to cover that area
0:38:44 > 0:38:48and the next one in here.
0:38:48 > 0:38:53That's three in there, then four, five, so
0:38:53 > 0:38:57look we've got five plants in here and that's the right spacing.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Whereas if I did it on paper I'd probably end up with
0:38:59 > 0:39:0211 or 12 or 13, you know?
0:39:02 > 0:39:05Which is absolutely what I've done exactly the same thing myself,
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- that's, such good advice. - Such a common mistake, really.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10That's it, your pen and paper's gone. I'll tell you now.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16Fergus was trying to make us aware of the fact that you need to
0:39:16 > 0:39:20keep things simple. Which is also what Monty's mentioned. There's
0:39:20 > 0:39:25still that bit of me that wants to do it my way but now it's like,
0:39:25 > 0:39:29"Yeah, listen to what people are saying to you and follow their advice."
0:39:30 > 0:39:34You're a big list person, you write everything down
0:39:34 > 0:39:38and the fact that it says, "Look at the border first and then put
0:39:38 > 0:39:41"it to paper," that makes more sense than what you're trying to do.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48Back in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Gary's returned from his trip
0:39:48 > 0:39:51to the Great Dixter gardens and he's tackling his main bed.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56I've not quite decided yet but I'm thinking.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00The big question is, is he using Fergus' method to figure it all out?
0:40:02 > 0:40:05It is a really good way of working out the amount of plants you
0:40:05 > 0:40:09need for a particular spot. So, yeah, it's been very beneficial,
0:40:09 > 0:40:12it was very helpful.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Gary is in his element.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18Oh, this is by far my favourite bit. This makes all the blood, sweat
0:40:18 > 0:40:21and tears that's gone into everything else worthwhile.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25The garden is finally beginning to take shape.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Coming on, isn't it, Gary, now?
0:40:27 > 0:40:30It's just getting a bit of colour in as well, isn't it?
0:40:30 > 0:40:31I like those.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34His neighbour Doreen has witnessed first-hand Gary's struggle to
0:40:34 > 0:40:36get where he is now.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Gary's been there every moment he possibly could
0:40:40 > 0:40:42when the weather's permitted.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45And there has been blood, sweat and tears.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50When he found that air raid shelter I went in and cried
0:40:50 > 0:40:53because he was so, so despondent. He didn't know which way to go.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57He's spent hours, has that kid in that garden.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02Gary has followed Monty's advice and eliminated dead spaces
0:41:02 > 0:41:06in his design by butting the flowerbed up to the path.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Though he can't quite bring himself to follow another important suggestion.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13To prune back his plant list.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18His idea is less is more. It's kind of all right saying that
0:41:18 > 0:41:21when you've got a garden the size of his and you can do different things
0:41:21 > 0:41:24in different areas. Well, I've just got one area to indulge my passion
0:41:24 > 0:41:28for flowers so I want to try and cram as much in as possible.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32I know I did promise Monty that I'd rein him in
0:41:32 > 0:41:36and I have to some extent but I think he's probably
0:41:36 > 0:41:38got about 50 variations in this garden at the moment somewhere.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Gary wanted this garden to have something for every member of
0:41:45 > 0:41:49his family and Rox's granddaughter is already testing this out.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54She won't have to play in soil all her life,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57she will have a sandpit eventually over in that corner.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00This isn't the child's play area.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Well, it is at the moment.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07In fact, nothing is finished yet and though Monty's final visit
0:42:07 > 0:42:12is looming, Gary's still not heeding advice about scaling back his plans.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15There's the patio to lay, there's the pergola to build,
0:42:15 > 0:42:20there's a balcony to deck and fit railings to, there's a fence to put
0:42:20 > 0:42:26in, there's a greenhouse to move, there's a bed to finish planting.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29There's still lots and lots to do but he'll get there
0:42:29 > 0:42:31because he's a determined young man.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35This is my playground and I'm going to play out here as much as I like.
0:42:35 > 0:42:36I'm going to do what I want with it.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51I like those two, they'd be lovely together.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53With just four days before Monty's final visit,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56where else would Sandra go to put the finishing touches to her
0:42:56 > 0:43:00cottage garden but to a specialist nursery for roses?
