0:00:02 > 0:00:04Beautiful gardens are one of Britain's most glorious sights,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08but if your green space is more mess than majestic, making it over can be
0:00:08 > 0:00:13a daunting prospect, especially if you're short on time and money.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17- Well, the Instant Gardener is here. - Da-da!
0:00:18 > 0:00:22Danny Clarke is an expert at transforming gardens.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24And these will really bring the smile to my face.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28Each time, our gardening guru will be showing you how to create
0:00:28 > 0:00:32- gorgeous garden makeovers. - Doesn't that look great?
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Each transformation will be packed with brilliant ideas to help
0:00:36 > 0:00:39you get to grips with your own outdoor space.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Just continually deadhead
0:00:41 > 0:00:44and you will keep getting that plant to flower.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48- He'll be turning garden junk... - Oh, look at that!
0:00:48 > 0:00:50..into garden jewels...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52It's going to be used as a planter
0:00:52 > 0:00:56and I think this is going to look absolutely terrific.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59..and showing you how to spend a small budget wisely...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- That's why Danny makes me bring a list!- OK.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05..be it on shrubs or salvage.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Would you like that in your garden?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And because Danny is the Instant Gardener,
0:01:10 > 0:01:15- everything you see will happen in a single day.- Oh, thank you so much.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- Oh, wow!- That's unbelievable!
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Today, we're in Southampton -
0:01:31 > 0:01:34a city on the south coast of Hampshire.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38This historic port town is still a thriving industrial hub,
0:01:38 > 0:01:40and while its sunny climate
0:01:40 > 0:01:43and coastal charm are a gift to gardeners, Southampton,
0:01:43 > 0:01:44like any large city,
0:01:44 > 0:01:49has its urban pockets where green space seems very hard to find.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53A stone's throw from the sprawling tower blocks of Southampton
0:01:53 > 0:01:57is this - an urban oasis, an acre of farmland - loved
0:01:57 > 0:01:59and cared for by the local community.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03But they need a little bit of instant help.
0:02:03 > 0:02:04- Richard!- Hello.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06- Good to see you.- Pleasure. Thank you.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09You have literally got your hands full. Who have we got here?
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Yes, we've got Lily and Beatrice and Chloe and Clementine -
0:02:12 > 0:02:14our Golden Guernsey goats.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Lovely as they are, they're not going to be very useful for us
0:02:17 > 0:02:19- today, are they?- No. No, I can't imagine they will.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Let's go and meet some of your volunteers,
0:02:21 > 0:02:22who are on hand to help at the garden.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23Let's do. Let's do.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33The Oasis Down to Earth Farm is a charity-run urban farm in the middle
0:02:33 > 0:02:38of an area with one of the highest rates of deprivation in the country.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42Run by staff like Richard plus an army of volunteers,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45it offers a rare taste of the outdoors to adults with learning
0:02:45 > 0:02:50disabilities, local school groups - in fact, anyone who needs it.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56The farm is a lifeline to its users who can interact with
0:02:56 > 0:02:57the animals and grow crops.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03But what it doesn't have is a garden area for socialising in.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06With every penny stretched to the max and every volunteer working
0:03:06 > 0:03:11to their limits, their garden dream is always just out of reach.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Step forward the Instant Gardener.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18No, no, not him - that's a sheep.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24This, however, is Danny, and he's on his way down to the south coast
0:03:24 > 0:03:27to get a better idea of the challenge that awaits.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31So I'm coming down to the farm today to have a little sneaky peek
0:03:31 > 0:03:34because it's very important for me to have a look
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and get the lie of the land before we start to change it.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Every garden is different
0:03:40 > 0:03:45so every garden needs its own application, and this is
0:03:45 > 0:03:49an example of something that's very different to what we've done before.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I can see lots of raised beds here and it appears to me that they're
0:03:53 > 0:03:55really heavy into recycling.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Beyond that fence over there, I can see pallets,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I can see a silver birch that's been logged up over there.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Almost certainly, we can re-use them.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05So I don't want to bring anything new into here
0:04:05 > 0:04:07cos it's going to jar with the surroundings.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Now, over here is the piece of land that I think
0:04:14 > 0:04:15we're going to transform.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20It obviously wants something that's secluded,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22an area that's not overlooked.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26For a social area, this is going to be absolutely fine.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27I mean, it's very rough.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30If you look down here, you can see how rough the land is.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I mean, the grass is very sparse.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35There's not a lot here and it does look pretty unkempt,
0:04:35 > 0:04:39very untidy, but it still has huge potential.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I think we can make this look pretty smart.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47This is about people wanting to get involved with nature,
0:04:47 > 0:04:52so really, I'm thinking about enhancing what's naturally here.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56So let's see if we can come up with a design that suits
0:04:56 > 0:04:58this environment.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05There's a design taking shape in Danny's mind,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08and today, he's back to put it into action.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11But first, he's going to meet the team who will be helping him.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- Hello, Helen.- Hello, Danny. - How are you?- Hello, Richard.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- Nice to meet you. How's it going? - Danny, Richard, Mary, Nigel.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21- Nice to meet you.- Hello, Nigel. - Hello, Danny. You all right?- You OK?
