0:00:02 > 0:00:05Do you dream of having your own special outdoor space?
0:00:05 > 0:00:09A small garden that you can admire, enjoy, and call your own?
0:00:09 > 0:00:14And then you stop and think, "I have no idea how to make it."
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Well, you're not alone.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Monty Don has travelled up and down the country
0:00:19 > 0:00:22visiting amateur gardeners with bold ambitions.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26He's scrutinised their plans
0:00:26 > 0:00:28and pushed them out of their comfort zones.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Going out into deeper, darkest unknown territory, isn't it?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34It's not been easy...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36THUNDER RUMBLES
0:00:36 > 0:00:37I hate it.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Argh!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42..but everyone's worked incredibly hard.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Both of us want to sleep for a week, pretty much!
0:00:44 > 0:00:46You've had your tea break, come on.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And the transformations have been extraordinary.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51It's just incredible, it really is.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I declare this garden open!
0:00:56 > 0:01:00I do believe that everybody, however small their garden,
0:01:00 > 0:01:01can cultivate a big dream.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10This time, our two gardeners are hoping Monty
0:01:10 > 0:01:12can bring something special into their lives.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Nice to meet you.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15One dreams of enchantment...
0:01:15 > 0:01:18It's really given it, kind of, the fairy grotto.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21..the other hopes to feed body and soul.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23I want it to be a working allotment,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26but also somewhere you can open a cold beer
0:01:26 > 0:01:28at the end of a hard day's digging.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Both are tackling big dreams on their own...
0:01:31 > 0:01:34You've planted a big tree. Not many people ever do that.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37..and are in need of Monty's guiding but firm hand.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40How many hard days digging have you done so far?
0:01:40 > 0:01:41Because it's pretty overgrown.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43Are they asking too much of their spaces,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45and of themselves?
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Nobody thinks that it's going to work.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Yeah, I've got a bit of a point to prove here.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53He'll like it. And if he doesn't, I'll get him drunk!
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Blackpool, on the Lancashire coast, is the home of our first gardener,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Alex, an accountant in the civil service.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07As a first-time buyer, she left her parents' home
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and moved into this small new-build house 18 months ago,
0:02:10 > 0:02:12with her spaniel, Spock.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15I want it a bit wild.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- Yeah.- A bit untamed.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19It's a bit of a blank canvas.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21That's quite a dream away from the way it looks now.
0:02:21 > 0:02:2532 square metres of, well, nothing much.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I want an enchanted forest theme.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30I want a bit of a fairy and, yeah,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33a mythical creature influence throughout the garden, toadstools,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35that kind of thing.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Luckily, this novice gardener can count on the help of parents,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Kevin and Susan, as well as Monty.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44I think my mum was particularly thrilled because
0:02:44 > 0:02:47she was already a Monty Don fan.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50I'm just hoping for his years of knowledge, his advice.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54I'm definitely not an expert, so I'm looking for all the help I can get.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Our second space is in the heart of Bristol.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06It's a bit of a wilderness, recently taken over by Ross,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08who dreams of his very own allotment.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13At the moment, the plot needs a lot of TLC.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15It's overgrown and it needs digging.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Ross is keen to make it productive,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21but with no experience of growing edibles,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23he doesn't know where to begin.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26I come up here a couple of times a week and I just end up
0:03:26 > 0:03:29kind of staring at the ground for half an hour going, "I don't...
0:03:29 > 0:03:31"What am I doing?"
0:03:31 > 0:03:34Ross has had other reasons for feeling despondent.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Well, six months ago, I lost my job,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38broke up with my partner I was living with,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41I found myself without anywhere to live.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Since then, the good news is Ross has found work
0:03:44 > 0:03:45and somewhere to live.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47But there is one drawback.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50It doesn't have a garden. I want to grow my own vegetables and also
0:03:50 > 0:03:52somewhere to relax at the end of the day,
0:03:52 > 0:03:56which is all part of the, kind of, rebuilding process.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58His friend Sarah is ready to help.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01She's sure that if Ross got down to work here,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04it would be the next stage in putting his life together again.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06Nature is a great healer.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11It grounds you, and so I think that Ross' whole healing process will be
0:04:11 > 0:04:13really getting to grips with the allotment.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15There's a lot at stake,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18so can Monty help Ross achieve his life-affirming dream?
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Yeah, I think it will be great fun having Monty up here.
0:04:23 > 0:04:24Yeah, he's a legend, isn't he?
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It's the very end of spring.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31With the start of the summer season on its way,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34it's a perfect time to begin a garden project.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Monty's making his first visit to the seaside resort of Blackpool
0:04:39 > 0:04:43to see what he can do to help Alex create her dream garden.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I'm sure whatever he has to say, he'll be very polite about it.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Yeah, I'm sure he will.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52It's an evolving garden, we're open to discussion...
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- DOORBELL RINGS - ..open to different opinions.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Oh, who's that at the door?!
0:05:02 > 0:05:03I can hear barking.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- Hello, hello.- Hi, I'm Alex.- Hello. - Hello, I'm Susan.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- Nice to meet you. - Would you like to come in?
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- Love to. And who's that? - That is Spock.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Right. Come on, Spock, it's me you're barking at.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Spock! Spock, come on.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20Alex, Susan and Spock can't wait to show him the tiny back garden.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24At the moment, it's a new-build classic, only four metres by eight,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28laid with turf, a plain fence, a small paved area,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31and an array of random plant pots.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Right. It is a small space.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35THEY LAUGH
0:05:35 > 0:05:36And she has big dreams.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Has she? Right. What do you want to do here?
0:05:38 > 0:05:43I want to create my own little enchanted woodland
0:05:43 > 0:05:44in the back garden.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47When you say "an enchanted woodland," what do you mean?
0:05:47 > 0:05:51I suppose, in my mind, I'm seeing kind of more of a stylised woodland.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53- Right, right. - More of an interpretation.- Yeah.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Are you feeling like it would be coming into a woodland glade,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58or is it a path leading you somewhere?
0:05:58 > 0:06:01I don't want it too structured, too formal.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- I do want it a bit wild.- Right.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I think her intention is to have a path that
0:06:06 > 0:06:08- actually does lead to something.- Right.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And what would it...? What would you like it to lead to?
0:06:11 > 0:06:15I'm not 100% on what feature I want at the bottom of the garden yet.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20And the other thing which is key in a small space is keep it simple.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- Yeah.- You know, one idea done well will look ten times better
0:06:24 > 0:06:27than ten ideas done badly.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Next, the question that can be a bit of a reality check for
0:06:30 > 0:06:32our dreamers.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34But what sort of budget are we talking about?
0:06:34 > 0:06:36- 1,500.- Right.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40And I've got a bit of leeway, so I can go up to 2,000,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- but I'm not spending over 2,000. - OK, fine.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45There speaks our careful young accountant!
0:06:45 > 0:06:47You know, it's a small space, which means you can have
0:06:47 > 0:06:49something nice for that. That's completely realistic.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53What I'd like, really, is for you to show me any pictures, drawings.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57- OK.- All right?- Yes.- OK, let's go and see some stuff.- Let's go.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Alex's plan is to build a wooden deck at the back of the house
0:07:02 > 0:07:05with rustic wooden seating and a herb planter made
0:07:05 > 0:07:08from a recycled timber pallet.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11She wants to create a wide, curving grass path
0:07:11 > 0:07:12down the middle of the garden.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14There would be logs as stepping stones,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18leading under a rose arch to a row of ornamental trees.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22She wants to cover her fences with colourful climbers
0:07:22 > 0:07:26and plant up her borders with wild flowers and cottage garden plants.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Monty's experienced eye spots a few common design mistakes.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Your path is very wide.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39And a tiny strip of water along the edge there.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42The path is probably going to be about a third of the garden.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46So it's going to be, essentially, a big area of grass
0:07:46 > 0:07:47with two little borders on either side,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50but with logs, paving stones set in.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Monty opens up Alex's plan a bit more.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Why not just have these log stepping stones
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- and make the borders go right up to them?- Right.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02So it's all border, and then your path winds through it.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06I've already bought a rose arch, so it would have to be
0:08:06 > 0:08:10a specific width to accommodate the rose arch.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11But the rose arch can go anywhere.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Just have roses climbing up, you don't have to walk through it.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16- Oh, that would be...- Yeah. - ..interesting.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21And to add to her plan, Alex has pulled together some images.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Anything else that you saw that you liked?