0:43:00 > 0:43:04- Ah, that is beautiful, smell that one. That is beautiful.- Oh, that is.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Oh, I think that would look lovely on the arch.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10Her daughter Abi is on hand to stop her getting carried away.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12Look that's what I've got.
0:43:12 > 0:43:13It's huge.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Well, Mum's looking for some climbing roses
0:43:16 > 0:43:19and I'm here to make sure she doesn't leave with about ten.
0:43:19 > 0:43:20THEY LAUGH
0:43:23 > 0:43:28Ever the enthusiast, Sandra is checking out the catalogue.
0:43:28 > 0:43:33I'm looking for two roses to go on the arch.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37I've ticked a few that I'd like particularly to look at just to
0:43:37 > 0:43:43check the scent and this is one of the ones that I've actually ticked.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46Your arch is about here, isn't it? So it would get there.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52There are four different gardens displaying the roses
0:43:52 > 0:43:54that can be bought in the nursery.
0:43:54 > 0:43:55This is nice, Mum.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59Oh, this is lovely. That's really nice, isn't it?
0:43:59 > 0:44:04Sandra is like a child in a sweet shop and she's taking it all in.
0:44:04 > 0:44:06Oh, look at that one, I love that one.
0:44:08 > 0:44:09That's nice.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14The enthusiasm is infectious.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16Yeah, it's lovely, it's beautiful.
0:44:16 > 0:44:17Yeah, I like that.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21It's going to be tough choosing only two special roses.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24Look for colours and then we can look at the name.
0:44:24 > 0:44:25Yeah, OK.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31No, that looks awful. What about that one?
0:44:31 > 0:44:34Go for this one, that's beautiful.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36Oh, there's more down there, there's plenty down there.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43Abi seems to have quite forgotten her role as rose control.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46- Look how nice and bushy it is.- OK.
0:44:46 > 0:44:50And over £100 worth of roses later both ladies leave contented.
0:44:50 > 0:44:54So we've ended up with six roses even though we were only meant to
0:44:54 > 0:44:57buy two and I was meant to keep Mum in check but actually, you know,
0:44:57 > 0:45:01they are all really lovely and my concern was having too many roses
0:45:01 > 0:45:07in the garden but these are going to be probably mostly on the patio.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10Ah, the patio. Well, that's not the garden, is it?
0:45:10 > 0:45:12I think it's still going to be a cottage garden.
0:45:12 > 0:45:16It's still going to be a cottage garden and in fact it doesn't look like there are
0:45:16 > 0:45:20so many roses in there because of our selection of companion plants.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26Possibly the patio may look a bit rosy but then that's what
0:45:26 > 0:45:29I love so why shouldn't I have plants that I love on my patio?
0:45:34 > 0:45:36In our Wakefield garden,
0:45:36 > 0:45:40Gary and Rox have only four weeks left to finish their garden.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44They should be putting in their final touches or maybe not just yet.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45What next?
0:45:45 > 0:45:49Er, well, I suppose I could get these brackets bolted down.
0:45:49 > 0:45:53Yeah. Are they all measured in the right place and everything?
0:45:53 > 0:45:55Well, I think so.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59Not ideal.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02Need a better drill bit I think, a better drill.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03They are building the gazebo
0:46:03 > 0:46:06but the drill bit doesn't appear to fit their drill.
0:46:06 > 0:46:11You could use that. That's an old one.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14It needs to be the right width, obviously, for the bolts but it
0:46:14 > 0:46:19also needs to be long enough to go 100 mil down into the sleepers.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22Try this then, I don't think you'll get it in that, though.
0:46:22 > 0:46:23I don't know how to use it.
0:46:25 > 0:46:26We're running out of drills.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30Desperate to make use of one of his last weekends, Gary calls his dad.
0:46:30 > 0:46:34Oh, good. Can you stop him? I want him to fetch his drill down.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36It's like a drill graveyard.
0:46:36 > 0:46:40It's definitely a minor setback, again something that's such
0:46:40 > 0:46:43a simple job has turned into a bit of a nightmare.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47At last, Gary's dad arrives armed with a drill.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49Yay, the cavalry's here.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53But, unfortunately, it's a case of out of the frying pan into the fire.