0:05:21 > 0:05:24- Yeah.- Good.- Richard, just talk us through what this place is.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Oasis Down to Earth Farm is a community farm,
0:05:28 > 0:05:29in the biggest sense.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32We work with people with learning disabilities during the week,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35we run educational sessions, both regular and special needs,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38and we are open to the public on the weekends to come
0:05:38 > 0:05:40and visit the animals, the garden.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43We run groups of people living with dementia.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Yeah, many, many things happen at the farm.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- So very much a community facility? - Absolutely, absolutely.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52We have five...six members of staff who work at the farm
0:05:52 > 0:05:56and we have a core of approximately 40-45 volunteers who help us out.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Two of which we have here.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Mary and Nigel, you both volunteer at the farm.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03- Mary, what makes you want to come down here?- I love coming out here.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07It's in the city but it's green, and so... There's something about
0:06:07 > 0:06:11being around greenness - it just helps your spirit, I think.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13- It helps mine, definitely. - It is brilliant.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15I mean, I wandered past a couple of tower blocks then wandered in
0:06:15 > 0:06:17- and saw Snowball, your cow. - Yes, I know.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19So it's a farm in the middle of the city, which is
0:06:19 > 0:06:21bizarre to a country girl like me.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Nigel, what about yourself - how much time do you spend down here?
0:06:24 > 0:06:26I come in, basically, for one day a week.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31I'm retired and I was looking for opportunities.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32I live in Southampton.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34I've lived there for 20 years and didn't know it was here.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- It's incredible.- There is so much going on here.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39There's kind of pockets of activity everywhere
0:06:39 > 0:06:41but what do you think you're lacking?
0:06:41 > 0:06:44We have a large area here at the garden which is unlandscaped.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48I am looking to create something that can be combined with
0:06:48 > 0:06:51a social space where people can sit and relax,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55but also, potentially, I'd like a fire pit with a shelter over it.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57So, if I can get this straight in my mind,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59you're after a communal space,
0:06:59 > 0:07:03somewhere where you can socialise, somewhere that's sheltered?
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Yep, somewhere that's sheltered, preferably where we can all
0:07:05 > 0:07:09sit round the fire and do a bit of cooking.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13- That sounds like my kind of place. - You're not going to leave, are you? - I'm not going to leave.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15You can come and join me after we've built it, no problem.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Well, I'm not going to take Richard away
0:07:17 > 0:07:20because I feel like he's better off by your side, helping you out.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Keep him on track, you know. Make sure you get what you want, Richard.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Nigel and Mary, we'll disappear
0:07:25 > 0:07:28and get some inspiration from a nearby garden. Anything you need?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Yes, if you could just go and get something for me.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36- I'll give you the renowned book.- OK. Grasses and...- Some latifoliums.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- Some latifoliums?- Yes, please.- OK, excellent.- Good.- See you in a bit.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- See you soon.- See you later.- Take care.- See you later, guys. Bye, bye.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47While Mary and Nigel slip away with me to look for inspiration,
0:07:47 > 0:07:48Danny needs to get moving.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52He has nine hours to turn this bare patch of land into a beautiful
0:07:52 > 0:07:55garden. What's the plan, Dan?
0:07:55 > 0:07:59This is a community farm but it's got no communal garden,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01and that's what we're going to provide.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04What we want to do is make this area sheltered cos it's so exposed.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06So we want to make it a little cosy haven
0:08:06 > 0:08:10and what we're going to do is create concentric circles,
0:08:10 > 0:08:14so you're looking down and you've got two concentric circles.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17So the way I'm going to create shelter is by using
0:08:17 > 0:08:19a combination of fencing
0:08:19 > 0:08:24and hedges in a circular form with an invisible entrance.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26And in the centre, we're going to have a fire pit.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30So that is going to be the centrepiece of the plan.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33And then we're going to enclose that fire pit with gravel.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37And then, on the outer circle, we're just going to bark it.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40And on the bark, we're going to have seating.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44On one side of the circle, I'm going to create a mound.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47And on the mound, we're going to house grasses and we're going to
0:08:47 > 0:08:49have some silver birch, multi-stem silver birch -
0:08:49 > 0:08:51one of my favourite trees.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53It's going to look absolutely fantastic.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56The grasses, as well as providing movement on the mound,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59the roots are going to hold the mound together.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01And that's what I'm trying to create here - something that looks
0:09:01 > 0:09:05really natural, and grasses are a great way to do that.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08And in addition to that, I'm going to do something extra funky -
0:09:08 > 0:09:11I'm going to put a shade sail up, so if it rains,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13they've got somewhere to shelter.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16So it's not just going to be shelter from the wind
0:09:16 > 0:09:19but also shelter from the rain. And do you know what?
