Episode 8 The Instant Gardener


Episode 8

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Transcript


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There are few sights more satisfying than a beautiful garden.

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But what do you do if your outdoor space isn't quite

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so picture perfect and you are short on time?

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Well, meet the Instant Gardener.

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Ta-da!

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Danny Clarke is an expert at transforming gardens.

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Here's my plan - I'm going to rejuvenate this garden.

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Each time, our gardening guru will show you how to create

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gorgeous garden makeovers.

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That is the art of garden design - delegation.

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Each transformation will be packed with brilliant ideas and tips...

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It makes it easier to cut through.

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..to help you get to grips with your own outdoor space.

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It does feel unnatural, but take your time.

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'With his magical ideas...'

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These flowers will look like they are floating in amongst the grasses.

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'..and advice on spending wisely on a budget...'

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-That's why Danny makes me bring a list.

-OK.

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Oh, my word. This is amazing.

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'..and because he's the Instant Gardener,

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'everything you see will happen in just one day.'

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Oh, my God.

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That looks so much better.

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This time, we've come to Birmingham, Britain's second-biggest city

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and home to more than one million people.

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With impressive new amenities like the Library of Birmingham

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springing up, this is a city that's been

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regenerating itself in the 21st century.

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Today, Danny is going to be attempting a bit of regeneration.

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Granted, it is taking place on a slightly more modest scale and it's

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happening here in Yardley Wood, in a leafy suburb in South Birmingham.

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We are about to meet a family in desperate need of an instant garden revival.

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-Hello! You must be Sophie.

-Hi, Helen.

-Nice to meet you.

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-Come in.

-Thank you.

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Sophie is a single working mother who's battled to raise three boys,

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Casey, aged 23,

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18-year-old Jack

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and youngest Louis, who is 14.

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At weekends, all Sophie's time is taken up caring for her frail

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and elderly father, whose health is declining.

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Because she dedicates all her time to working and to caring for others,

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she's not been able to make any time for herself or her garden.

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Once, her garden was a bit of a wildlife haven, with fruit trees

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and healthy, flowering shrubs that attracted insects and birds aplenty.

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But now the fruit trees are dead and the garden is

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devoid of birdsong, something that Sophie really misses.

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The once verdant lawn has been trashed by years of football

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and bike riding.

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The patio is tired, weed-ridden and needs reviving

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and the flower beds are shapeless and moribund.

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What's more, the garden has become a junkyard full of abandoned items

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and piles of wood, tailing off into a tangled jumble at the end.

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With all her time taken up with supporting her family,

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including her increasingly dependent father,

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Sophie hasn't had any time for the garden at all.

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If anyone can restore it to the rich wildlife haven of Sophie's dreams,

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Danny can.

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-Hello, Danny.

-Hello, Helen.

-This is a great space.

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-I mean, it's quite a big garden, isn't it?

-It's a lovely garden, yes.

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How do you use it?

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At the moment, not very much, but normally we would cook out here.

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We'd eat, drink wine. It's very sunny out here.

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Not today.

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I can see the football.

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-So this has been used as a football pitch over the years?

-It has, yes.

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It's worn the grass away many times.

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-So you have three sons, the eldest of which is 23.

-Yes.

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He's gone to Australia. He's gone backpacking.

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-And then the next one is...?

-He's 18. He's off to uni this year.

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-And the youngest is...?

-Louis.

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He's 14 and he still wants to hold on to the garden

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but I think he goes out enough, so...

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So this was a space for the boys but going forward, it's hopefully

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-going to be a space for you?

-Absolutely. Yes.

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You've had a look around, Danny. What's caught your eye?

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-I tell you, one of the things I do like is the shed.

-Oh, thank you.

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-I like the colour. So you've got good taste.

-I painted that.

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Ah, I'm impressed. I do like it.

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Now, there's some wood, by the side there, of the shed.

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Is that important to you?

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It is, yes. I've got two real fires inside the house

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and a wood burner out here.

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-So you'd like to reclaim your garden?

-That's correct.

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But what would you like to see out here?

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I'd just like some wildlife out here.

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-Bees, butterflies, little birds.

-OK.

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-Come on, Dr Dolittle. Can you do that?

-I think so.

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I think we can do something anyway.

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Danny, we'll leave that with you...

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-OK.

-..and get out of your hair.

-Yeah. And before you go...

-Right.

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..I've got a little list for you, but you can't deviate from this list.

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-OK? So, when I say list...

-He gets nervous when I go shopping.

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..there's two plants on this list.

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-I want you to choose one of these two.

-OK.

-OK?

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-Right, happy gardening.

-Thank you. And you two stay dry.

-Oh, we will.

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Sophie and I set off to do some research,

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leaving Danny just ten hours to turn her tired plot

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into the healthy wildlife garden it could be.

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With the rain closing in and despite feeling under the weather himself,

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Dan's got a plan and is determined to see it through.

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Right, this is my plan. If you come this way...

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One of the things we need to do is to restore this patio area

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and de-weed it, and just bring it back to life.

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Back to the log store, this log store needs a home.

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We need to find something for it, so the intention is perhaps

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to build some sort of log store on that side of the shed.

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And then this lawn,

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which is completely featureless and boring,

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we are going to reshape it.

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So, I want to use the curve of that patio over there

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and run that curve in towards that fence,

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around, and right to the top over there.

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Now, this garden is saying to me that I should use what we've got.

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Now, this gives me the impression that this

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should be a wildlife garden.

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I think it probably is in its own way, so let's work with it.

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Let's not work against it.

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Grand plans, as always,

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but at least Danny has got his dedicated support team,

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handyman AJ and horticulturist Lou, to lend a hand.

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To add a bit of extra muscle to the team, Sophie's sons Jack and Louis

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are here to help out in giving their fantastic mum a well-earned treat.

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-Louis, that's right, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Jack.

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Right, we've got... As you can see, the weather is closing in again.

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What I'd like you to do for me is to clear this patio area.

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So we need to have a clear area here for AJ to work in,

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so if you could take all the stuff here?

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Very friendly, very friendly.

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No! No, don't! Don't!

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Down, boy. Naughty boy.

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Better DUCK out, Danny, and let Lou and the boys get started.

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Meanwhile, I think AJ may have a plan to give Sophie

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a much-needed home for her woodpile.

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AJ, you're going to do the wood store, is that right?

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-That's correct.

-OK. Brilliant.

-We're going to put it over there.

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-Shall I show you what we're going to do?

-Yes, please. Thank you.

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Right, we've got to clear all of this first.

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-Here. We've got, like, a six-foot by three-foot shed here.

-OK, yeah.