0:46:53 > 0:46:55We've got fire.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00The family come up with a solution to combine two drill bits.
0:47:00 > 0:47:05- Don't kick it. - One down three to go.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08And they're away but not for long.
0:47:09 > 0:47:12It might need wangling that way a bit.
0:47:12 > 0:47:13Oh, a tape measure, whoo-hoo.
0:47:13 > 0:47:18Let's do it right for once. It's a gnat's.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20Is that a smaller post?
0:47:20 > 0:47:22That would suggest that those poles are further apart.
0:47:27 > 0:47:30Yeah, that's well out. Ah!
0:47:30 > 0:47:32It's still two centimetres out.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36I'll have nightmares about that tonight, two centimetres.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40The weekend, on the whole, has been a bit of a wash-out.
0:47:40 > 0:47:43It's another setback, we're not as far as we wanted to be
0:47:43 > 0:47:45but we'll catch up.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Over in Swindon the time has come for our mother
0:48:01 > 0:48:06and daughter team to show Monty the culmination of months of hard work.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10Today, I feel excited because I'm proud of what we've achieved
0:48:10 > 0:48:12but I also feel a bit anxious.
0:48:12 > 0:48:13It's almost like that feeling you get
0:48:13 > 0:48:16when you bump into a teacher that you've admired ten years
0:48:16 > 0:48:19after leaving school and you have to tell them what you've done
0:48:19 > 0:48:21and you're waiting for that kind of judgment from them.
0:48:21 > 0:48:25'When you leave a much-loved garden there's always a temptation to try
0:48:25 > 0:48:27'and replicate it in the new site'
0:48:27 > 0:48:29but I do hope Sandra's resisted that.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33What I'm looking to see, and hope she's achieved, is
0:48:33 > 0:48:38the combination of all that is exciting about making a new garden
0:48:38 > 0:48:42but all that is treasured and retained from her old.
0:48:44 > 0:48:48Eight months ago Sandra moved house and inherited this garden,
0:48:48 > 0:48:51a bare strip of grass that lacked privacy and soul.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55Now, it's totally unrecognisable.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58- Hello. - But what will Monty think?
0:48:58 > 0:49:02- Well, this is something, isn't it? - It's not bad, is it?
0:49:02 > 0:49:03A slight transformation.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05A complete transformation.
0:49:07 > 0:49:11The lawn's gone completely. It's been replaced entirely by flowers.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16The design is loose, wild and vibrating with colour.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21There's something interesting to look at at every level.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24With tall plants like foxgloves interspersed through
0:49:24 > 0:49:28the beds as well as small flowers like Canterbury bells that
0:49:28 > 0:49:29nod over the path.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35New flowers have been mixed in with Sandra's many roses.
0:49:36 > 0:49:40And dotted here and there are vegetables like cabbages.
0:49:41 > 0:49:46Pride of place at the back of the garden sits the new greenhouse.
0:49:48 > 0:49:52Now, after all the trials and tribulations of the weather
0:49:52 > 0:49:55and moving your roses, have they survived?
0:49:55 > 0:49:58Yeah, each one survived and they are coming on really well
0:49:58 > 0:50:01and they aren't spindly because after all
0:50:01 > 0:50:04the years of pruning them, you told me how to prune them properly.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07What's interesting is it doesn't feel like a rose garden,
0:50:07 > 0:50:09they are just worked in, aren't they?
0:50:09 > 0:50:12Yes, they are and I think then when you look at each rose you look
0:50:12 > 0:50:17at them as an individual rose and appreciate each rose in its beauty
0:50:17 > 0:50:21rather than a bed of roses where perhaps one overshadows the other.
0:50:21 > 0:50:25I'm intrigued to know how much of your old garden you've brought
0:50:25 > 0:50:28with you in spirit or is this a completely fresh start?
0:50:28 > 0:50:31- This is a completely fresh start. - Yeah, I think it is.
0:50:31 > 0:50:34I love the way that you've packed the borders,
0:50:34 > 0:50:37- you've packed the garden. - Yes. I remembered what you said.
0:50:37 > 0:50:41And, you know, you've mixed in vegetables with flowers
0:50:41 > 0:50:45and climbers and trees. This feels like joy.