0:09:19 > 0:09:22I think we'll get moving because there's rain coming in very,
0:09:22 > 0:09:23very soon.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27In just one day, Danny plans to create an enclosed circular
0:09:27 > 0:09:30seating area with a fire pit as the centrepiece,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32banked on one side with birch and grasses
0:09:32 > 0:09:38and covered with a shade sail for protection from the elements -
0:09:38 > 0:09:42something he could do with today because here comes that rain.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45But a drop of water won't stop Danny or his helpers today -
0:09:45 > 0:09:49right-hand man AJ and farm volunteer Amanda.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52The first job is to create the outer fence from the farm's own
0:09:52 > 0:09:53salvaged materials.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57- So now, what we need to do is source these pallets.- Yes.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Let's go and have a look round the farm.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- Let's go on a little treasure hunt. - We're going on a pallet hunt!
0:10:06 > 0:10:10For Danny's circular fence, the team have found just the thing.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13I tell you what, if we can get enough of these, it's perfect.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Yep, and we've probably got one of our farm volunteers,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20- which will help, to pallet-break them.- Brilliant.- Brilliant.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22- We've got a good team here. - I'm starting to like this!
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Now, the idea is that we're using pallets because there's going to be
0:10:31 > 0:10:36gaps between the slats and they're going to act to diffuse the wind.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38We don't want to have a solid block there
0:10:38 > 0:10:43because the wind will hit it head-on and it will weaken the structure
0:10:43 > 0:10:47and it could fall over and hurt somebody. So these are a great idea.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Great find, team. Now to arrange them as per Danny's design.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54If we get the pallets in position,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57we can get a couple of conifers in and we can play around with it.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01The conifers are just there. Get three conifers, then.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04It's always a great idea to lay your garden out before you're actually
0:11:04 > 0:11:08putting the stuff in so you can visualise how it's going to look.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Each upright pallet will be separated by a couple of conifers to
0:11:14 > 0:11:19create the outer boundary, leaving a gap for the hidden entrance.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22It's very important that we have enough gap here for wheelchair
0:11:22 > 0:11:27access. So we've calculated this, Amanda, what, roughly...
0:11:27 > 0:11:30About 1.20m, then anybody self-propelling can easily
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- get through without scraping knuckles.- OK, which is good.
0:11:34 > 0:11:35With the trees in place,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39the fabulous farm volunteers are sprucing up those pallets.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44Just taking some of the pallets apart to actually re-use the planks.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49So I believe AJ wanted more planks on his original pallet.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53They're just beefing up the slats as they're quite sporadic,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56so just to make it look more like a pallet.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01What we're going to do now is just clear the debris from these
0:12:01 > 0:12:05inner circles cos we want to make this as flat as possible,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09as debris-free as possible. We just rake this through.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13It sounds easy but there's quite a lot of rubble under there, and with
0:12:13 > 0:12:17the rain still bucketing down, the team have brought in a bit of cover.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20I'm not sure it's going to make much difference.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24The trick to this - it's a very, very special technique,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26and it's called brute force.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32While Danny and the team are scratching
0:12:32 > 0:12:36the surface of his design, my plan for the day is well underway.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38OK, Mary, Nigel, we are off
0:12:38 > 0:12:42to a garden that will hopefully give you a bit of inspiration,
0:12:42 > 0:12:45maybe have a few ideas that you might want to
0:12:45 > 0:12:47pinch for your garden going forward.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Today, our inspirational visit is to Knoll Gardens in the neighbouring
0:12:53 > 0:12:57county of Dorset - a wonderland of grasses, shrubs and trees.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- Have a look at this. - That's fantastic.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05- Huge eucalyptus.- That's fantastic, isn't it?- It's amazing.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09- You just want to climb up it, don't you?- Don't let me stop you there.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11You go for a climb, if you want.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Now, that has clearly fallen over by accident,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17- but it looks impressive like that, doesn't it?- Amazing, yeah.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19- It's like something out of Jurassic Park!- Yeah.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23- It's a piece of art, isn't it?- It is like a piece of art, yeah.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Much like Danny's design, Knoll Gardens aims to work
0:13:26 > 0:13:30with its surroundings to create a natural style of planting.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33That is definitely far from formal.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Do you think you could have something like that down at your garden?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Well, I think Richard will probably make something out of it.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43I know this was an accident but it's obviously quite carefully managed now, isn't it?
0:13:43 > 0:13:44Quite a lucky accident.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Much of the garden's naturalistic look is down to
0:13:47 > 0:13:50the huge range of grasses. Even early in the year,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53they're beginning to show off a wide variety of colour.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Look at these! Grass, grass everywhere.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59It's a huge plot, too - about four acres -
0:13:59 > 0:14:01so there's plenty for us to explore.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03They're a bit different, aren't they?
0:14:03 > 0:14:06They're beautiful - really sort of lovely colour.