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But my plan was, is to make it slightly larger here,

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-get a roof on it.

-It's going to be a sloping roof?

-Sloping roof there

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because, I thought we can kill two birds with one stone here,

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put some guttering on the back of it

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so we can then get rainwater from both roofs

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running along there into a water butt.

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-Do a bit of recycling of that water.

-OK. That's a great idea.

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-Plants love that, don't they?

-Yeah, yeah.

-Rainwater.

-Yeah, absolutely.

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They love rainwater and it's a great way of recycling.

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Sounds like a great idea.

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Recycling is at the heart of Danny's plan to regenerate

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this wildlife garden.

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And making use of what you already have is a great way

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to make your budget go further.

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While AJ gets started with his woodshed design,

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Danny's come up with an ingenious use for

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a common piece of garden equipment.

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You can actually shape the lawn by eye.

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I could do that but I don't trust my eye,

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so I'm using what most people have got - a hosepipe.

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Just give it a little bit of a tug

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and once you are happy with the shape...

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..maybe give it a little pull here and there,

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and, you know what? I'm happy with that.

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This part here is going to be my bed.

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So this is where the plants are going to go

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and this end here,

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up to the shed,

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will be a gravel path.

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Danny seems more than happy with his grand design

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but Lou can see a problem with having such large flowerbeds.

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See, I think some people, if they're not used to gardening,

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-they're a bit scared of really big beds.

-Yeah, sure.

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I think we should bring them in a little bit more.

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-What do you reckon, six inches or so?

-I think that would work, yeah.

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OK.

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And this is one good reason why we're using the hosepipe -

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because we can adjust it.

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I mean, Lou has rightly said, it's probably...

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the bed is probably a bit too wide.

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So I can easily adjust that now before I start cutting the bed out.

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Good point, Lou. One problem solved and less work for everyone, too.

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-I think that looks just right. It just seems to work.

-Perfect.

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But it's really time to get a move on, as the weather could

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change at any moment.

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While Danny and the team get stuck in,

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I've planned an interesting morning for Sophie,

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who's lost touch with her garden and the wildlife

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she used to enjoy watching there.

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If you're after a bit more wildlife in your garden,

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I think you're going to like this garden we are about to see.

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A few things you could maybe adopt.

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I've brought her to a local garden that's been purposefully

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created to attract the maximum wildlife

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and I think it will be full of perfect ideas

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and tips about how to do this.

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OK.

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Jump under here and have a look at this garden.

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Oh, wow, it's gorgeous.

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It's very colourful, isn't it?

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-Pinks, yellows, lilacs, purples.

-And different coloured foliage.

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There's quite a lot going on. It's all coming in

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but it's all as it should be, I think.

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Very little lawn.

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-Could you see yourself pottering the garden?

-I would love to be in this garden.

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I would love this garden, yeah.

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-Nice little bird feeder here.

-Yeah, it's gorgeous. It's really nice.

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-Would you like something like that?

-I would, yeah.

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And he can watch it from his living room window as well as

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outside in the garden.

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It feels very private, doesn't it? Because everything is quite well-established.

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-Which is what you want for your garden, I think.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

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It's interesting you said this is a nice, small lawn.

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-There isn't any room to play football on here.

-Exactly!

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A nice, small lawn. That sounds really manageable.

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That would be a result for you.

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What do you think about the pond?

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-It looks lovely in this garden.

-It looks lovely in THIS garden!

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Interpret that as, "Don't give me a pond."

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(You're not getting a pond, I don't think.)

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You wouldn't have thought the garden was this big, would you?

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I know. It's deceptive, isn't it?

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I'm going to put the brolly down to get underneath everything.

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-I mean, there is so much going on back here.

-It's beautiful.

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Layer after layer.

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It's like a second garden.

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These are very, very well-stocked borders.

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There's so much going on in here and down there,

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-it's a sort of woodlandy haven for wildlife, isn't it?

-It is.

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I like his bench there as well.

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Yeah, a little place to sit out and reflect underneath the blossom tree.

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Well, it's more private up here as well, isn't it?

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While we take in the crammed borders and the beauty of this

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wonderful wildlife refuge,

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across the city, Danny is three hours into his day

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and has only just finished marking out his flowerbeds.

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He is now busy cutting the lawn edges.

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Come on, Danny, time's flying!

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What I'm doing is cutting the edge of the lawn

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with this half-moon turf edger.

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And...

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..just be patient with it and just follow the line of the hosepipe,

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being careful not to put the half-moon edger through the hosepipe.

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That just wouldn't do, would it?

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With the new boundaries outlined clearly,

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Danny can start the next job -

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digging out the turf to create his new flowerbeds.

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And he's enlisted Louis and Jack to help him out.

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His young proteges need a quick lesson in lawn removal.

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Yep, so what we're going to do, Jack, is lift this turf.

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Just put your foot on top of the spade...

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and just lift it out like that.

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So what we've got to do, we've got to go all the way along here.

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So it might be an idea

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if you start here, with that.

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I'll go and get myself another spade

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and I'll just start over there and perhaps we can meet in the middle.

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Using the correct technique is really important

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and saves time and energy in the long run.

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That's it.

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Leaving Jack alone to crack on with the heavy work,

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Danny pops outside to catch up with AJ,

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who is busy building the wood shed.

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-Hi, AJ.

-Hello, mate.

-How's it going?

-All right. We're getting there.

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What stage are we at now?

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Upside down here is the roof, which I've battened up and secured.

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So once that goes over, I've cut the felt to go on top

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and that's going to be nailed on once I finish doing this.

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These are the back legs,

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but I thought just to make it a little bit pretty,

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-instead of just sticking it on top and nailing it in...

-Yeah, I like it.

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..I'd cut it in like that so it's nice and smooth.

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-A nice, neater finish, isn't it?

-Yeah.

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-And that is what I call a chock.

-A chock?

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A chock off the old block.

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-Yes, that's right.

-It's probably where it came from, that saying.

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-How's it going in the garden?

-Going well. Yeah, going very well.

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-What have you done so far?

-Nothing.

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That's why it's going well.

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-You haven't touched it. You haven't touched it, so it looks brilliant.

-Exactly.

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-And I'll continue not to touch it.

-Good. Good lad.

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Well, you'd better get hands-on soon if you are ever going to get

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Sophie's garden to look anything like this one.

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After years of tender care,

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this garden is not only gorgeously attractive,

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it's also alive with tweeting birds and plants that are buzzing with happy insects.

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It's the perfect inspiration for Sophie

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so we're keen to find out more from the person who created it,

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Mike Foster.

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-Mike, what a stunning garden.

-Thank you.

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When you set out designing this, what were you hoping to achieve?