0:08:23 > 0:08:24Yeah, lights in a tree.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27To have lights in a tree, you need a tree to have lights in!
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- Don't you?- I do have trees, they're not quite that big, though.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35No, but you could spend £300, £400 buying one magical tree
0:08:35 > 0:08:38that was the sort of centre of the garden
0:08:38 > 0:08:40and the whole thing suddenly comes alive,
0:08:40 > 0:08:43because it's based round a really strong idea.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47You're making me feel lucky to have a small garden now!
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Monty suggests removing everything and starting from scratch.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54He thinks Alex should plant one, large, dramatic tree
0:08:54 > 0:08:55in the centre of the garden.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00She should use wood chippings instead of grass
0:09:00 > 0:09:02and keeping her idea for a log path,
0:09:02 > 0:09:06it should lead down the garden to her rose arch at the far end.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09The rest of the space could then be mulched
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and planted up with clumps of woodland plants and climbers
0:09:12 > 0:09:13to hide her bare fence.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Alex has a lot to think about.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23But there's one thing she and Monty already agree on.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Before we can do that, obviously the grass has to come up, hasn't it?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Definitely.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30So, with Dad, Kevin, already at work on the new deck,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32time for a lesson in turf lifting.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Well, the easiest way to take up turf is to cut it in strips.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39- Right.- And you can get under it.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Try and slide under, if you can.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44If you can... What you do is you lift a bit like that.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Like that.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48And you've got a turf out.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53And you could pick up the rest, you could come home from work every day
0:09:53 > 0:09:55and do half an hour turf lifting.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58I think I'd rather be at work for an extra half an hour!
0:09:58 > 0:10:01And with the groundworks well underway,
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Monty leaves Alex and her family with a few big ideas to mull over.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11It is more dramatic than what I was originally planning.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13So I am...
0:10:14 > 0:10:16..a little bit nervous about that.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19I think, if Alex can bring herself..
0:10:20 > 0:10:24..to base the garden around a large tree in the centre,
0:10:24 > 0:10:26which her budget would allow her to do,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28not only will it convert a tiny space
0:10:28 > 0:10:30into something really extraordinary,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34but also it will tap into something deeper inside her.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38So that's a possibility that I really look forward to.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41And, if she decides against it, it doesn't matter.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46It's the middle of June,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49very late to start growing summer veg from scratch.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Monty's come to Bristol to take his first look at Ross' allotment.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I'd like to say I don't know what I think Monty's going to think,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00but I know what he's going to think.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02He's going to think, "Christ, this is all a bit overgrown.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05"There's a lot of grass and a lot of weeds."
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Looking forward to seeing what he has to say.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Monty's intrigued by this challenge, too.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13- Ross, very nice to meet you, I'm Monty.- Nice to meet you, Monty.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15- Yeah, nice to meet you. - So, is this your plot?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Mine is the second half, yeah. - OK, fine.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Ross' allotment is what's known as a half plot.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23It's about 25 metres long and seven metres wide,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27and comes with a rickety old shed and a couple of plum trees.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Despite having no previous gardening experience,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35Ross has already tried planting some potatoes, a few herbs,
0:11:35 > 0:11:36and some strawberries.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- Why an allotment?- I want it to be a working allotment,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42but also function as a garden.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45Somewhere where I can sit in my shed, listen to the cricket,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48maybe open a cold beer at the end of a hard day's digging.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50How many hard days digging have you done so far? Because,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53without putting too fine a point on it, it's pretty overgrown, Ross.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- It is, yeah. I'm going to blame the weather.- OK, fine.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59- All gardeners can blame the weather. - ROSS LAUGHS
0:11:59 > 0:12:02But to make this work at all, and to make it pleasurable,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- you've got to get on top of it. - Yeah.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07With Ross left in no doubt about the work ahead,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Monty moves onto the detail.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13He needs to know more about Ross' dreams for his project.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15What do you want to grow?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Your standards. You know, potatoes, your carrots, your onions.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20Something a little bit more interesting
0:12:20 > 0:12:22that I've never tried before.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25I see you've got some strawberries here, which is lovely, and great.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27The trouble is, they're infested with weeds.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30You've got a nice, healthy sage in here.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35- Pick that. That's lovely. Smell that.- It smells lovely, yeah.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Fantastic. Beautiful.- Yeah. - Incredible.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Unfortunately, again, weeds running through it.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46The tour ends with a look at a project very close to Ross' heart
0:12:46 > 0:12:47- the old shed.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49I think it is solvable. It's fixable.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I can pimp it up a little bit and this could be my place.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56I'm thinking about, perhaps, a little veranda.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58OK, I-I-I admire your optimism.
0:12:58 > 0:12:59ROSS LAUGHS
0:12:59 > 0:13:02I was going to say "I've seen worse," but actually, no, I haven't.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06With the derelict shed to renovate, and the place overrun with weeds,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Monty is worried about Ross' commitment.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Next, the thorny issue of funds.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14My budget is ad hoc. It's kind of as it goes.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16- 50 quid?- 100 to 200.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- OK, fine.- Over the course of time.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22That's reasonable. That's not at all unreasonable.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's going to be a very steep learning curve.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Yeah. I'm a quick learner.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Let's have a look at your plans. Have you got any drawings,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- any ideas?- Yeah, back in the shed. - OK, I'll come with you.- Yeah.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Monty's beginning to see that Ross' dream is going to need
0:13:37 > 0:13:41careful management if he's to stand any chance of pulling it off.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44- OK, so I have...- Let's put this on there.
0:13:44 > 0:13:45- ..some plans.- No, I like...
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Gosh, that's a good plan.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49It's not ridiculously ambitious.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Ross has studied town and country planning to a very high level
0:13:53 > 0:13:55and has drawn up a clear and thorough design.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01He hopes to plant fruit trees on the far border and build four raised
0:14:01 > 0:14:03vegetable beds for growing potatoes,
0:14:03 > 0:14:07carrots, onions, and four smaller ones for herbs and strawberries.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11He'll repair the old shed as best he can
0:14:11 > 0:14:15and extend it with a veranda, with a roof and a bar.
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Beside the veranda, he wants to create a barbecue and picnic area.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24And, at the rear of the shed, he plans to make a compost bin.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Monty's eye is immediately drawn to the shed.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Shed veranda extension?
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Yeah. It's salvageable, I swear.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Well, I'm really trying to work out if we're dealing with...
0:14:37 > 0:14:39..utterly noble, admirable ambition...
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- ..or sheer delusion. - Probably a bit of both, isn't it?
0:14:44 > 0:14:47The plan looks impressive, but there's a vital element missing.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49The compost heap is round the back.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Yes.- How're you getting to your compost heap?
0:14:51 > 0:14:53- The reason why I'm being a bit pernickety about this...- OK.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56..is that paths and access are really important.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57- Sure, OK.- Always.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59And you're going to be going to the compost heap a lot.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- Yeah, OK.- So it needs to be a good path...
0:15:02 > 0:15:04- OK.- ..one that you can get to
0:15:04 > 0:15:06and make it accessible.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07I think this is a good plan.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- The overarching problem is getting on top of the weeds.- Yep.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Monty's clear that the all-pervasive infestation of weeds cannot be
0:15:14 > 0:15:17overlooked and he makes the radical suggestion
0:15:17 > 0:15:19that Ross should cover the far end of the plot
0:15:19 > 0:15:21with weed-suppressant membrane.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25He should forget about his four larger beds for now
0:15:25 > 0:15:29and concentrate this year's efforts on half the area.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Next, Ross should put down bark chippings for the paths...