0:14:11 > 0:14:15Back at the farm, the garden plot - or should I say "pond"? -
0:14:15 > 0:14:18is being cleared and to help the job go faster,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20Richard has got out the farm's rotivator,
0:14:20 > 0:14:22a machine for preparing the ground.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Are you an alien? Because you're very good at crop circles.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32With the levelling finally in hand, AJ can start
0:14:32 > 0:14:34turning the pallets into windbreaks.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40My job today is to make these windbreaker pallet fence things
0:14:40 > 0:14:41that Danny wants.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Three steps. One - build the pallet fences,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46two - dig the holes,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50three - cement them so they don't go anywhere.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53The first task is to make legs for each panel.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57With the gap between the front and the back of these pallets,
0:14:57 > 0:15:00I'm slipping these posts through.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Now I've just got to measure the two foot that's got to go
0:15:02 > 0:15:03into the ground.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09So, then, make a good fixing between some of these slats
0:15:09 > 0:15:10and then through the side.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20There we go. First one all built.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22Now to dig the holes to fit the legs into.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Next, a hole needs to be dug for each post.
0:15:29 > 0:15:34I'm going to get this beast started up which is a petrol hole digger.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Now, this is a skilled job and not to be attempted
0:15:37 > 0:15:39unless you have plenty of experience.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43You can always dig the holes by hand and indeed, sometimes you have to.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Unfortunately with these, they can catch stones or whatever which then
0:15:47 > 0:15:49stops it from working and so we then pull out and use by hand.
0:15:49 > 0:15:55It's a bit of mix and match of manpower and machine power.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56Let's go for it.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08I'm going to go down two foot into these holes to make it a good decent
0:16:08 > 0:16:12depth so we can get a lot of the posts in the ground, which will only
0:16:12 > 0:16:14make whatever is connected to it above
0:16:14 > 0:16:15a lot more stronger and firmer.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Da-da! Thank you. Thank you, sir.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Danny? How is that looking?
0:16:29 > 0:16:31You know what? I think that looks really cool.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Now there's just one more step to take.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40The last thing to do on this section here is to get
0:16:40 > 0:16:44the cement into the holes with some water for it to go off
0:16:44 > 0:16:47and then these should stand up by themselves.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52This quick-drying cement is specially designed to set superfast.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56All you do is pour the dry cement into the hole and add water.
0:16:56 > 0:16:57And there we go.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00That quick-drying cement should go off in about 20 minutes.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Even in the pouring rain, the design is starting to come together,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13thanks to all that hard graft, and the volunteers
0:17:13 > 0:17:18and I are just as drenched at the inspirational Knoll Gardens.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22Time to take a bit of cover and meet the man behind the magic.
0:17:22 > 0:17:28Neil, come on over. Come and join us in this lovely marquee.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Tell us about Knoll Gardens.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Basically, we've been here for 22 years but it was originally,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37the bottom half of the garden was actually a carrot field.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39That is how sandy the soil is.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42And then it became a botanic garden in the late '70s which is
0:17:42 > 0:17:46why we've got so many of these fantastic trees that we see today.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49The garden is a labour of love for Neil, who has developed it
0:17:49 > 0:17:54into a natural but impressive shore garden with year-round interest.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57We love the garden. It is quite a relaxed feel.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00We've always loved the natural environment
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and I think trying to have a style of gardening that actually
0:18:03 > 0:18:06honours that, I think, is what I've been trying to achieve.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10We call it naturalistic as opposed to formal.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12I like the fact that it looks so natural
0:18:12 > 0:18:16and it looks like you've allowed nature to dominate,
0:18:16 > 0:18:21as it were, nature to take over and it doesn't look forced.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Not everybody has four acres in two decades.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26How do people emulate this kind of garden?
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Some of it is actually quite easy
0:18:28 > 0:18:31because it's the style of plants, not being too fussy,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35using plants that don't need staking, deadheading, spraying.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Planting the area up in one go,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41so it's a border that is done completely and mulching.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44It sounds so simple but the less we have to interfere
0:18:44 > 0:18:49with the area, with the garden, the more the wildlife can take over,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51so it's actually very simple steps.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Well, contrary to popular belief, these gardens don't
0:18:54 > 0:18:56happen by accident so we'll let you get back to work, Neil.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- We'll have a bit of a wander round. Shall we go that way?- Yep.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03You might not have four acres to play with,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06but any garden can have a gorgeous, natural look.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Plant grasses in a sunny area.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Plants like these thrive in sunshine and aren't always big fans
0:19:13 > 0:19:15of claggy, damp soil.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17Limit the range of plants you use.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21Rather than 12 totally different species, go for four kinds
0:19:21 > 0:19:22but get three of each.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28In a large area, be even more generous for giant sized impact.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30And give those green fingers a rest.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33A naturalistic garden shouldn't be too tidy.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36You just need to chop grasses back to the ground at the end
0:19:36 > 0:19:40of winter ready to reveal new shoots and start growing all over again.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Back on the farm, the outline of the garden is coming together
0:19:47 > 0:19:51but it's gone midday. Danny needs to start piling on the pressure.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Now we're forming a mound just here.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59This is going to be a fairly simple structure.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02It's going to kind of add a little bit of shelter for what is going
0:20:02 > 0:20:06on inside there, inside the circle, but also it's going to be a great
0:20:06 > 0:20:09way to show off the grasses that we're going to use in the design.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13If I'd just used compost, it's not going to hold.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16So I'm going to mix this with some of the turfs
0:20:16 > 0:20:20and some topsoil that's on the other side of the farm.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25And Danny's got plenty of help to transport the soil into position.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28This looks impressive, doesn't it? There must be a local display team.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31I think they call themselves the Red Barrows.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Very good, Danny!