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I mean, I think we were sort of looking to try

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and provide something that was good for the wildlife.

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I mean, Harborne's a very rural sort of area

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so we are lucky that we've got built-in wildlife.

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But I do enjoy newts, tadpoles and the birds, of course.

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It looks very relaxed but I suspect that takes quite a bit of work?

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Yes. I mean, people always ask this when we have our open garden

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and ask me how long each week I spend in the garden.

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I say, "Well it varies."

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What I tend to do more is to have specific areas each year

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that I reinvigorate.

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Sophie, how keen are you to spend much time in the garden?

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Do you want somewhere...?

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I'd like to if it is achievable,

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but time is an issue here.

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How much time do you spend here each week?

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Well, as I say, it varies.

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I mean, with all the other volunteering jobs I do,

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I'm lucky if I can sort of... probably not even a day a week.

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What works particularly well for wildlife?

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Try and get something flowering for as long a season as possible.

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So, is that the key, then, to have things

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flowering from the start of the year to the end of the year?

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Yes, I mean, I think it's like the bird feeder

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we've got in the garden as well.

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You don't just sort of feed the birds for a few weeks

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and then stop doing it.

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You've got to provide the food source

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all the year round for everything.

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Take us through the year. What would you plant to get that?

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Right.

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The early forms of crocus

0:16:090:16:11

and pulmonarias I find are very good in the spring.

0:16:110:16:14

They do come into flower very early

0:16:140:16:16

and they'll provide good food sources

0:16:160:16:18

for the early insects that come out.

0:16:180:16:20

You get bumblebees.

0:16:200:16:22

And then, as you get into high summer,

0:16:220:16:25

there are so many things flowering that they're really spoilt for choice.

0:16:250:16:29

Into the autumn, buddleia, of course, which is very good.

0:16:290:16:31

Obviously, during the winter,

0:16:310:16:33

there's not that many insects around so you don't need to worry too much.

0:16:330:16:36

I notice you've got some quite woody areas down there

0:16:360:16:39

and some bits of rotting bark and things like that.

0:16:390:16:41

-Is that intentional for the wildlife?

-Oh, yes.

0:16:410:16:43

You need areas... Obviously it's good for insects -

0:16:430:16:47

what we call habitat piles.

0:16:470:16:48

So as well as thinking about things that are going to flower all year round

0:16:480:16:51

and thinking about how you can provide a home and food all year round,

0:16:510:16:54

is it fair to say, if you want a wildlife garden,

0:16:540:16:56

don't be too tidy and be relaxed?

0:16:560:16:58

Oh, yes, definitely. As I say, it suits me.

0:16:580:17:03

It suits my style of gardening as well.

0:17:030:17:06

People call it cottage garden styling.

0:17:060:17:08

You know, you can let things go a bit messy around the edges

0:17:080:17:11

-and you can tell people you are doing it on purpose.

-Exactly.

0:17:110:17:14

-But also for you.

-Suits us.

-Yeah.

0:17:140:17:16

-But if you haven't got that much time...

-Exactly.

0:17:160:17:19

A low-maintenance, relaxed garden or a garden you can be a bit standoffish with...

0:17:190:17:22

-Sounds perfect.

-Yeah, and you're doing it for the wildlife.

0:17:220:17:26

To attract more wildlife into your garden, here are a few golden rules.

0:17:280:17:32

Think about year-round wildlife attraction

0:17:340:17:36

and choose plants that flower at different times of the year,

0:17:360:17:39

and that produce berries and seeds that will feed birds through winter.

0:17:390:17:42

Because there are far fewer wild flowers in the landscape

0:17:440:17:47

than there used to be, many of our bee species

0:17:470:17:49

are struggling to survive

0:17:490:17:51

so plant bee-friendly plants in your garden

0:17:510:17:53

to help provide the nectar they depend on.

0:17:530:17:56

Don't be too tidy.

0:17:580:17:59

Insects and small mammals prefer the more unkempt corners

0:17:590:18:03

that can provide nest sites and overwintering opportunities.

0:18:030:18:07

Be careful.

0:18:070:18:09

Remember not to toss piles of garden debris onto the bonfire

0:18:090:18:12

without checking first for those hibernating residents.

0:18:120:18:15

Better still, don't burn them at all.

0:18:150:18:18

Keep an eye out for the National Gardens Scheme,

0:18:180:18:21

which lists hundreds of private gardens,

0:18:210:18:23

many designed to harbour wildlife

0:18:230:18:26

and which are sometimes open to the public.

0:18:260:18:28

Back at Sophie's own garden, the team have been busy clearing

0:18:290:18:33

and digging out the borders,

0:18:330:18:34

but Danny has uncovered an existing wildlife treasure.

0:18:340:18:38

Here's a cotoneaster.

0:18:390:18:41

Now, they are very, very common.

0:18:410:18:43

You've probably got one in your garden,

0:18:430:18:45

but it's very useful in a wildlife garden.

0:18:450:18:48

This one's just about to flower

0:18:480:18:51

but the reason that I'm not going to touch this is

0:18:510:18:54

because when it flowers, the bees are going to love it.

0:18:540:18:57

And not only that,

0:18:570:18:58

once it flowers, it will then produce a berry and the birds will love it.

0:18:580:19:03

So I'm going to leave this very well alone.

0:19:030:19:06

The cotoneaster isn't the only wildlife bonus.

0:19:060:19:09

I mean, look at this rose here, for example.

0:19:090:19:12

The bees are going to love it because it's a single rose

0:19:120:19:16

and that means the bees can get in there

0:19:160:19:19

and take their nectar very easily.

0:19:190:19:21

That rose over there, which has a double flower,

0:19:210:19:24

bees can't really get in there to get the nectar

0:19:240:19:27

so this rose is probably better for a garden of this type.

0:19:270:19:32

Ow!

0:19:320:19:33

A bit thorny. Thorny as well.

0:19:350:19:37

And it's got a kick like a mule.

0:19:370:19:39

Now, I said that this garden was wildlife friendly.

0:19:430:19:46

Look at this creature here, a frog.

0:19:460:19:48

Now, I'd love to pick him up but I don't think it's a good idea

0:19:480:19:52

cos I believe there is something in our skin that is an irritant to them.

0:19:520:19:56

So if you ever see a frog, just leave him well alone.

0:19:560:19:59

But that is an encouraging sign.

0:19:590:20:02

And for our next trick...

0:20:060:20:09

Have you got that?

0:20:090:20:11

Pardon? Say it again.

0:20:110:20:13

Circus acts are all very well, but it's a magic trick we need now

0:20:130:20:16

if that wildlife is ever going to get its new sanctuary.