0:50:45 > 0:50:48I'm absolutely delighted. I just sometimes
0:50:48 > 0:50:51I have to almost pinch myself to think this is really my garden.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53Remind me what your budget was.
0:50:53 > 0:50:55Well, originally it was round about 1,000.
0:50:55 > 0:50:57I've probably gone over,
0:50:57 > 0:51:01I would say, 800 to 1,000 more but that's not all on plants.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03A lot of it was just hiring skips,
0:51:03 > 0:51:07lots of those big dumpy bags with top soil, grit.
0:51:07 > 0:51:14I love the mixture of common sense and just bravura. You go for it.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17I just think it's a triumph. Well done.
0:51:17 > 0:51:19- Thank you. - Thank you.
0:51:21 > 0:51:24And what better way to celebrate a beautiful cottage garden
0:51:24 > 0:51:28but with a traditional English cream tea on the patio that's been
0:51:28 > 0:51:32screened off with a trellis as Monty suggested.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34It's enormously peaceful, isn't it?
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- Yes. It is. - Do you think that it works?
0:51:37 > 0:51:38Yes. I do.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42Even now I think it affords some level of privacy and the
0:51:42 > 0:51:45beauty of it is you can sit here and still look out on the garden.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47How does it feel living on your own?
0:51:47 > 0:51:50It feels quite different. It has taken me quite a long time to adjust
0:51:50 > 0:51:54to it but I think it's really helped having my garden project because
0:51:54 > 0:51:58I can just spend so much time, I just lose track of time out here.
0:51:58 > 0:52:01It's the end of one chapter and the beginning of another
0:52:01 > 0:52:02so it's all good.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08It's been a fantastic experience and it's given us, all of us,
0:52:08 > 0:52:12a great focus and that will only continue as the garden develops.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16This is absolutely a new beginning for me and if this is just
0:52:16 > 0:52:20the start of my new beginning it can only get better, can't it?
0:52:23 > 0:52:30I love this story and the result is a beautiful garden that will
0:52:30 > 0:52:35only get better, only give more and more pleasure for years to come.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46It looks as though summer has arrived in Wakefield but Gary
0:52:46 > 0:52:49and Rox aren't enjoying it just yet.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51They are about to reveal their garden to Monty
0:52:51 > 0:52:54and emotions are running high.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58I feel quite a bit butterfly-y. You know, my stomach's turning
0:52:58 > 0:53:01a little bit but I'm sort of, like, thinking, "Well, we've done enough."
0:53:01 > 0:53:04My only concern about today is not
0:53:04 > 0:53:09whether Gary will have done the necessary work to complete it,
0:53:09 > 0:53:12I'd bet my last dollar that he would have done everything
0:53:12 > 0:53:17he possibly can. It's whether the garden will match up to Gary's
0:53:17 > 0:53:22expectations. Whether the dream in his head will be made reality.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26I'd like him to see that we've taken on board what he said,
0:53:26 > 0:53:30we've put the work in, my God have we put the work in, and we've,
0:53:30 > 0:53:35we've achieved this. And I think it does deserve a bit of recognition.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40Ten months ago this garden was like a muddy football pitch.
0:53:43 > 0:53:48Now, after hours of painstaking work it has been completely rejuvenated.
0:53:48 > 0:53:51Well, look at you, no wonder you're smiling.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55No wonder you're smiling.
0:53:55 > 0:53:56Plenty to smile about.
0:53:56 > 0:53:57Yeah, this is fantastic.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08The centrepiece to the garden is now a raised wooden gazebo
0:54:08 > 0:54:13complete with a dining area for family gatherings.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17Gary's main flowerbed is a mass of colour.
0:54:17 > 0:54:21An assortment of blooms carefully choreographed for the space
0:54:21 > 0:54:23with room to spread as they mature.
0:54:28 > 0:54:32The enormous pond is already teeming with wildlife and contains
0:54:32 > 0:54:34a variety of thriving plants like
0:54:34 > 0:54:37irises, pickerel weed and water crowfoot.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41Well, first impressions it's lovely and well done.
0:54:41 > 0:54:42BOTH: Thank you.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44How do you feel about it?