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Do you want to bring it through?
0:20:35 > 0:20:36- That's it.- OK.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40The mound's building nicely.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42And despite the weather, morale is high.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44It's a bit damp, isn't it?
0:20:45 > 0:20:48It does help having a good team behind us, though.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Danny said, keep it coming.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52You guys are brilliant.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59I'm very encouraged by the design, but I do know what the time is.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02We're only just getting the fencing in
0:21:02 > 0:21:05and we've still got to plant the trees, these trees,
0:21:05 > 0:21:06and the hedge.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10We've got to put the log edging down, plant up this bank,
0:21:10 > 0:21:14we've got to put a membrane down and we've got to add the bark to it.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17And we've got to put some shingle down for the fire pit.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Not to mention the shade sail, Danny,
0:21:19 > 0:21:22which could have saved you a soaking.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Better plough on with the next task - edging that circle.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35I'm using this log-roll edging here to contain the bark chippings
0:21:35 > 0:21:37within this area.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42There's a bit of snobbery attached to log-roll edging, I think.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43A lot of people refuse to use it
0:21:43 > 0:21:46because it's kind of regarded as old-fashioned.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49But I'm using it in this environment because it works.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52It works with this rustic feel.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54Once you've rolled it out,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57you just attach the next roll to this end
0:21:57 > 0:21:59and then twist this wire round the wire
0:21:59 > 0:22:02that's in the one you're going to attach it to.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04So it's very simple to use.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Once I've gone all the way round and I'm happy with the way it looks,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I'll put three or four stakes in
0:22:09 > 0:22:12along the entire length of this roll, then I'll screw
0:22:12 > 0:22:14the log-roll edging to the stakes
0:22:14 > 0:22:16and that will keep them nice and firm.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25While Danny is creating the farm's garden,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29I'm finding out how the farm has helped nurture those who work on it.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32I think we could have a few minutes in the dry,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34because it's pretty damp out there.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Mind you, you must be used to that by now, Mary.- Yes, I am.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40I don't mind being outside in the rain cos I love the farm,
0:22:40 > 0:22:43I love the fresh air, I love the fact that it's a little gem.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46What kind of an area is the farm and garden in?
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Some people say the area is a little bit of a deprived area,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53but that's good because people who don't get to see
0:22:53 > 0:22:55farm animals and greenery
0:22:55 > 0:22:59can just have that little experience right on their doorstep.
0:22:59 > 0:23:00The kids get a lot out of it, definitely.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02That's one of the best things.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04If you're here in the daytime and hear the kids coming,
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- it's brilliant. - Yeah, running around.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10It's a fantastic atmosphere there. We get a big diversity of people.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12We get older people with learning disabilities,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15but also we've had little children who've come there.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19We've had a deaf child who wouldn't speak, was terribly shy,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22and when he saw the garden, he was, "Mum, look at this!
0:23:22 > 0:23:24"Mummy, look at that!" And he was chatting away to us as well.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26That makes it all worthwhile.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Because it's the community farm, it's very satisfying to work there.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32- And I get a lot out of it. - What about you, Mary?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34What do you get out of it?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37It's completely changed me from sort of getting up late,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39what am I going to do with the day?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42And now I get up, I look forward to going to the farm,
0:23:42 > 0:23:44I've got things to do there.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45I can achieve something.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49I did work for 17 years, then I had a bit of a breakdown
0:23:49 > 0:23:54from stress and anxiety and then I found the farm,
0:23:54 > 0:23:57it's given me a purpose,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00it's got me back into work and it's given me confidence.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02It's just stolen my heart.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06What do you think this new, improved area would bring to the garden?
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Primarily it's going to be a social space.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11I think we lack that at the moment
0:24:11 > 0:24:14because I think the social places tend to be indoors.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18So this will be an outdoor social focus-y place.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20But it will be brilliant in the summer.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23In the summer evenings it will just be brilliant.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Today is going to make a huge impact.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27We'd better get those plants that Danny needs
0:24:27 > 0:24:29- or we'll never get that garden finished.- Yeah.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Yeah, come on, crack on, right, lead the way. This way.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36On the farm, Danny's design is looking promising.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38But with only three hours remaining
0:24:38 > 0:24:41and the rain coming down even harder,
0:24:41 > 0:24:42there's a long way to go.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Oh! It's great to be out of the elements.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48It's absolutely tipping down outside.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50And I'm sheltering with these two beauties -
0:24:50 > 0:24:52this Betula jacquemontii
0:24:52 > 0:24:54and this Thuja "Emerald".