0:20:160:20:20

Come on, Mr Clarke, get a move on. Sophie's boys are hard at it.

0:20:200:20:23

-Hard work this, isn't it?

-Yeah.

0:20:250:20:27

The lads are doing well.

0:20:270:20:29

I thought he was going for a coffee break.

0:20:290:20:31

It's not allowed on this job.

0:20:310:20:32

Not unless you have my permission.

0:20:320:20:35

Thank goodness, as there's no time for rests anyway.

0:20:350:20:38

We've only got five hours left to the finish line.

0:20:380:20:41

But at least someone is making progress.

0:20:410:20:43

AJ has managed to complete the framework for the woodshed.

0:20:430:20:46

It's looking good. It looks like a perfect fit.

0:20:460:20:48

-Measure twice, cut once.

-True.

0:20:510:20:54

-That's your mantra.

-It is.

0:20:540:20:56

And a sensible mantra it is, too.

0:20:560:20:58

Unfortunately, we've got this bit of log

0:20:580:21:01

and...thing that's kind of in the way.

0:21:010:21:03

Yeah, I'm just wondering if we'll be able to get this out.

0:21:030:21:07

He's such a bloke, isn't he?

0:21:070:21:09

Just look at him.

0:21:090:21:10

All testosterone.

0:21:100:21:12

Scalp 'em!

0:21:140:21:15

I didn't think you'd get that out that easily.

0:21:160:21:19

-You don't know the power of the AJ.

-I do now.

0:21:190:21:22

While AJ sorts out the bottom of the woodshed,

0:21:240:21:27

I want to delve a little deeper into why Sophie needs our assistance.

0:21:270:21:32

-What about the boys, then, have they enjoyed the garden?

-They have.

0:21:320:21:35

They've been in the garden quite regularly, playing football,

0:21:350:21:39

smashing windows in sheds and...

0:21:390:21:41

breaking pots and, yeah,

0:21:410:21:44

general boyish behaviour.

0:21:440:21:46

So they've enjoyed it.

0:21:460:21:48

They've enjoyed it big time.

0:21:480:21:49

-But they are now 23, 18...

-And 14.

0:21:490:21:54

So my eldest one, Casey, has gone to Australia.

0:21:540:21:58

-My middle one, Jack, is about to go to uni.

-How do you feel about that?

0:21:580:22:03

It's a new phase in your life.

0:22:030:22:05

It's quite sad when they are moving on but,

0:22:050:22:08

you know, it's life, isn't it?

0:22:080:22:10

Your children leave.

0:22:100:22:12

Oh, that's a classic mum face, isn't it?

0:22:120:22:14

Inside you are crying, but you don't want to say anything other than

0:22:140:22:17

-I'm really proud of them.

-Yes, exactly.

0:22:170:22:19

It'll be, er, it'll all be good.

0:22:200:22:23

Talk to me about your dad,

0:22:230:22:24

because he comes to stay with you, doesn't he?

0:22:240:22:27

I take care of him during the day.

0:22:270:22:29

He lives independently but, yeah, I have him at weekends

0:22:290:22:32

and take him out for the day or he comes back to mine and we'll eat.

0:22:320:22:36

He'll sit in the garden as well. He enjoys the sunshine.

0:22:360:22:39

Yeah, just take care of him.

0:22:390:22:41

He's recently lost a good companion

0:22:410:22:44

so it's been quite hard for him.

0:22:440:22:47

We just try and take care of him in his twilight years.

0:22:470:22:51

-How old is he?

-88.

-And how is he health-wise?

0:22:510:22:54

He's quite good for his age, really.

0:22:540:22:57

But he's not a very steady on his legs and, you know,

0:22:570:23:00

his age is catching up on him.

0:23:000:23:01

So you're at work all week, keeping an eye on the boys,

0:23:010:23:04

-and at the weekends you've got your dad.

-Yeah.

0:23:040:23:06

-So you really need do need somewhere that's low-maintenance.

-Exactly, yeah.

0:23:060:23:09

The football is going.

0:23:090:23:10

-The lawn, you hope, is going to take on a new lease of life.

-Yeah.

0:23:100:23:14

What would you like to see from that garden, then?

0:23:140:23:16

I'd like to see a wild-looking garden

0:23:160:23:19

that doesn't need to be perfect but, you know, manageable.

0:23:190:23:24

Very much like Mike's garden.

0:23:240:23:25

Manageable in its own sort of state.

0:23:250:23:27

How much is this garden makeover a chance for you

0:23:270:23:30

to get a bit of a space for you and something for you,

0:23:300:23:34

to reclaim something for yourself?

0:23:340:23:36

It's excellent, because I don't know where to start

0:23:360:23:39

and, obviously, Dan's going to put me in the right direction.

0:23:390:23:43

I can build from that.

0:23:430:23:44

And see it as a bit of a positive.

0:23:440:23:45

-The boys have gone, you've got your garden.

-Yes. Exactly.

0:23:450:23:48

Keep telling yourself that, Sophie.

0:23:480:23:50

Right, if we don't get to this garden centre

0:23:500:23:52

-and we don't get the plants, Danny won't be happy.

-OK.

0:23:520:23:55

Not that missing plants seems to be an issue back at Sophie's,

0:23:580:24:01

as the team seem to be taking it easy.

0:24:010:24:04

# Yankee doodle, doodle, doodle, called it apple strudel. #

0:24:040:24:07

Instead of planting, Lou and Danny are spending precious time

0:24:070:24:10

deliberating over the quality of the soil.

0:24:100:24:13

This soil looks lovely, Lou.

0:24:130:24:15

-Actually, it's really good.

-Yeah.

0:24:150:24:17

-I'm relieved.

-Yeah.

0:24:170:24:19

-I know you're relieved.

-I'll just show you, look.

0:24:200:24:23

-It's just really nice and crumbly.

-Yeah, that's lovely, isn't it?

0:24:230:24:28

It's got a bit of sand in it. It's not sticking together like clay.

0:24:280:24:32

-A bit of everything.

-Yeah.

-Nice mixture.

0:24:320:24:34

It really means that it's very fertile

0:24:340:24:37

-and anything will grow in it, which is what we want.

-A bonus.

0:24:370:24:40

An absolute bonus.

0:24:400:24:41

Ah, black gold, eh, Lou?

0:24:410:24:44

It is very important to understand what type of soil you

0:24:440:24:46

have in your garden, as this will affect what will do well.

0:24:460:24:50

Soil testing kits are available from most garden centres.

0:24:500:24:54

But there's no time for that right now,

0:24:550:24:57

as the team are behind schedule

0:24:570:24:59

and need to get a move on.