0:15:34 > 0:15:36..and build a larger compost bin.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40And, as for the shed, Monty would replace it with a brand-new one.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Well, Ross, you may not be an expert gardener, but you do do a nice plan.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48I'm quite chuffed that you like my plan.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50All those years studying town planning paid off. It's great.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53But Monty's approval comes with a warning.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Ross has to get rid of all those weeds,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58and he's keen to get on with that right away.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00You've got to get the roots out,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03and it does almost mean sifting through it like this.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05And, look, those are bind weed roots there.
0:16:05 > 0:16:10- Sure.- And sometimes you come across them as a great ball of spaghetti.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- OK.- You see the plants growing up?
0:16:12 > 0:16:14So if this broke off...
0:16:17 > 0:16:19- ..that is effectively a rooted cutting.- OK.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And that will grow into a nice, strong plant.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23- It needs to go.- It needs to go.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Once the pair have wrestled with the weeds in one patch,
0:16:27 > 0:16:32Monty is ready to teach Ross how to prepare a veg patch correctly.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34So the first thing you do is you mark out a trench.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36So, you draw a line across the area,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38and that's quite a reasonable amount.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41When you're digging, always use a spade, never a fork.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- OK.- That's a spit, OK?
0:16:43 > 0:16:45The length of a spade is the spit,
0:16:45 > 0:16:48so a trench is normally a spit wide and a spit deep.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- OK.- OK?
0:16:50 > 0:16:52You just go down the full spit.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Let the spade do the work, and then use your feet.
0:16:55 > 0:16:56So you push down like that.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00And I'm breaking the soil up and seeing all sorts of...
0:17:00 > 0:17:04And if you see any weeds as you go along, take them out.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Now, you need some compost or manure.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Just add some slightly on the edge, like that.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11And you're just...
0:17:11 > 0:17:13adding a bit...
0:17:13 > 0:17:16to help the structure, and then you start the next trench.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18And the next trench fills in the first one.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20- Sure, OK.- So it goes along like this.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Yeah, I think I've got it.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25It's time for Ross to give it a go.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27And, for extra encouragement,
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Monty offers him a special privilege.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33I'm going to do something which I've never in 25 years let happen before.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- You can use my spade.- Oh, my God!
0:17:36 > 0:17:38- Go on, use it. - ROSS LAUGHS
0:17:38 > 0:17:41And systematically work across.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43- Sure.- And you'll hit a rhythm.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45- Sure.- You know, it will feel comfortable.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46How does it feel, um...
0:17:47 > 0:17:49..working the soil? Because, in the end,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52that's what gardening is, more than anything else.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54I think I'd be comfortable if there wasn't people...
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- If you weren't here.- Fine.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58You've inherited lovely soil on the allotment.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01- Good to know.- It's now pretty much weed-free.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03You know, if you can't grow vegetables in this,
0:18:03 > 0:18:05you can't grow veg.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06Monty's time is nearly up,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09but Ross isn't going to let Britain's top gardener
0:18:09 > 0:18:11leave without picking his brain one more time.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15And when do you think we can start putting things in the ground?
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Over the next week or so.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20So, French beans, dwarf and climbing.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24You can sow some sweetcorn direct, you can sow courgettes direct.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Oh, good. It's...it's started, hasn't it?
0:18:26 > 0:18:28It's started, Ross. That's all that matters.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Despite the huge task Ross is facing,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Monty has left him feeling optimistic.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39I was a bit nervous to start with, cos you've got the king of gardening
0:18:39 > 0:18:40coming to look at your plot,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42which, quite frankly, was in a bit of a mess.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44When I came here this morning,
0:18:44 > 0:18:47I knew that Ross had absolutely no gardening experience.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Never had an allotment, he had no money,
0:18:51 > 0:18:56and that he expected to grow lots and lots of vegetables this year.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58And that was a very, very tall order,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00because it's quite late on in the season.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03However, do you know, I think it's possible.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07The soil is good, it's not too big, he's got a really good plan.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09I think he could pull it off.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11It's going to be challenging, but it's going to be good.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Yeah, it's going to be fun.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Summer has well and truly arrived.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26Alex is uncertain about Monty's suggestion
0:19:26 > 0:19:29of a big statement tree at the heart of her woodland garden...
0:19:31 > 0:19:33..so he's sent her to Holker Hall,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36a stately home near the Cumbrian coast belonging
0:19:36 > 0:19:38to generations of the Cavendish family.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Its 25 acres of gardens and woodlands
0:19:42 > 0:19:46include a distinguished collection of mature trees.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Head gardener Glyn Sherratt is on hand to give the family a tour,
0:19:52 > 0:19:56starting with a show-stopping botanical curio -
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Holker's enormous monkey puzzle tree.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Monkey puzzles were very popular in the Victorian period
0:20:01 > 0:20:04in front gardens. This one's probably about 150 years old.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07They will get vast eventually, if you leave them for long enough.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- ALEX:- They are magnificent in the right setting, though.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12- Absolutely.- In a garden this scale, they work.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14You've sort of hit the nail on the head there, really,
0:20:14 > 0:20:15is you should always be thinking
0:20:15 > 0:20:17about what's appropriate for your garden.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19I don't think I'm going to be able to fit that
0:20:19 > 0:20:21in the back of the car on the way home!
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Holker's grounds are home to a host of ancient trees,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33many of which have grown hoary and twisted,
0:20:33 > 0:20:35giving them the look Alex is after.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I think these trees are really interesting
0:20:39 > 0:20:42because, not only have you got, kind of, moss growing
0:20:42 > 0:20:46from the bottom, you've got this kind of flaky bark as well.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Older trees tend to have the more textured bark.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- It tends to come with age. - Like people, really.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54Watch it.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01There's one particular tree that Glyn thinks Alex will really like.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- Wow!- That's absolutely magnificent.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09I know. It looks like something you'd find in a fairy grotto.
0:21:11 > 0:21:16The great Holker lime was probably planted early in the 1600s.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18And today, its huge trunk measures more than
0:21:18 > 0:21:2025 metres in circumference.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26It is recognised as one of Britain's 50 greatest trees.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28How old do you think this tree is, then?
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Given the size, it's probably about 600 years old.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32You can imagine all the things that live in it.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34There's probably owls, birds nesting, that sort of...
0:21:34 > 0:21:36I think there's a few bees' nests probably in it.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37Just everything.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- It's like a hotel for wildlife. - THEY LAUGH
0:21:40 > 0:21:44With its hollow trunk, craggy bark and huge canopy,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47this ancient tree represents everything
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Monty envisaged for Alex's fairy tale space.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53The older they get, the more enchanted they become.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55You can just imagine fairies and all sorts living...
0:21:55 > 0:21:57- ALEX LAUGHS - Yeah. Perfect!
0:21:57 > 0:21:59..tucked away, yeah.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00- Elves.- Yeah!
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I think it's gorgeous.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05I think all the branches trailing down,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08it's really giving it a fairy grotto vibe.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Have you tried hugging it, Alex?
0:22:11 > 0:22:15- I don't think my arms will stretch that far.- Do it in sections.- Yeah!
0:22:15 > 0:22:16By the end of the visit,
0:22:16 > 0:22:20Alex has seen some of the most remarkable trees.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23But how does that translate into her dream for her own tiny back garden?
0:22:25 > 0:22:29I think the trees I saw today were more of what I had in mind.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33There were trees that I didn't really think I could just pop into
0:22:33 > 0:22:37my back yard, because it's taken years for them to get that way.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Well, I think they gave you the vision
0:22:39 > 0:22:41that you could scale back down...
0:22:41 > 0:22:46- Yeah, they did.- ..and perhaps make a smaller version of what you've seen.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47Yeah.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52The visit today has confirmed that I am on the right track for...
0:22:53 > 0:22:55..my...my vision.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05The inspirational visit has made Alex keen to get going.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08So, back in Blackpool, she makes a start on her layout.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12OK, so, these are the stepping stones
0:23:12 > 0:23:14that I'm going to be using to get
0:23:14 > 0:23:17from one part of the garden to the other.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21They're basically going to be laying in a...