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Conifers are much maligned and they really shouldn't be.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02There's one particular conifer that's given the others a bad name,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05and we all know which one that is. That's the Leylandii cypress.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07But this is an absolute beauty.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09And you know I can tell the difference between this
0:25:09 > 0:25:12and the Leylandii cypress - it's its gorgeous smell.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14It smells of pineapple.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The beauty about this particular specimen
0:25:17 > 0:25:20is that you can cut into the old wood.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23You can trim up your hedge and it will still look great.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24It's not going to go brown.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Now, the reason I've chosen this in this particular design
0:25:27 > 0:25:30is because I wanted something that is fast-growing.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34But I didn't want something that's difficult to handle.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36And this really does fit the bill.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39So, the other tree I've got is this lovely silver birch -
0:25:39 > 0:25:40Betula jacquemontii.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46And this is the multi-stemmed version of it, which basically is
0:25:46 > 0:25:48that the stems are growing from just down below.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51It actually acts as a windbreak,
0:25:51 > 0:25:55so we'll filter the wind through before the wind hits the enclosure.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57And also, it offers dappled shade.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59So when the leaves are in, you haven't got
0:25:59 > 0:26:01that thick block of shade.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03It will filter the sun through.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I love the silvery bark. It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11And, you know, it will discolour over time, but all you need to do
0:26:11 > 0:26:16is to rub it with some soapy water and it will be gleaming white again.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18This is an absolutely show stopper of a tree.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21And you know what? I think it should take a bow.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Before the trees take centre stage in the garden,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30Danny still has to dress the mound of soil.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33And the rain just isn't letting up.
0:26:33 > 0:26:34I love this weather.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- All right, Amanda?- Yeah, fine. - How's the weather treating you?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- It's been kinder, hasn't it?- How long have you been working here for?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46I started volunteering 16 years ago now.
0:26:46 > 0:26:4816 years ago?
0:26:48 > 0:26:51- So you've been here a long time. - Definitely, yes.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53And what does this place mean to you?
0:26:53 > 0:26:55It's just a great sense of community.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58We've got a pupil referral unit literally next door to us.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Some of those youngsters are struggling a bit
0:27:00 > 0:27:02- in mainstream school.- Yeah.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04But they come over here and interact with the animals,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07do a bit of hard work and they love it.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09So it's a real boost to their self-esteem.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12- And it must be a boost for you as well.- Oh, definitely, yeah.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16- You're giving a lot of yourself to this project.- Yes.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18For me, it's a family concern as well,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21cos my children were basically toddlers
0:27:21 > 0:27:26when I started as a volunteer and both of them have grown up helping.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29It's been really good for us cos I was a single parent
0:27:29 > 0:27:31when my two were really small.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34So that made me come out with the children
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- to do something which is worthwhile.- Yeah.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39- Really important. - So it's quite varied then?
0:27:39 > 0:27:42- Today you're doing this.- Yes, this is great fun.- This is good fun.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44- In the sunshine.- In the sunshine.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48- Never a dull moment.- Never a dull moment, but definitely a dull day.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50THEY LAUGH
0:27:50 > 0:27:52- We can brighten it up, though, can't we?- OK.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56At least it's stopped raining on Nigel, Mary and I.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59It's time to get stuck into our shopping list.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Danny's golden rule of plant shopping is to set out with
0:28:02 > 0:28:06a clear idea of what you want to help you avoid impulse buying,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09which can lead to bad choices
0:28:09 > 0:28:11and a garden that looks a bit of a hotchpotch.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16Today's order is for some grasses, including 10 latifoliums.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19- You see, I like these. - They're nice, yes.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22They look hardy and quite easy to look after,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24like you wouldn't have to do too much.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Mary, you know the kind of plant I like.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31Knoll Gardens has its own nursery, specialising in ornamental grasses,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34so I'm in the right place to pick some brains.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Ladies, sorry to interrupt. You look very busy.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41But I'm overwhelmed by all the grasses here.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43How many types of grasses do you have?
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Oh, absolutely hundreds, I wouldn't like to count.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49- Too many to count. - Yes, too many to count.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51So, what is so good about grasses?
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Why do people love grasses in their gardens?
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Because they prolong the season in the garden.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02Even the deciduous ones that go straw coloured through the winter,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05they still retain their shape and their form
0:29:05 > 0:29:09and they look absolutely stunning when the frost is on them.
0:29:09 > 0:29:10How easy are grasses to look after?
0:29:10 > 0:29:13They're very easy. The deciduous ones,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16you just ground-level from around mid-March, up they pop again.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18Depending on what grass it is,
0:29:18 > 0:29:22they'll grow very quickly in the right situation.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26They're not no-maintenance, but they're very low-maintenance.
0:29:26 > 0:29:30- All right, I'm going to go in search of some grasses.- Brilliant.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32- Liz, can I borrow you for some assistance?- Mm-hm.- Come on then.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35We'll let you crack on. Thank you.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38- She's busy, isn't she? - She is very busy.- This way?- Yeah.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44With only two hours to go, the circle is still carpeted in mud.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46This one could go down to the wire.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48But Danny is carrying on as best he can
0:29:48 > 0:29:51and the next job is to cover all that mud
0:29:51 > 0:29:53by laying the bark chips and gravel.