0:24:590:25:00

Come on, Danny, what's next?

0:25:000:25:03

Now, I'm going to plant this lovely fruit tree.

0:25:030:25:06

This is a Cox's Orange Pippin. Absolutely wonderful.

0:25:060:25:11

I think that Sophie is going to love it. I'm going to plant it just here.

0:25:110:25:15

Now, it's going to be a bit of a mission

0:25:150:25:17

because it's got quite a big root ball

0:25:170:25:21

and I've got to take away quite a bit of the turf,

0:25:210:25:24

so I'll just dig out an area like this.

0:25:240:25:28

The Cox's Orange Pippin is a variety of apple tree that will

0:25:300:25:33

blossom from April to May.

0:25:330:25:34

And if you don't like eating apples,

0:25:340:25:36

its fruit are perfect for making cider.

0:25:360:25:39

Danny has got to get it in the ground

0:25:400:25:42

but he's come up against an obstacle.

0:25:420:25:44

Of course, one thing I hadn't bargained for

0:25:450:25:48

is there is a tree root here

0:25:480:25:51

so I'm having to dig away at it

0:25:510:25:53

but, you know, I've got a sharp spade.

0:25:530:25:55

If I'm patient, I will get through it.

0:25:550:25:57

There we are. There's the culprit.

0:26:010:26:03

He was barring my way.

0:26:040:26:06

I've put this fruit tree in an inch below ground level.

0:26:150:26:19

What I've done is I've created a tray here,

0:26:190:26:21

which means that when it rains,

0:26:210:26:23

the water will collect here, thereby keeping this tree well hydrated.

0:26:230:26:27

Creating a water trap like this is a great way of keeping plants

0:26:280:26:32

and trees well hydrated.

0:26:320:26:34

But the apple tree is just one of the many

0:26:340:26:36

wildlife-attracting plants Danny will be planting.

0:26:360:26:40

Amongst them is this plume thistle.

0:26:400:26:42

As well as red Campion,

0:26:420:26:44

a native British wild flower,

0:26:440:26:45

which is declining in the wild but is sought out by bees

0:26:450:26:48

for its nectar.

0:26:480:26:51

Danny also hopes the new cherry and plum trees

0:26:510:26:53

will bring birds flocking.

0:26:530:26:55

Spot on, Danny.

0:26:550:26:56

It looks like your plant choices are working their magic already.

0:26:560:27:00

Ah, the buzz of a happy bee!

0:27:000:27:02

-Blimey. There's two bees.

-Not even in the ground

0:27:020:27:05

-and they find it.

-Yeah, that's brilliant.

0:27:050:27:07

So it just goes to prove

0:27:070:27:09

that these cirsiums are ideal for a wildlife garden.

0:27:090:27:12

While the bees make themselves at home,

0:27:120:27:14

AJ has brought in refreshments

0:27:140:27:16

in the shape of a water butt.

0:27:160:27:19

-Danny.

-Yes?

0:27:190:27:20

-Do you want to come over? I've got your beer supply.

-Oh, thank you.

0:27:200:27:23

-It's up here.

-Sorry, OUR beer supply.

-Ah, thank you.

0:27:230:27:26

Yeah, cos I thought I'd share it with you.

0:27:260:27:28

-Hello there, Danny!

-Hello! Hello, hello, hello.

-Long time no see.

0:27:310:27:36

Yeah, long time no see.

0:27:360:27:37

This is almost like double bubble, isn't it?

0:27:390:27:41

Because the rainwater, when it hits here, is going to find the drain

0:27:410:27:46

as well as hitting here,

0:27:460:27:47

so it's a very efficient way of collecting water.

0:27:470:27:52

-You pleased with it?

-Yes, I am, actually.

0:27:520:27:54

-If you get to see it snaking down.

-Cascading effect going on.

0:27:540:27:57

But it's there under both of them to catch everything as it goes along.

0:27:570:28:01

Well, that's great, isn't it? That's a great, efficient way for collecting water.

0:28:010:28:04

Brilliant, guys.

0:28:040:28:06

Harvesting rainwater is a great way to make a garden sustainable

0:28:060:28:09

and minimises using hard tap water,

0:28:090:28:12

so the plants will be happy.

0:28:120:28:14

But maybe it's time to stop admiring your handiwork

0:28:140:28:16

and start finishing off this job before Sophie gets back.

0:28:160:28:20

We're less than an hour away now,

0:28:200:28:22

visiting a local garden centre in Shirley,

0:28:220:28:24

where we've come to fulfil Danny's shopping list.

0:28:240:28:27

OK, let's see what we've got to get from here.

0:28:270:28:30

-A Californian lilac or an Exochorda.

-OK.

0:28:300:28:34

-Do you know what either of those are?

-No idea.

-Me neither.

0:28:340:28:37

If you come to a garden centre, do you have a plan of attack?

0:28:380:28:42

-Do you know what you are coming for or do you do you just...?

-Not usually.

0:28:420:28:46

I just take what is on offer and what takes my fancy.

0:28:460:28:49

Like any other shop, garden centres are designed to draw

0:28:490:28:52

your eye to the things they want you to buy.

0:28:520:28:55

But don't give in to enticement.

0:28:550:28:57

A good rule of thumb is to resist the temptation to impulse buy.

0:28:570:29:01

Instead, look for plants that will flower in different seasons

0:29:010:29:04

to bring year-round interest to your garden.

0:29:040:29:07

Did you see anything in Mike's garden that you think,

0:29:080:29:10

"Yes, I definitely want to get one of those"?

0:29:100:29:13

There's quite a few things in Mike's garden I'd like

0:29:130:29:15

but I didn't catch the names of them.

0:29:150:29:17

I think those big rhododendrons look great when there is a mass of them.

0:29:190:29:23

Yeah, they did look nice in Mike's garden.

0:29:230:29:25

And they must, if it's flowers that butterflies like,

0:29:250:29:28

they must attract a lot. As must these. I mean, great colours.

0:29:280:29:31

-Do you like azaleas?

-They're gorgeous, yeah.

0:29:310:29:33

But what are we looking for?

0:29:330:29:35

Danny will like you for sticking to the list. Let's find these.

0:29:350:29:38

Rhododendrons are definitely not on the shopping list

0:29:380:29:41

since Sophie has already got one at home.

0:29:410:29:44

But hers has a problem -

0:29:440:29:45

it's a hybrid plant,

0:29:450:29:46

a crossbred variety that's begun to revert back to its natural form.

0:29:460:29:51

It's in need of an expert hand.

0:29:510:29:54

Sophie has got a rhododendron here.

0:29:540:29:57

It's variegated.