0:23:21 > 0:23:24..sea of wood chippings.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Keep the forest theme alive.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34She's yet to decide what kind of tree to choose,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37but is already working out where to put it.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41The tree is going to go bang in the middle of the garden.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45The stepping stones are going to go round the tree.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47It'll definitely be showpiece.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51So far, so good.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53But deciding exactly what sort of tree to choose
0:23:53 > 0:23:55is still a bit daunting.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58It was weighing up...
0:23:59 > 0:24:02..what can look good,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04what fits in with the theme.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06What am I going to be able to look after?
0:24:07 > 0:24:10It's September where I'm aiming to finish it by.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12But there's still a level - low level -
0:24:12 > 0:24:16of anxiety there that all my other plans...
0:24:16 > 0:24:19aren't going to come into fruition.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31To show Ross that creating an allotment is not all hard work,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Monty has suggested a visit to Wellesbourne Allotments
0:24:34 > 0:24:38in Warwickshire to see what can be achieved, and on a very low budget.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48The three-hectare site is one of the oldest in the country,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51and was first cultivated in the 1840s.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Ross is meeting gardeners Ian and Jo,
0:24:54 > 0:24:58who are focused on vegetables and recycling on their plot.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00So, this is it? This is the plot?
0:25:00 > 0:25:02This is it. This is our plot, yeah.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05We've got from the road, and then it goes all the way up to just beyond
0:25:05 > 0:25:06- our shed, so it's a half plot.- OK.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Half a plot.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11It looks like you're growing quite a bit?
0:25:11 > 0:25:14- Yeah, we've not got a bad variety. - Sure, OK.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16So, yeah, we can give you a guided tour and show you around.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19- Can't wait, yeah. Inspire me. - We'll certainly do our best.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23First stop is to have a look at Ian and Jo's top tip for creating
0:25:23 > 0:25:24the cheapest of raised beds.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Instead of spending money on making conventional raised beds,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Ian and Jo simply use the biggest cast-off containers they can find.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- JO:- Raised beds.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39We managed to get some empty pots at the tip.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- OK, great.- So, three for £1, these massive pots...
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- Good news.- ..and then the other three was an old dustbin
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- that we cut into bits. - A barrel.- Oh, OK.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49I just cut it up into three.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Upcycling, yeah, it's what my allotment's all about.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- There you go.- It's music to my ears. - It's amazing what you can do with
0:25:55 > 0:25:57- these things.- I think part of it is actually seeing the potential in
0:25:57 > 0:26:01things. And, then, the other great recycled project is the shed.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I can't wait to see your shed, yeah.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05- I've heard big things.- He's very proud of his shed. Very proud.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- Excellent.- Well, shall we tootle on and have a look at the shed?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- Yeah, great, yeah. Let's have a look.- Excellent.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Although Monty thought Ross' shed was beyond repair,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Ross is determined to bring it back to life.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20- IAN:- So the majority of the materials came from a pet shop
0:26:20 > 0:26:22- which was closing down.- Right.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25And we got some vegetable racking and shelving.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28And the galvanised shelving I've bolted together,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31and the shelving actually forms the frame of the shed.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34What you've got here with the seating next to your shed
0:26:34 > 0:26:35is exactly what I want really.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It's somewhere that you can relax at the end of the day.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Yeah, I mean, just this week we were sitting up here with a bottle of
0:26:40 > 0:26:44- fizzy for my birthday.- Yeah. It's just brilliant to hear,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46cos my budget is pretty much just about zero.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53Having shown Ross two money-saving ways of making his dream a reality,
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Ian introduces the all-important element
0:26:55 > 0:26:58of encouraging wildlife into the plot.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01We actually put frogspawn in there, and, obviously, got frogs,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03but there's also newts in there.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07So, quite where the newts have come from, we don't know.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Yeah, well, if you build it, they will come.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Yeah, we've created the habitat, and now they're here,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- which is really nice.- I mean, I've got a little area at the back,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17behind my shed, where I can't really do much with it,
0:27:17 > 0:27:22so, I am thinking now, perhaps a little pond might be suitable.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24- Yeah.- Just for a little bit of wildlife
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and build a little bug hotel.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28- Yeah, good.- Sounds lovely.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Have a wildlife area going on.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Obviously, I've never done this before.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Super-daunting, but it's kind of given me a bit of hope
0:27:35 > 0:27:37that, you know, I might actually be able to do this.
0:27:44 > 0:27:45Back at his own allotment,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Ross is soon putting his research to good use.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51When we spoke to Ian and Jo,
0:27:51 > 0:27:54obviously, saw their pond and their sort of little wildlife reserve,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58and that's kind of inspired me to do my own little ones,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00and decided to go along the bug hotel route,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03just to get some of those little bugs to help me kill slugs,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07as much as anything. With the pond, hopefully we can get some wildlife.
0:28:07 > 0:28:11Just have a cool little area. Have the kids up as well.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15And, as a sign that Ross is now beginning to enjoy this adventure,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18he's invited some young visitors to join in.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21These are my godchildren, so I thought it'd be quite nice to...
0:28:21 > 0:28:24you know, to actually get them right at the start.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26So, what kind of bugs do you reckon we'll get?
0:28:26 > 0:28:28- Ants.- Which ones?
0:28:28 > 0:28:31- Ants.- Ants, yeah, probably get some ants in there.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Some woodlice.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35- Some spiders?- Yeah, some spiders.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38See the little ones with the holes in?
0:28:38 > 0:28:40That's bamboo. Hopefully, we'll get some bees in there.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Sarah's come down to help, too.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46She's noticed a big change.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49I think Ross has really got his allotment mojo working.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52I think he's done loads in the last few days,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54and I think that's got a lot to do
0:28:54 > 0:28:57with visiting the allotment that he went to see.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00and it's given him some real sort of oomph,
0:29:00 > 0:29:03as to how it could look and, you know,
0:29:03 > 0:29:06how exciting and how individual he could make it.
0:29:06 > 0:29:10So, Ross, we're going to plant these peas around these tripods
0:29:10 > 0:29:11- you've put up?- OK, great.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Cool.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Even though everyone is encouraging Ross,
0:29:15 > 0:29:17he's not quite sure he can fulfil his dream.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20The main things I'm worried about...
0:29:22 > 0:29:25..is just, it's the workload of...
0:29:25 > 0:29:27there's still so much weeding to do, which...
0:29:29 > 0:29:31..you've got to be in the right frame of mind for it.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Sometimes, the thought of coming up here and just, like,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36today's job is the weeding,
0:29:36 > 0:29:38it's not completely fun,
0:29:38 > 0:29:40so I just hope that doesn't drag me down too much.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Back in Blackpool, Alex now has to make that big decision.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Monty suggested that her fairy tale garden
0:29:54 > 0:29:56should have a large tree as the central feature.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00She's seen some very old ones at Holker,
0:30:00 > 0:30:01and done some further research.
0:30:01 > 0:30:06Now, it's time to take the plunge and just go shopping.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08Hi, John.
0:30:08 > 0:30:09Good afternoon.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13She's got an idea, and now she's come to Maple Tree Farm,
0:30:13 > 0:30:15a nursery nearby in Preston,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18to find out whether this would be the right choice.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21I think what I like the look of...
0:30:21 > 0:30:23is a weeping willow.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26- Uh-huh. - It's a gorgeous-looking tree.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30The nursery's owner, John, takes her through the maze of trees on show.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35Here we are, weeping willow - Salix chrysocoma.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37Very, very attractive tree.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41Very, very lovely when they're young like this.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44And very, very lovely when they've grown into a big tree,
0:30:44 > 0:30:48if they're in a very big garden area,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51especially near a pond or a lake.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54See, my garden theme's a bit of an enchanted woodland,
0:30:54 > 0:30:56and I just think something like this...