0:29:53 > 0:29:58We've got another edging material here. And this is made of aluminium.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00We're trying to make a circle out of it.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04And this is normally used in contemporary gardens.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08I'm just using this to separate the bark from the gravel.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10- WHISTLES - Jump through, hop!
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- Go on, go on.- Really?
0:30:13 > 0:30:15I don't know if I can jump that high.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17THEY LAUGH
0:30:17 > 0:30:19Have you got the pegs?
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- Let's go centre to the big one.- OK.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Which will be about there, won't it?
0:30:30 > 0:30:33Now, I'm just going to put some membrane down.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Here it is, all nice and neatly rolled up.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38And the reason I'm putting this down
0:30:38 > 0:30:41is to stop any weeds coming through the bark.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43And what's good about this also, because it's got
0:30:43 > 0:30:48lots of little perforations, it's kind of a bit like a teabag, really.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52It still allows the water, the rainwater, to filter through.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56Because we don't want the bark swimming around on some...
0:30:56 > 0:30:59watery...mess.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04When the chips are down, there's only one thing to do -
0:31:04 > 0:31:06get the chips down.
0:31:06 > 0:31:09The always frugal farm has managed to wangle these woodchips
0:31:09 > 0:31:12from a local tree surgeon for free.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15You can buy 100 litres of bark for less than a tenner though.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18The bark does migrate over a period of time.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21You know, the wind will blow bits away,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24so just keep an eye on it and make sure it's topped up.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26Although the gravel is now going down,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29the garden still needs its planting.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40To help this, I've got to get Danny's grasses in the bag.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43So while Nigel is on a mission for one of Danny's favourites,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46the latifoliums, Mary and I are getting expert advice
0:31:46 > 0:31:49to help us pick out a couple more, and fast.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Mary. Meet Liz.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- Hi, Mary.- Liz is going to guide us through...
0:31:57 > 0:31:59- Hi, Liz, nice to meet you.- And you. - ..some grasses.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01I believe these are a good one.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04They are very good for your situation.
0:32:04 > 0:32:05They like dry shade,
0:32:05 > 0:32:09they're a lovely spring flower, lovely white flowers.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Heads that sit up to about 60 centimetres in height.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14So they would be good in that sort of socialising area.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16- And easy to look after? - Very easy, yes.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19They're evergreen, you just tidy them through
0:32:19 > 0:32:21mid-March, April time. And then off they pop again.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24You might want to give them a little haircut, but not much,
0:32:24 > 0:32:26but it's as simple as that.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- Sound doable?- Perfect.- Is there anything else you can recommend?
0:32:29 > 0:32:31Because we need to get two or three.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34- Nigel is off looking for another one.- Another nice one
0:32:34 > 0:32:37is the Carex "Evergold", which is here.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39It's got a lovely bit of colour to it.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41Again, it's evergreen.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45- Gets to about 40 centimetres in the right conditions.- Right, OK.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49And again, you just tidy that through, mid-March onwards,
0:32:49 > 0:32:51and then off it will go again. You see the new shoots coming through.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54And they're lovely. Add a nice bit of colour.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Yes, that offers something different, doesn't it?
0:32:56 > 0:32:58That grows upright, this spreads out sideways.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00- Different bit of colour.- Yeah.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- OK, let's take a few of these and a few of these.- Great.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- Do you want to grab some of those, Mary?- Yes, will do.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07- Liz, thank you so much. - OK, no problem. Thank you.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09- We'll load ourselves up with these. - OK?
0:33:09 > 0:33:10- And head on. Thank you.- Thank you.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16- I've got mine.- Good find! Good work. What are they called again?
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Brill! They look good, and that's all that matters, right?
0:33:21 > 0:33:22Yeah, fabulous.
0:33:22 > 0:33:27With some carex, luzula and Danny's longed-for latifoliums on board,
0:33:27 > 0:33:30it's time for me to get back to the farm.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37After nearly nine hours of work, the rain has finally stopped,
0:33:37 > 0:33:39and a minor miracle has happened.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41Danny!
0:33:41 > 0:33:42AJ!
0:33:42 > 0:33:45I am genuinely in awe.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47Hello, Helen, how are you?
0:33:47 > 0:33:49- It's been a terrible day... - Yes, it has.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52- That is an understatement. - ..weather-wise.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56I thought we were going to get back here and it would be a mud bath.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58I genuinely can't believe what you've done.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01We're not complete, it's not finished, as you can see.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03Cos the weather did hold us back quite a lot
0:34:03 > 0:34:05and it was a complete nightmare, really.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09OK, not the result you wanted, but an amazing effort,
0:34:09 > 0:34:13- given the conditions.- Yes. - And it will get finished.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16- Hm.- So don't cry too much. - We'll try not to.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19The trees might still need to be planted
0:34:19 > 0:34:22and the shade sail might be nowhere to be seen,
0:34:22 > 0:34:23but we do have just enough time
0:34:23 > 0:34:26to get my purchases planted before sundown.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29Grasses, grasses. Get your grasses.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32Helen's brought back some lovely grasses.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35- I love those ones. - They're brilliant, aren't they?