0:54:44 > 0:54:46Fantastic.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49- Absolutely, just love it now. - We're over the moon with it.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53Well, that's 99.999% of all that matters.
0:54:53 > 0:54:59When we met for the first time, you had a big bag of dreams.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02What have you had to compromise?
0:55:02 > 0:55:05Erm, we've, we've cut a few corners, haven't we?
0:55:05 > 0:55:08For instance the greenhouse isn't in place yet.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11The arbour in the corner and then there's a length of fencing
0:55:11 > 0:55:14and a gate needs putting in across there.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17This barrier to the pond is top of Gary's to do list
0:55:17 > 0:55:19and will keep it child safe.
0:55:19 > 0:55:23You know as a gardener that this is just the beginning.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26Absolutely. I've been saying, "Wait till next year."
0:55:26 > 0:55:28It's going to look incredible next year.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31Show me the plants, come on let's talk through the plants.
0:55:31 > 0:55:32Let's look at some plants.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38Now, I know for you, Gary, that this is the heart
0:55:38 > 0:55:41- and soul of the garden, isn't it? Flowers.- This is.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45Flowers and more flowers because your original plant list...
0:55:45 > 0:55:46Was extensive.
0:55:46 > 0:55:52I was going to say was barmy actually and one of the anxieties that I had
0:55:52 > 0:55:56was that it was just impractical, it was just not going to happen.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58To what extent have you had to modify that?
0:55:58 > 0:55:59Yeah, I've taken your advice on board
0:55:59 > 0:56:03and I have restrained myself, pulled myself back to a degree.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06But there will be additions but there will be removals, as well.
0:56:06 > 0:56:10Yes and I see you've also planted in good clumps and groups,
0:56:10 > 0:56:11it's not dotty.
0:56:11 > 0:56:14No, I think you, you need to make a statement with plants, don't you?
0:56:14 > 0:56:17Fantastic. Right, let's go down to the pond.
0:56:19 > 0:56:24When I last left you this was filling with water, there was
0:56:24 > 0:56:30a mound of soil both sides to be removed so it really has transformed
0:56:30 > 0:56:34but what's interesting is the way it's gaining a life of its own.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37In quite a short space of time really.
0:56:37 > 0:56:40This is what we wanted cos it's like, there's nothing more
0:56:40 > 0:56:42natural than showing your grandchildren what's growing
0:56:42 > 0:56:47and the tadpoles and everything else that's coming into it.
0:56:47 > 0:56:50Well, I think it's lovely, it's fun, it's beautiful
0:56:50 > 0:56:52and you must be really proud.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54- Exceptionally.- So proud.
0:56:56 > 0:57:00It's a thumbs up from Monty but now it's time for family
0:57:00 > 0:57:04and friends their verdict on Rox and Gary's dream garden.
0:57:04 > 0:57:06What a beautiful garden.
0:57:10 > 0:57:14Absolutely stunning, it's really, really beautiful
0:57:14 > 0:57:15and it's a credit to them.
0:57:17 > 0:57:20I especially like the pond and the fact that you have
0:57:20 > 0:57:23dragonflies in the pond. That is very cool.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25Brilliant, isn't it?
0:57:26 > 0:57:29Thank you and congratulations.
0:57:29 > 0:57:30- Thank you. - Bye-bye.
0:57:33 > 0:57:37I'm stoked, I'm absolutely happy as hope, you know? I've got
0:57:37 > 0:57:40a garden that isn't a football field.
0:57:40 > 0:57:44I have absolutely created my gypsy road garden. It's...
0:57:51 > 0:57:52No, I'm...
0:57:56 > 0:57:58I've created an environment for...
0:57:58 > 0:58:01We've created an environment for the family to enjoy.
0:58:03 > 0:58:05Soppy bugger.
0:58:08 > 0:58:12This is a success story and it has been hard work,
0:58:12 > 0:58:16really hard work I think. I think it's at times pushed them
0:58:16 > 0:58:19to the limit but they've come through and they've come
0:58:19 > 0:58:22through together. And as a result the satisfaction and sense
0:58:22 > 0:58:28of pride is even greater. And I think not only has this garden changed
0:58:28 > 0:58:33their back yard but it has probably changed their lives forever.