0:30:58 > 0:31:02- ..it would have looked perfect in it, really.- Mm.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04It's gorgeous.
0:31:04 > 0:31:06But John has reservations about Alex's choice
0:31:06 > 0:31:08for her particular garden.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11They, unfortunately, don't stay like this.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13They grow very, very quickly.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15- Oh, no, what a shame! It's gorgeous!- Yeah, it is.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17I had my heart set on a weeping willow.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Yeah, it's lovely.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Alex is naturally disappointed,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24so John comes up with what he thinks might work better for her.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29We've got weeping birch...
0:31:29 > 0:31:31behind you here.
0:31:31 > 0:31:36- Oh, yeah?- This is much more of a garden-size tree.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39The foliage is that little bit different,
0:31:39 > 0:31:42but it's in the eye of the beholder.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44It might be the more practical option,
0:31:44 > 0:31:49but it just doesn't really have the impact of the weeping willow.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53Since this will be the focal point of Alex's dream garden,
0:31:53 > 0:31:54it must be just right.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- It's not hitting the mark, is it? No?- No.- No.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Well, there's all manner of other trees here.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04OK. Can we see some of the ones that blossom in the spring?
0:32:04 > 0:32:05Indeed.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09This time John has no hesitation in recommending something
0:32:09 > 0:32:11he thinks will fit the bill perfectly.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14This is a very, very nice flowering tree.
0:32:14 > 0:32:19This is Malus mokum - crab apples.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23And the tree is absolutely laden
0:32:23 > 0:32:25with blossom in the spring,
0:32:25 > 0:32:28so it's a very, very beautiful tree.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30As John is keen to point out,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33this crab apple tree will give Alex year-round interest,
0:32:33 > 0:32:38with its dark pink blossom in spring and autumn crop of miniature apples.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42So it does something for the majority of the year, then?
0:32:42 > 0:32:45It's a tree that's quite suited to a smallish garden.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I really like this one.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50- You like this one?- Yeah.- Right.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Oh, well, that's... Yeah, so...
0:32:52 > 0:32:54I think we might have a winner. Box her up!
0:32:54 > 0:32:57- Thanks for your help, John. - There you are. OK, yeah.
0:33:02 > 0:33:03It's the end of July,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07and nearly six weeks since Monty first visited Ross' allotment.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12Last time, he advised only tackling part of the plot
0:33:12 > 0:33:13during this first year,
0:33:13 > 0:33:16concentrating on weeding and planting up
0:33:16 > 0:33:18only half the raised beds Ross wants to build.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Now, Monty's back and keen to see
0:33:22 > 0:33:24if Ross has been sticking to the plan.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28There are two things that I'm looking for today.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31The first would apply to any allotment holder,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33which is to manage your expectations.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- ROSS:- Last time Monty was here, we kind of agreed
0:33:35 > 0:33:37to focus on just half the plot.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40I've done more than that, I've done two thirds of the plot.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42And we've got stuff in the ground now.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45The second thing is that this allotment for Ross
0:33:45 > 0:33:46is all part of rebuilding his life,
0:33:46 > 0:33:49of getting things under control
0:33:49 > 0:33:52and creating a foundation
0:33:52 > 0:33:54upon which he can move forward.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57We had like a bit of a mini-heatwave last week.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59I was up here pretty much every day doing my digging,
0:33:59 > 0:34:01getting a bit of a sweat on,
0:34:01 > 0:34:03and then afterwards cracked open a cider.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06It went straight to my head, it was really enjoyable.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08It's exactly what I want from this garden, yeah.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12Monty.
0:34:12 > 0:34:13With help from his friend Sarah,
0:34:13 > 0:34:15Ross hopes to surprise his mentor.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19- Hi, Monty, how you doing?- I'm fine, and delighted to see progress.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22Progress? It looks a little bit almost like an allotment.
0:34:22 > 0:34:23Has it been hard work?
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Yeah. I mean, I'm having to come up every couple of days
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- to stay on top of the weed.- Right.
0:34:29 > 0:34:30So you've been guiding him, Sarah?
0:34:30 > 0:34:34I have. There's been lots of very interesting text messages of,
0:34:34 > 0:34:36- "Can I just ask you a question?" - Yeah.
0:34:36 > 0:34:37Time for an inspection.
0:34:39 > 0:34:40- Crops are growing.- Radishes.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Radishes, and they've really come up well.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Yeah, and some herbs in my little buckets,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46which were just lying around the plot.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50But the big question is, has Ross limited his expectations?
0:34:50 > 0:34:52One of the things that I think I remember saying to you
0:34:52 > 0:34:54is not to try not and do it all in one go.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Yeah, it's less daunting. I can see progress happening
0:34:57 > 0:35:00- cos I'm sticking to the plan.- Good.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Now, what would you like me to mentor you with today,
0:35:04 > 0:35:06while I'm here?
0:35:06 > 0:35:08OK, so if we take a look at the compost heap.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10It's always a good place to start. Lead on.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12As Monty advised,
0:35:12 > 0:35:15Ross has made his compost bins with more than one compartment.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Well, it's good. It's a really good start, this.
0:35:18 > 0:35:19Pallets make great compost heaps.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22And that's your composting material?
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Yeah, I mean, I've been chucking everything in there.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28Monty believes that, like this,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32Ross can have his own home-made way of enriching his soil,
0:35:32 > 0:35:34but there are rules to making good compost,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38and a quick look soon shows Monty that these haven't been followed.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42You can add anything that has lived,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44but I wouldn't add any cooked food,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46any meat or any fats.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48- Right.- Cos that will just attract rats.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51- OK.- But you can add an old jersey, a woollen one,
0:35:51 > 0:35:56your hair if you have a haircut, kitchen waste - anything like that.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00Chop it up, mix up, and then, finally, you want a good balance
0:36:00 > 0:36:05between brown and green. And the brown are woody stems, dry stuff,
0:36:05 > 0:36:06whereas, actually,
0:36:06 > 0:36:08the things like the grass and fresh leaves are green.
0:36:08 > 0:36:10- OK.- Green are high in nitrogen,
0:36:10 > 0:36:13brown are high in carbon, and you want a balance between the two.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16It kind of makes sense, so...
0:36:16 > 0:36:19- "Kind of makes sense"?! - THEY LAUGH
0:36:19 > 0:36:20That's damning with the faintest of praise.
0:36:20 > 0:36:25Listen, this is a lifetime's experience I'm handing onto you.
0:36:25 > 0:36:26I'm the king of compost.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28It totally makes sense.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32OK, so let's get that up and we'll break it up as best we can.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35There's no hiding from the expert.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39Monty can tell Ross hasn't got the mix right or done enough preparation
0:36:39 > 0:36:41to help it break down properly.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43Right, if I open it like that...
0:36:45 > 0:36:49..can you see how this is actually as dry as a bone?
0:36:49 > 0:36:51- OK.- And it's not composting at all.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55- Right, OK.- And if you put things in there, break them up,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59increase the surface area. The more of that you can do, the better.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01But there are some things that are never going to work.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04It's no good burying a rose in a compost heap...
0:37:07 > 0:37:09I was hoping you wouldn't spot that one.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11..and think it's going to compost.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15If you can't shred them, don't add them to the compost heap.
0:37:15 > 0:37:16And having gone through what's there,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Monty follows this with a suggestion of what Ross can add
0:37:19 > 0:37:21to his rather dry heap.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- Have you got some green material? - A bucket of greens.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28Brilliant. Do you see how this is now getting a bit chopped up,
0:37:28 > 0:37:30there's a much better chance of that composting?
0:37:30 > 0:37:32- OK.- If we mix that with that lovely green material...
0:37:32 > 0:37:36- Yes.- ..and then, if you chop this up a bit, like that...