0:29:570:29:59

And one of the things I've noticed

0:29:590:30:00

is that it's suffering from reversion,

0:30:000:30:03

which basically means that this is how man wanted it to be

0:30:030:30:08

and this is how nature intended it to be.

0:30:080:30:11

We've bred it to have these two colours in it,

0:30:110:30:13

but what it wants to do is revert back to how it once was.

0:30:130:30:17

What I'm going to do is cut these pieces out.

0:30:170:30:21

Cutting off the branch that's reverted back to its original

0:30:210:30:24

form will encourage this rhody to remain variegated,

0:30:240:30:26

with those multicoloured leaves.

0:30:260:30:29

I'll follow this back with my hand.

0:30:290:30:31

Be very careful because it's quite easy to make a mistake.

0:30:310:30:34

I mean, I've done that before.

0:30:340:30:36

If you find...if the saw gets stuck for any reason,

0:30:370:30:42

just help yourself by levering the stem back slightly

0:30:420:30:48

and it makes it easier to cut through.

0:30:480:30:50

And there we are.

0:30:500:30:52

One piece of rhododendron

0:30:520:30:54

and just put it away.

0:30:540:30:55

Problem solved.

0:30:580:30:59

But that's not all the cutting back done,

0:30:590:31:01

as Dan's got a plan to make a wild flower patch.

0:31:010:31:03

What I've done is I've got a roughly mown area

0:31:070:31:11

and then I've let this area around here grow a bit longer.

0:31:110:31:15

Now, the reason I've done that

0:31:150:31:17

is so that we can encourage wild flowers.

0:31:170:31:20

Now, wild flowers mean pollination

0:31:200:31:23

and pollination means that it's going to attract bees

0:31:230:31:25

and also it gives cover for wildlife.

0:31:250:31:28

They absolutely love it.

0:31:280:31:29

Danny has decided to re-use this old tree stump as a natural plant pot

0:31:300:31:35

and Lou has found a forgotten pot-bound honeysuckle to recycle -

0:31:350:31:38

more nectar for the bees and berries for the birds later on.

0:31:380:31:43

This is a stump, which we've left in the ground,

0:31:430:31:46

and what's great about this is it's going to attract bugs.

0:31:460:31:49

As it deteriorates, more and more bugs will come into this area.

0:31:490:31:53

Now, here's a happy accident.

0:31:530:31:55

This is shaped like a pot

0:31:550:31:58

and we've decided to put a honeysuckle in there.

0:31:580:32:01

And I thought it would be great idea to plant it in this stump

0:32:010:32:05

and then, in time, it will romp away across the ground

0:32:050:32:09

and then it will find this cherry that's just behind me,

0:32:090:32:12

which is going in here.

0:32:120:32:14

It will find it and climb all over it

0:32:140:32:16

and, in time, it will look absolutely fantastic.

0:32:160:32:19

It's great to recycle what you already have,

0:32:240:32:27

but when choosing new plants for a wildlife garden

0:32:270:32:30

it's important to select ones that will attract birds and insects.

0:32:300:32:35

Back at the garden centre,

0:32:350:32:36

there are two specific plants which should do the trick on Danny's list.

0:32:360:32:40

But we've got to choose just one of those and we're in need of help.

0:32:400:32:44

So we've enlisted garden centre manager Andrew Rawson.

0:32:440:32:47

Andrew, what would you recommend for a garden that is welcoming wildlife?

0:32:480:32:52

-You'd like to see more wildlife wouldn't you?

-I would, yes.

0:32:520:32:54

We've got the edgeworthia here, which is absolutely beautiful.

0:32:540:32:57

It's very early flowering, in January,

0:32:570:32:59

with a beautiful sweet scent.

0:32:590:33:01

It's great for those early insects after pollen

0:33:010:33:04

and nectar very early in the spring, so absolutely beautiful

0:33:040:33:07

and a must in my view for a lot of gardens, but quite usual.

0:33:070:33:10

What colour does it flower?

0:33:100:33:11

It flowers, starts off with a tight bud that's yellow

0:33:110:33:15

that turns white.

0:33:150:33:17

-You don't think of things that will flower in January, do you?

-No.

0:33:170:33:19

No, you don't.

0:33:190:33:20

People tend to think of things that flower in late May and throughout

0:33:200:33:23

the summer so, you know, don't forget the whole year, really.

0:33:230:33:27

In terms of wildlife, how important do you think it is to get

0:33:270:33:30

things flowering from the start of the year?

0:33:300:33:31

I think it's absolutely crucial.

0:33:310:33:33

If you are attracting wildlife and want to keep wildlife to the garden,

0:33:330:33:36

you need plants that are going to flower 12 months of the year.

0:33:360:33:40

It's not just the summer.

0:33:400:33:42

The beetles and the wildlife are there all year

0:33:420:33:45

so you need plants for all year.

0:33:450:33:46

Now, we have been specifically asked to look for a Californian lilac

0:33:460:33:51

-and an "exordia"?

-Exochorda. Yeah.

0:33:510:33:54

Exochorda. The Bride.

0:33:540:33:57

The exochorda's here. It's quite a nice shrub.

0:33:570:33:59

It's often grown as a wall climber

0:33:590:34:02

because it's quite untidy as a shrub. Beautiful flowers.

0:34:020:34:05

Many years ago, they used to use it for early weddings.

0:34:050:34:07

In May, you would cut off the flowers

0:34:070:34:09

and use them in wedding bouquets

0:34:090:34:11

but it's great. It attracts all the bees and the butterflies.

0:34:110:34:14

A nice little bit of scent there as well on a calm day. It's lovely.

0:34:140:34:18

It will grow in sun or partial shade,

0:34:180:34:21

which makes it useful for most people to put in the garden.

0:34:210:34:23

-Does that stay green all year?

-No, it doesn't.

0:34:230:34:26

It's a deciduous shrub so it does lose it leaves in the winter time.

0:34:260:34:29

That's one of its minus points

0:34:290:34:31

but, otherwise, a really handy plant to have in the garden.

0:34:310:34:34

So that's the Exochorda.

0:34:340:34:35

-This?

-This is the Californian lilac.

0:34:350:34:38

There's a lot of different varieties available.

0:34:380:34:41

A lot of different powdery blue colours there.

0:34:410:34:43

Absolutely brilliant as a wall climber, again.

0:34:430:34:46

It will grow on trellis work, fences, whatever it may be.

0:34:460:34:49

They start flowering usually in May

0:34:490:34:51

and go on to the end of June, depending on variety.

0:34:510:34:54

They are evergreen, so different from the Exochorda,

0:34:540:34:56

so you've got something there in the winter time. Easily trimmed.