0:37:37 > 0:37:40..and mix it a bit.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Mix that up in there, and already you can see
0:37:43 > 0:37:45literally green and brown,
0:37:45 > 0:37:47which is a pretty good guide to go with.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49- That will compost.- OK, great.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52- And if you feel it, it's light, there's air in there.- Right.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55- It shouldn't be heavy on the fork or in your hands.- OK.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58The other thing is, if you've got a lot of dry material
0:37:58 > 0:38:00and you can't do anything about it, water it.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02- OK.- Wet it.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04- Right, OK. - And that will dramatically help.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08You know, mix it all up, so it's...
0:38:09 > 0:38:12..nice and loose and aerated.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15And that stands a fighting chance of making compost.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18- Start cooking.- Yeah. You're on the road to compost.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Excellent, brilliant. Thank you for that.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23It's nearly time for Monty to leave,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27but before he goes, he has a few final words of encouragement.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30- Keep the impetus going. - Yeah.- And remember,
0:38:30 > 0:38:32if you go to the trouble of clearing a piece of ground
0:38:32 > 0:38:33in your new allotment,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36the worst thing you can do is leave it empty...
0:38:36 > 0:38:38- Yeah.- ..because the weeds will come back.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41- Right.- I'm coming back in a few weeks' time to help you again.
0:38:41 > 0:38:42Yeah, yeah.
0:38:42 > 0:38:44What's apparent...
0:38:44 > 0:38:47talking to Ross, and perhaps even more watching him listening,
0:38:47 > 0:38:49is that he's an intelligent,
0:38:49 > 0:38:53thoughtful man, who of course can manage growing vegetables.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55I think it is going to be trial and error cos, you know,
0:38:55 > 0:38:57as I've said many times, I've never done this before.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00But hopefully, fingers crossed,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02I'm doing everything as well as I can.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06What is really noticeable is that he's tentative.
0:39:07 > 0:39:08He doesn't have a lot of confidence,
0:39:08 > 0:39:12and I suspect that's all to do with his frame of mind.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16There's no question that, as he gets more assured,
0:39:16 > 0:39:17the allotment will get better too.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28The summer is reaching its height as Monty heads back to Blackpool.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30He's curious to find out if Alex took his advice
0:39:30 > 0:39:32about her enchanted forest design.
0:39:34 > 0:39:39I'm very excited at the prospect of seeing a really large tree...
0:39:40 > 0:39:44..with gnarled, mature growth, dominating the garden.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48I really hope she's gone with it, because it would be very exciting.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Things have definitely moved on.
0:39:53 > 0:39:58Right. You've been busy. Let me just work out what's been done.
0:39:58 > 0:39:59Is there going to be a path?
0:39:59 > 0:40:01The path is going to follow all the way
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- from the decking to the rose arch. - OK.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05And the Rose arch, which is now in position?
0:40:05 > 0:40:09Yes, I'm planning to keep it there in the little corner of the garden.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13But, clearly, Monty is missing something important.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17I was expecting a much larger tree.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19At what point did you change your mind about that?
0:40:19 > 0:40:23I don't think I want a tree overwhelming the rest of the garden.
0:40:23 > 0:40:24Well, that's fair enough.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27I mean, what matters is you've arrived at way you wanted to be.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29So the next stage is to plant it.
0:40:29 > 0:40:30Where do you want the tree to go?
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Monty can see that Alex is beginning to feel more sure
0:40:33 > 0:40:36of what she's after. Time for action.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38I'm thinking, basically,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41right in the middle of the garden, and the path moves round it.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45If you go back onto the decking and you can see, just say,
0:40:45 > 0:40:47"Up a bit, down a bit."
0:40:47 > 0:40:51See, I was going to move it further to my left, your right.
0:40:51 > 0:40:52- OK, OK.- Yeah.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54And maybe slightly towards me.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57And then I think we've got...
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Yeah, that's probably about...
0:41:00 > 0:41:03- How's that?- Yeah, that's probably about where I was going to put it.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05Once Alex has selected the spot,
0:41:05 > 0:41:09Monty gets ready to plant the precious new addition to her garden.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Just on cue, reinforcements arrive.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Right, Dad's here to help.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- I'm very, very pleased to see you. - Pleased to meet you.
0:41:18 > 0:41:19The cavalry is here!
0:41:20 > 0:41:21It used to be thought,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25when I started planted trees, you added compost and manure,
0:41:25 > 0:41:27- you gave it a start, you fed it. - That's what I thought.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30We don't do that now. Because if you put goodness underneath the roots,
0:41:30 > 0:41:31the roots are going to stay there.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Why would they not? And it delays the growing out.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- Right.- You put your goodness on top, and you mulch thickly.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41First, Monty gets to work with Kevin and Alex,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44digging a hole as deep as the tree's container.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46The best soil, in theory, is going to be the first foot.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Which is what we need to keep the best soil to feed back in...
0:41:51 > 0:41:53- Yeah.- ..and the really rough stuff on the other side.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57With Spock overseeing proceedings, they widen the hole.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Right, so we need to take some turf off, at least another foot.
0:42:00 > 0:42:01Another foot?
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- Right, what we'll do is take that out a little bit more...- Yeah.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09..and then we'll start digging around, so the whole thing's loose.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Now the hole is fully prepared, Monty gives another piece of advice.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Will we need to unravel some of these small roots at all?
0:42:16 > 0:42:18No, if it's very pot-bound, the roots,
0:42:18 > 0:42:20what you can do is sometimes just...
0:42:20 > 0:42:24Don't try and unravel them, but just break them, just like that.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27What that does, is stimulate regrowth
0:42:27 > 0:42:29from the points where they broke.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33With all preparation completed, it's time for the heavy lifting.
0:42:33 > 0:42:34Perfect.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Is that the way you want it?
0:42:38 > 0:42:42OK, if you slightly twist it towards you, Monty.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44That way, OK, to your left?
0:42:44 > 0:42:46To my left, yeah - clockwise, then?
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Yeah. OK, we'll come round again.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Yeah, that side is higher,
0:42:51 > 0:42:53so that's going to work over a path.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Yeah, I'm happy with the look of it.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59So what we'll do is we will water it.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03- Yeah.- When the water's completely soaked in, then we'll mulch it.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06Otherwise, the mulch can absorb the moisture.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10- Right.- You've planted a big tree - not many people ever do that.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14The garden has moved on, but there's still a lot to do
0:43:14 > 0:43:15to create Alex's dream.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19I will be back at the beginning of September,
0:43:19 > 0:43:22expecting a magical fairy woodland,
0:43:22 > 0:43:25and perhaps a magical fairy glass of something to celebrate.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29- I think that can be arranged.- OK.
0:43:29 > 0:43:33I can't deny that I was a bit disappointed
0:43:33 > 0:43:36when I saw the size of tree that Alex had chosen.
0:43:36 > 0:43:40I was expecting something much bigger and older
0:43:40 > 0:43:44and more venerable than that. But that was a bit unrealistic,
0:43:44 > 0:43:46and it is big, and it does dominate the garden.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49And importantly, it makes her feel confident.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52And I think that's the door open -
0:43:52 > 0:43:55all she has to do is put the rest together around it.
0:43:55 > 0:43:58So when I come back in six or seven weeks' time,
0:43:58 > 0:44:02there WILL be a fairy forest to celebrate.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10August has arrived,
0:44:10 > 0:44:14and it won't be long before Monty returns for his final visits
0:44:14 > 0:44:15to both our dreamers.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21In Bristol, Ross has got round to tackling that rickety shack,
0:44:21 > 0:44:26determined to convert it into a pub shed. And with growing confidence,
0:44:26 > 0:44:28he wants to impress his mentor.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31I've promised Monty that this shed's going to look pretty awesome.
0:44:33 > 0:44:35And it will...hopefully.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41Once homeless, jobless and suffering from low self-esteem,
0:44:41 > 0:44:44the progress he's made in his allotment
0:44:44 > 0:44:48matches his new-found enthusiasm and energy.
0:44:48 > 0:44:52Since Monty was last here, obviously the big change is woodchip,
0:44:52 > 0:44:56on the paths, and a little bit of order to the plot.
0:44:56 > 0:44:58We're on the home stretch now.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02It's not long before Monty will be back up here for the last time.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06There's a bit to do, but I know what I'm doing now,
0:45:06 > 0:45:11so it's not quite as daunting as it would have been a month or so ago.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14With the shed far from becoming the dream pub,
0:45:14 > 0:45:15he'll be working right up to the wire.
0:45:22 > 0:45:23Since planting her tree,
0:45:23 > 0:45:27Alex has had a lot to do to get all the rest of the garden finished
0:45:27 > 0:45:29before Monty comes to give his verdict.
0:45:29 > 0:45:34OK, so this is one of the last jobs I'm doing before Monty's arrival,
0:45:34 > 0:45:36and it's just planting the last trough.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39What do you think, Spock?
0:45:39 > 0:45:42Yeah? Is that a job well done?
0:45:43 > 0:45:45The garden I've ended up with,
0:45:45 > 0:45:48it's so much better than my original dream.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51I'm glad I ended up with a new and improved version.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57I think the garden is quite representative
0:45:57 > 0:46:00of the person who lives here.
0:46:05 > 0:46:09For Alex, the big day has finally dawned.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13With squally weather forecast, her nerves are somewhat jumpy.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16I woke up this morning, and I was in a bit more of a panic,
0:46:16 > 0:46:20because it was raining, I hadn't finished the trough,
0:46:20 > 0:46:23I hadn't finished the woodchips.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26But now, the sun is shining brightly
0:46:26 > 0:46:29over Blackpool, Monty is on his way,
0:46:29 > 0:46:31everything's done.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35I even managed to have an outfit change, so I'm quite confident.
0:46:35 > 0:46:40More often than not, when I come to visit a garden for the final time,
0:46:40 > 0:46:42after months and months of work,
0:46:42 > 0:46:46I have a pretty good idea of what I might see.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48I'm hoping he'll say maybe that he hasn't seen
0:46:48 > 0:46:50a garden quite like it before.
0:46:52 > 0:46:53In a good way!
0:46:53 > 0:46:56We planted the tree, and that's obviously going to be the
0:46:56 > 0:46:59centrepiece still, but how that has become
0:46:59 > 0:47:02this magical fairy forest that she spoke about
0:47:02 > 0:47:04when we started, I don't know.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06And I can't wait to find out.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09He'll like it. And if he doesn't, I'll get him drunk.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15Before she started, just over three months ago,
0:47:15 > 0:47:18Alex's tiny garden was as bland as they come.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Now, it's the enchanted woodland of her dreams.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29Look at that. Fantastic!
0:47:29 > 0:47:32- It looks great.- Project completed.
0:47:32 > 0:47:35You've done a huge amount - it's transformed.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39A winding path leads visitors down the garden,
0:47:39 > 0:47:42past Alex's carefully chosen crab apple tree,
0:47:42 > 0:47:45which will produce year-round interest,
0:47:45 > 0:47:48from delicate blossom to miniature fruit.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53An array of pink and purple planting
0:47:53 > 0:47:55is set off by a carpet of wood chippings
0:47:55 > 0:47:59and the occasional pine cone, as you'd find on a forest floor.
0:48:01 > 0:48:05The path leads to a fairy arbour complete with bench,
0:48:05 > 0:48:09where Alex can sit and enjoy a wishing well fashioned from a log.
0:48:12 > 0:48:16Branches, fence and arbour are festooned with lighting,
0:48:16 > 0:48:19which turns the garden into a mysterious grotto
0:48:19 > 0:48:21when darkness falls.
0:48:22 > 0:48:25I love the way that you've packed so much in
0:48:25 > 0:48:28but it doesn't look cluttered.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32The path leads you on, you want to go round it,
0:48:32 > 0:48:34and this small space feels like
0:48:34 > 0:48:37part of something much bigger.
0:48:37 > 0:48:41- Yeah.- I really like the colour scheme - I think it works very well.
0:48:41 > 0:48:43It feels rich and full.
0:48:43 > 0:48:45It's the purples on one side and the pinks on the other.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47Yeah, and I love the details.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50I like the way you strategically placed
0:48:50 > 0:48:51the fir cones to look as though
0:48:51 > 0:48:53they've just fallen, just happen to be there.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55- You noticed that, then? - SHE LAUGHS
0:48:55 > 0:48:59Yeah. And the stepping stones - the stepping logs - work well.
0:48:59 > 0:49:03Alex has peopled her grotto with one or two inhabitants thanks to her
0:49:03 > 0:49:05trips to the local car-boot sales.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Oh, there's a gargoyle.
0:49:08 > 0:49:13- Are the others here?- Yeah, he's got a friend hiding away in the garden.
0:49:13 > 0:49:16But has Alex managed to stick to her budget?
0:49:16 > 0:49:19Just remind me what the original budget was.
0:49:19 > 0:49:24The original budget was 1,500, which I was willing to bump up to 2,000.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27- Right.- And considering I'm an accountant,
0:49:27 > 0:49:31I really should have a specific figure for you.
0:49:31 > 0:49:32- Yeah.- But I don't!
0:49:32 > 0:49:36I am impressed that an accountant has no idea how much they've spent.
0:49:38 > 0:49:42Never mind the money - has it all been worth it?
0:49:43 > 0:49:44Does this...
0:49:44 > 0:49:46match your expectations?
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Oh, it's more than matched them - it's exceeded my expectations.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52- Yeah.- Yeah, I think it's turned out brilliantly.
0:49:52 > 0:49:54Monty's preview complete,
0:49:54 > 0:49:58it's time for family and friends to explore Alex's dream haven.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02And amongst them, her helpers.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05I'm extremely proud, because, I mean, it's all been her idea,
0:50:05 > 0:50:08she knew exactly what she wanted from the start.
0:50:08 > 0:50:13I must admit, the end result, like Sue says, it's worked really well.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16We're really, really pleased and happy that
0:50:16 > 0:50:19all our hard work has paid off, I think it looks fantastic.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21Given the size of the garden,
0:50:21 > 0:50:24I don't think we could have made anything better.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29Time for Monty to give the garden an appropriate send-off.
0:50:29 > 0:50:33We should raise our glasses to a magical fairy forest...
0:50:34 > 0:50:37..and hope that it remains magical,
0:50:37 > 0:50:40and that the chief fairy enjoys it...
0:50:42 > 0:50:43..for a long, long time to come.
0:50:43 > 0:50:45So to the magical forest, cheers!
0:50:45 > 0:50:48- ALL:- Cheers! - Cheers, everybody, well done.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50THEY CHEER
0:50:50 > 0:50:54I think the attention to detail in this garden is really extraordinary,
0:50:54 > 0:50:57and it creates a theatrical set.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01It is the completion of the fantasy forest
0:51:01 > 0:51:04that Alex has spoken about all along.
0:51:04 > 0:51:08I think my original dream probably couldn't be classified as big.
0:51:08 > 0:51:13I think he's probably helped me up my game in that respect,
0:51:13 > 0:51:18and it has turned out to be from a medium-sized dream to a big dream.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20And I'm sure, very quickly,
0:51:20 > 0:51:25she will realise that this is not a set to stand back and admire,
0:51:25 > 0:51:28but a garden that she can live with
0:51:28 > 0:51:31and that she will grow alongside.
0:51:38 > 0:51:42It's the day of Monty's final visit to the allotment in Bristol.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45Has Ross kept up with his work schedule?
0:51:47 > 0:51:53Today is unusual, because although Ross' dream is as big as any...
0:51:54 > 0:51:58..his horticultural ambitions are modest,
0:51:58 > 0:52:00but really, really important to him.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03I think that Monty will be really impressed,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06Ross has done everything that he said he was going to do.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09And, yeah, I think it's, you know,
0:52:09 > 0:52:13the allotment has come on leaps and bounds since we began.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15So, yeah, hopefully he'll love it.
0:52:15 > 0:52:16He's done well in the allotment,
0:52:16 > 0:52:19but actually, that is not the important thing.