0:34:560:34:59

Very reliable and, again, very good for butterflies,

0:34:590:35:03

bees, all types of insects.

0:35:030:35:05

-So they're very little maintenance?

-Yes, very little.

0:35:050:35:08

Just a little bit of pruning, really, after flowering and tying in.

0:35:080:35:11

Very easy. The soil they like. They like a well-drained soil.

0:35:110:35:15

Again, not waterlogged. A bit like the Exochorda, will grow almost anywhere.

0:35:150:35:19

In terms of the Californian lilac,

0:35:190:35:21

if we are looking for something that attracts wildlife all year round,

0:35:210:35:24

is that slightly better or more advantageous because it's got flowers and berries?

0:35:240:35:29

Yes, certainly better than the Exochorda because you can hit them in two stages,

0:35:290:35:32

so you are giving them some food in the autumn for the winter

0:35:320:35:35

and also the nectar and everything in the spring, and on large plants,

0:35:350:35:38

very often you find that because they are evergreen,

0:35:380:35:41

you get nest builders, so you get your thrushes and your blackbirds all building their nests in there,

0:35:410:35:45

which is also an addition to your wildlife, so really good.

0:35:450:35:48

-So that could grow big enough for a bird to build a nest in?

-Absolutely.

0:35:480:35:51

Some of the varieties get very tall or very bushy.

0:35:510:35:54

-Oh, that's sold.

-An excellent one.

0:35:540:35:56

You only need a bird feeder. Thank you for your guidance, Andrew.

0:35:560:35:58

I suspect I know what the answer might be,

0:35:580:36:00

-but which one do you want to go for?

-The Californian lilac.

-OK.

0:36:000:36:03

Good choice, I think.

0:36:030:36:04

-Do you have a trolley or do you want me to carry it for you?

-We have you.

0:36:040:36:07

-Is that all right?

-That's fine. No problem.

-Thank you, Andrew.

0:36:070:36:10

It's a big plant and should be just the job.

0:36:100:36:13

Meanwhile, I hope the team have nearly finished,

0:36:130:36:15

as we are heading back to the garden right now.

0:36:150:36:18

Back in the Yardley back yard, the team are going full pelt,

0:36:200:36:23

tidying up the patio and extending and refreshing the gravel.

0:36:230:36:26

Danny, have you got those rake hands of yours?

0:36:280:36:30

But there is one very important job that Danny has

0:36:300:36:33

left for Sophie's sons, Louis and Jack.

0:36:330:36:35

After years of pummelling her lawn,

0:36:350:36:37

he thinks it's about time they paid her back.

0:36:370:36:40

Louis, Jack, do you want to come this way?

0:36:410:36:44

Here you are. Here's a present for you both.

0:36:440:36:46

You're probably wondering why I've given you these.

0:36:460:36:48

One of the most important things to renovating a lawn

0:36:480:36:53

is to allow for drainage to go through

0:36:530:36:56

-and you lads, you've been playing football out here for years, haven't you?

-Yeah.

0:36:560:36:59

So, what you've done, you've compacted the lawn.

0:36:590:37:03

The quickest and easiest way to breathe new life

0:37:030:37:06

into a compacted lawn is to get air into it to help drainage.

0:37:060:37:10

Just put the fork in the ground like this

0:37:100:37:13

and just wiggle it around.

0:37:130:37:15

You can even lift. I tend to...

0:37:150:37:17

lift it slightly like this

0:37:170:37:19

and you can be quite brutal with it.

0:37:190:37:22

It doesn't matter. Lift it, turn it, shake it around like that.

0:37:220:37:26

And there you've got your holes.

0:37:260:37:27

You guys used to play football in here quite a bit, didn't you?

0:37:270:37:30

Yeah, we used to use the whole garden.

0:37:300:37:32

-So you're quite keen footballers?

-Yeah, we're keen.

0:37:320:37:34

-Do play for any teams?

-Yeah, I did.

0:37:340:37:36

I played football from the age of seven.

0:37:360:37:39

What other way do you keep fit?

0:37:390:37:41

I skate.

0:37:410:37:43

I tell you what, if you helped your mum out with the garden...

0:37:430:37:45

-Yeah, the manual labour.

-..this could be your gym, couldn't it?

0:37:450:37:49

Save on the old membership.

0:37:490:37:50

-It could be.

-You wouldn't have far to travel.

0:37:500:37:52

Just walk out the back door. Here you are.

0:37:520:37:55

I see what you've done there, Danny. Very clever.

0:37:550:37:58

I hope I can help, too.

0:37:580:37:59

I've left Sophie having a cuppa

0:37:590:38:01

and brought back the huge Californian lilac.

0:38:010:38:04

Fingers crossed Danny has left some space for it.

0:38:040:38:06

-Hey. Whoops.

-Hey! Oh.

0:38:060:38:09

Hello, Helen.

0:38:090:38:10

-Celebrated too soon.

-I tell you what.

0:38:100:38:12

I think you need a licence for this.

0:38:120:38:15

Oh, blimey.

0:38:150:38:16

-Make your own jokes about women drivers.

-No, no, I wouldn't do that.

0:38:160:38:19

-Not at all.

-A Californian lilac for you.

0:38:190:38:22

Absolutely beautiful.

0:38:220:38:24

Absolutely gorgeous.

0:38:240:38:25

And this is obviously the time of year it blooms,

0:38:250:38:27

and look at that blue flower.

0:38:270:38:29

Sophie loves that and I think she's going to love this because

0:38:290:38:32

I can see that you have been very busy.

0:38:320:38:34

You've added... None of this was here, was it?

0:38:340:38:36

No, none of this was here.

0:38:360:38:38

-So what we've done, we've made the bed bigger.

-OK.

0:38:380:38:41

-So, we've made that patio bigger.

-Yep.

0:38:410:38:44

POTTERY BREAKS

0:38:440:38:46

'Oops. AJ has had a mishap with an old pot.'

0:38:460:38:48

Did you break that?

0:38:480:38:49

I just picked it up.

0:38:490:38:51

With my strength.

0:38:510:38:53

Is that what happened? You don't know your own strength?

0:38:530:38:56

-You're just so muscly and manly, AJ.

-I can glue it.

0:38:560:38:59

No-one saw it. It's all right.

0:38:590:39:02

OK, so while he's breaking pots, literally,

0:39:020:39:05

you have been making a bit of a wildlife haven back here.

0:39:050:39:07

-Absolutely.

-You've been quite busy over here as well.

-Yeah.

0:39:070:39:11

So we've added a log store.

0:39:110:39:13

Or AJ has added a log store and I think it looks absolutely fab.

0:39:130:39:17

-It all looks fab.

-Yeah.

-Bless you. I can tell how hard you've been working.

0:39:170:39:20

I'm struggling a bit here with the old voice.

0:39:200:39:23

Tired or not, there's no time to lose and it's all hands to

0:39:240:39:27

the pump for one final push

0:39:270:39:29

to complete Sophie's wildlife wonderland.

0:39:290:39:31

It's almost time to reveal the garden to Sophie,

0:39:320:39:35

but not without giving her sons Louis and Jack

0:39:350:39:38

a pat on the back first.

0:39:380:39:40

You two look as if you've put a full day's shift in.

0:39:400:39:44

How are you feeling?

0:39:440:39:45

-Is manual labour for you going forward then, boys?

-No.

0:39:450:39:48

-Why did you want to do this for your mum?

-She very much deserves it,

0:39:480:39:52

the garden makeover, for all the work she has done over the years.

0:39:520:39:56

And all the hard work she has put into the family

0:39:560:39:58

and then taking care of all three of us, including Casey,

0:39:580:40:02

and even Grandad for the last two years.

0:40:020:40:05

So there's just going to be you at home soon, Louis,

0:40:050:40:07

-cos Jack is on his way to uni.

-Yeah.

0:40:070:40:10

Are you going to be staying in every night and every weekend

0:40:100:40:12

for the next ten years to hang out with your mum

0:40:120:40:14

and make sure she's got loads of company?

0:40:140:40:16

I hope not, but she might make me.

0:40:160:40:20

Well, you might be exhausted, but I can honestly say

0:40:200:40:23

I think it has been worth it because it looks great.

0:40:230:40:26

I think she's going to love it.

0:40:260:40:28

-So well done, you two.

-Thanks.

0:40:280:40:30

-Right, well I will go and get her.

-Good.

0:40:300:40:33

You relax.

0:40:330:40:34

Just ten hours ago, this garden was a wildlife-free zone

0:40:340:40:38

lacking bird song and the buzz of insects.

0:40:380:40:42

The boys had worn out the lawn and the patio had seen better days.

0:40:420:40:46

There were piles of wood and junk strewn about the place

0:40:460:40:50

and at the end of the garden was an unkempt mess.

0:40:500:40:54

But in just one day,

0:40:540:40:56

Danny and the team have revived it beyond recognition.

0:40:560:41:00

The lawn has been given shape by taking the curve of the patio

0:41:000:41:03

and carrying it on through the garden

0:41:030:41:05

and the flowerbeds have been enlarged.

0:41:050:41:08

AJ's new woodshed now shelters the once haphazardly stacked timber

0:41:090:41:14

and his water butt will collect and recycle rainwater from the roof.

0:41:140:41:18

Finally, the planting has been wisely chosen to encourage

0:41:200:41:23

the wildlife Sophie desires.

0:41:230:41:25

An assortment of flowering

0:41:250:41:27

and fruiting plants that are sure to prove enticing to animals

0:41:270:41:31

will encourage life back into this back yard.

0:41:310:41:34

Danny has done his utmost to revitalise this

0:41:340:41:37

once neglected plot and give Sophie the wildlife sanctuary

0:41:370:41:40

she was hoping for. But will she agree?

0:41:400:41:44

At last, the time has come for Sophie to give her feelings on what

0:41:440:41:47

the team and her sons have managed to accomplish in a few short hours.

0:41:470:41:52

OK.

0:41:550:41:57

Right, Sophie, step out here...

0:41:570:42:01

-Hello.

-Hello.

-...and have a look around.

0:42:010:42:05

Oh, my God. Look at that.

0:42:050:42:07

The wood store, the water butt.

0:42:100:42:14

Oh, my God. Look at the floor.

0:42:140:42:16

-It's crunchy.

-Crunchy.

0:42:160:42:19

Have you been busy, boys?

0:42:190:42:20

-So if you look up at the back...

-Oh, that looks amazing.

0:42:220:42:25

-I think she's happy.

-I think she likes it.

0:42:250:42:28

She didn't even stop to talk to us, did she?

0:42:280:42:32

She just...straight into the garden, looking around.

0:42:320:42:36

-Oh, that looks gorgeous.

-It is a big smile. She's laughing.

0:42:360:42:39

I think she's happy.

0:42:390:42:41

Oh, you guys have worked so hard.

0:42:410:42:42

You said you couldn't do it in a day.

0:42:420:42:44

-You've nearly finished them off though, Sophie.

-I bet.

0:42:440:42:47

-The three of them are exhausted.

-Oh, have you worked really hard?

0:42:470:42:50

Danny has really gone the extra mile

0:42:520:42:55

to resuscitate Sophie's worn-out plot

0:42:550:42:57

and deliver her a space where she can experience the beauty of nature.

0:42:570:43:01

A place to relax in as her children fly the nest

0:43:020:43:06

and where she can entertain and care for her elderly father.

0:43:060:43:10

So at the back you can see there's quite a few differences.

0:43:100:43:14

A bit of a tidy up. The long grass has been left on the left

0:43:140:43:18

so that... For wildlife.

0:43:180:43:20

A honeysuckle has been planted into the tree stump for wildlife.

0:43:200:43:25

Talk us through what's in that bedding in terms of...

0:43:250:43:28

-Well, you've got fruit trees in the bed.

-Oh, have I?

0:43:280:43:30

-Yeah, so you've got an apple, a plum.

-Oh, lovely.

0:43:300:43:34

-Do you feel a bit more grown-up?

-Oh, it looks gorgeous.

0:43:340:43:36

It looks so nice.

0:43:360:43:38

-You've done so much in one day. Thank you.

-That's OK. A pleasure.

0:43:380:43:41

The boys were just wondering if we could have a little kickabout,

0:43:410:43:44

-just to mark the completion of the garden.

-No.

0:43:440:43:47

Well, I think we can all agree this is a nice, grown-up space.

0:43:480:43:52

You can socialise. You can entertain.

0:43:520:43:54

You're going to attract reams and reams of wildlife.

0:43:540:43:57

And I've got a water butt as well, I can see.

0:43:570:43:59

-Well, the guys look exhausted but you look happy.

-I'm happy.

0:43:590:44:02

-Is it a thumbs up for the garden?

-Totally.

0:44:020:44:04

-Give us a hug.

-Congratulations. Well done, Danny.

-Thanks, Helen.

0:44:040:44:07

I think that hug says it all. That is one happy mum, and no wonder.

0:44:070:44:11

She's got the perfect garden for the next chapter

0:44:110:44:13

in her and her boys' lives.

0:44:130:44:15

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