0:52:19 > 0:52:25What I am looking for is to see the changes in Ross himself,
0:52:25 > 0:52:31and see how coming here and working outside has given him opportunities
0:52:31 > 0:52:34and chances that he didn't feel that he had before.
0:52:34 > 0:52:38It's been really useful having Monty's little visits.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41It's been extra useful as kind of a motivator, really.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43You never finish an allotment, but I think...
0:52:44 > 0:52:47Yeah, I feel fairly proud of myself.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50It's nearly four months since Monty first visited.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54Then, it was a weed-infested and neglected plot,
0:52:54 > 0:52:55crying out for some TLC.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59Ross has worked a miracle,
0:52:59 > 0:53:02transforming his allotment into both an orderly,
0:53:02 > 0:53:06productive space and a place to relax and entertain.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09- Ross.- Hi, how's it going?
0:53:09 > 0:53:10It's going very well with me,
0:53:10 > 0:53:12but it seems to be going even better with you!
0:53:12 > 0:53:14The garden is looking great.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17Almost the entire plot has been thoroughly weeded,
0:53:17 > 0:53:20and nearly all the beds Ross originally planned
0:53:20 > 0:53:23are now bursting with healthy crops of vegetables and herbs.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29The paths have been clearly marked out and surfaced with woodchip,
0:53:29 > 0:53:33and a substantial compost bin is ready to recycle all the waste
0:53:33 > 0:53:36the allotment will generate.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39A quirky bug hotel and colourful scarecrow
0:53:39 > 0:53:43give Ross' domain a touch of individuality.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47And a picnic area beneath the old plum tree invites relaxation.
0:53:48 > 0:53:54But nothing signifies Ross' dream more than his revamped pub shed.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56He's put it back together and repainted it,
0:53:56 > 0:53:59as well as adding the promised bar and veranda.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02Look at this, glorious!
0:54:02 > 0:54:04Welcome to the Ross and Crown.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06- The Ross and Crown?!- Yeah!
0:54:06 > 0:54:07My little pub shed.
0:54:07 > 0:54:11I like the way that your immaculate drawing has become
0:54:11 > 0:54:13this characterful, slightly wonky...
0:54:13 > 0:54:15Yeah, it's wonky, but it's allotment,
0:54:15 > 0:54:17- everything's supposed to be wonky on allotment.- Quite right.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20And your bar stool is exactly the right spirit.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22You've got like the reeds for the roof,
0:54:22 > 0:54:24so it gives it like a kind of a beach-bar vibe as well.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26Yeah, and a bar.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29Brilliant. Absolutely perfect.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32The important thing is, you said you were going to do it, and you did it.
0:54:32 > 0:54:33Yeah, yeah, and it was...
0:54:33 > 0:54:36No allotment should be without its own pub!
0:54:36 > 0:54:38But even more importantly,
0:54:38 > 0:54:41no allotment should be without a good display of veg.
0:54:41 > 0:54:46And looking, walking up, I'm struck by glorious chard.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48Yeah, we've had some squashes as well.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51- Have you been eating? - Yeah, yeah, we had loads of peas.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54- Good.- Quite nice munching up here as well, you know,
0:54:54 > 0:54:56just walking around and just helping yourself.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59- Yeah, it's cool. - So you have an allotment...
0:54:59 > 0:55:00- Yes.- ..that's working.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03And in terms of budget, how much have you spent?
0:55:03 > 0:55:05Probably about 100 quid?
0:55:05 > 0:55:07Yeah, and I've got a patio table out of all this wood.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09That patio table is very nice, too.
0:55:09 > 0:55:13So 100 quid has created an allotment,
0:55:13 > 0:55:16mended a shed, and actually, also,
0:55:16 > 0:55:18although not on a huge scale,
0:55:18 > 0:55:20got going the rhythm of providing some food.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22And herbs, of course - what herbs have you got?
0:55:22 > 0:55:23You got some chives there.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26I've got some mint. Basil seems to be surviving.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28- Yeah.- Yeah, and we've got some more chives.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34Before Ross' friends and family turn up to celebrate his achievement,
0:55:34 > 0:55:38there's something else Monty has to check out.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40Yeah, so what can I get you?
0:55:40 > 0:55:41I think, cos we're in Bristol...
0:55:41 > 0:55:44- Yeah, have a cider. - We should have a cider.
0:55:44 > 0:55:46Thank you very much, that looks fantastic.
0:55:46 > 0:55:47Sarah, what can I get you?
0:55:47 > 0:55:51This is also the moment to find out whether the project has fulfilled
0:55:51 > 0:55:53Ross' dream in more ways than one.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55And how are you feeling? How strong are you?
0:55:55 > 0:55:59Yeah, this has done me a world of good, yeah, it really, really has.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01Why do you think that gardening...
0:56:02 > 0:56:05..is so effective in helping out with stresses and strains and
0:56:05 > 0:56:07mental problems, and physical problems too?
0:56:07 > 0:56:08There's the sense of pride, you know,
0:56:08 > 0:56:11when you sit back and look at a piece of work you've done, going,
0:56:11 > 0:56:12"Oh, I've done that,"
0:56:12 > 0:56:15and you can feel that you've done it in your whole body.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17You kind of get like a real sense of kind of satisfaction.
0:56:17 > 0:56:18Self-esteem, yeah.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20It's one of the best things I've ever done, I think.
0:56:20 > 0:56:24- Really?- Yeah, yeah, had a really positive experience, yeah.
0:56:24 > 0:56:26Oh, I'm so pleased, that's good.
0:56:26 > 0:56:28This is charming - this is the nicest pub I've been to for ages.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31Thank you very much.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34Time to open the whole allotment for business.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37Ross' friends are turning up to mark the occasion.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41- Oh, look, visitors.- Right, visitors.
0:56:41 > 0:56:42Visitors.
0:56:42 > 0:56:45- Hey, nice to see you again. Nice to see you.- Well done.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47- Good to see you.- Before Ross came, it was obviously just brambles,
0:56:47 > 0:56:50and there wasn't very much going on, and I used to think,
0:56:50 > 0:56:53"Oh, at least mine doesn't look as bad as that one!"
0:56:53 > 0:56:56Now, I really need to up my game, because this is so beautiful,
0:56:56 > 0:56:59and it's got patio and a bar and darts and all that sort of stuff,
0:56:59 > 0:57:03so I need to come a bit more and get planting a bit more often.
0:57:03 > 0:57:06Maybe the focus and having something to do is helping him with that,
0:57:06 > 0:57:09and he's not going into a dark zone.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12So, yeah, I think this has helped him a hell of a lot.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15He's got more of a kick to him, he's full of confidence, you know,
0:57:15 > 0:57:18he knows where he's going, what he wants to do.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21With a thumbs-up from his friends, it's time to open the proceedings.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25Yeah, so thanks for coming, everybody. This is my allotment,
0:57:25 > 0:57:27feel free to have a look around,
0:57:27 > 0:57:29and I'll start pouring some drinks at the bar.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34Along with admiring Ross' hard work,
0:57:34 > 0:57:37everyone can enjoy the official opening of the Ross and Crown.
0:57:37 > 0:57:40Cheers. Well done.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46Job done, Monty slips away without disturbing the party.
0:57:48 > 0:57:50When I took on this allotment,
0:57:50 > 0:57:52I have to admit that it was on a little bit of a whim,
0:57:52 > 0:57:55and I've never gardened before.
0:57:55 > 0:57:57I've never really enjoyed kind of manual labour.
0:57:57 > 0:58:00But you know, I just wanted to kind of see if I could do it.
0:58:00 > 0:58:02I think the allotment is looking great -
0:58:02 > 0:58:05it's already given him some crops, but there will be more next year.
0:58:06 > 0:58:08And that is what's happened with Ross too.
0:58:08 > 0:58:12And what this allotment has grown, over and above anything
0:58:12 > 0:58:16that he's putting on his table, is hope.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18And that is wonderful.
0:58:18 > 0:58:20It's been so positive in so many ways, you know,
0:58:20 > 0:58:22I would recommend it to anybody.