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Just look at the way it's brightening up the bed.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41It does look fantastic. Especially against the compost.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44What's great about grasses is that they'll grow in most soils.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47- Quite often, the poorer the better. - Oh, OK.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49So they're as tough as old boots.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53- In this situation, they require very little maintenance.- OK.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57- Do you like these? - Yeah, I do like them. They're nice.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01And they grow very tall, which is good, which will give us a screen.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05All sides of the circle are now enclosed
0:35:05 > 0:35:07and the fire pit is in place.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10But the shade sail and tree-planting will just have to wait.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Do you like? Or do you like?
0:35:12 > 0:35:14- We like.- Beautiful.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18Guys, I feel like you're a bit flat and a little bit sodden.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21But do you know what? You shouldn't be, because this looks amazing.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24It's a massive transformation, you're so close to the end,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26it's practically finished.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28You can't do anything about the rain, you can only do so much.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30It's been pretty tough today,
0:35:30 > 0:35:32but really we've got to be positive about this
0:35:32 > 0:35:36because this bit of land here looked like that bit of land this morning.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39And I think we have made an improvement.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42I know these guys well, I know they'll get it finished.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46- And to be honest, you'll probably get it finished in about an hour, won't you?- Yes.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50- Yeah, when the sun shines. - Sorry, a dry hour.- Yeah.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02So, this garden wasn't quite as instant as usual,
0:36:02 > 0:36:05but a few weeks later, Danny and AJ are back to finish
0:36:05 > 0:36:07this almost completed garden.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10The weather is ten times better than last time.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11It's much better, isn't it?
0:36:11 > 0:36:13And to make things even easier today,
0:36:13 > 0:36:15the farm's fantastic volunteers
0:36:15 > 0:36:18have already dug in the trees around the border.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20It looks great, doesn't it? I really like it.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Everything's really settled in nicely.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27But Danny still needs to get that all-important shade sail up.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31- That's it.- That's nice and taut. - That's perfect, isn't it?
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Yeah, if we go that height there, then the two posts there,
0:36:34 > 0:36:38we can go higher and get that sort of nice sort of angled canopy.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42Right, I'll get these screwed in, get these hooked on
0:36:42 > 0:36:45and then we can then come back to it with the posts
0:36:45 > 0:36:48- and just manipulate it that way. - Yes.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Right, I'm going to drill a hole here,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59just a pilot hole with a smaller drill bit, smaller than that,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02and then the eyelet will go in, we'll twist it in, screw it in,
0:37:02 > 0:37:05and then, once that's in, we'll clip on the clip,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08the other side is the shade sail
0:37:08 > 0:37:10and then we'll then move on to the post.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16While AJ works on the sail, Danny's checking up on
0:37:16 > 0:37:19the conifers that have been planted in his absence.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23The one thing I've noticed is that...
0:37:23 > 0:37:26these have been put in the holes -
0:37:26 > 0:37:29which is absolutely fine, the depth of these holes is fine -
0:37:29 > 0:37:31but I would have made these holes slightly bigger.
0:37:31 > 0:37:35And what I would have done is mix some compost in with the soil,
0:37:35 > 0:37:37then I would have backfilled with that.
0:37:37 > 0:37:38What you're in effect doing is,
0:37:38 > 0:37:41before the roots get to the poor soil here,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43what they're going to do
0:37:43 > 0:37:46is find their way through the nice soil.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49And the root system is going to be stronger
0:37:49 > 0:37:52before it hits the soil that's not so good.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55That sounds like a good excuse
0:37:55 > 0:37:57to use some of the farm's lovely natural produce.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- Hi, Richard, all right? - Hi, Danny, how's it going?
0:38:00 > 0:38:02- Not too bad.- Good, good. - Lovely sunny day.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05- Yeah, much better than it was. - For a change.- Absolutely.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07I see you've got some lovely compost for me.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10I've got some home-made stuff from the farm, yes.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Home-grown here at the farm from everything we've got here,
0:38:13 > 0:38:16- so it is good stuff. - It's absolutely gorgeous.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20What I want to do is make this a square hole
0:38:20 > 0:38:22and make the hole bigger,
0:38:22 > 0:38:26and with the soil that comes out, mix it in with that lovely compost.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29- That way, we give this tree the best possible start in life.- Lovely.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32What's the theory with the square hole versus the round hole?
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Basically, we don't want the roots going round and round on them.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38So, we want the roots to go out and hit the sides.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45And Danny's got one more little tip for growing strapping shrubs.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48What I'm doing here is spreading some mycorrhizal fungi.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50I'm not going to mix it into the soil
0:38:50 > 0:38:53because I want this stuff to make direct contact
0:38:53 > 0:38:55with the root system on the tree.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00Now, it forms its own root system, which attaches itself to the tree.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03So, what it's doing is making a secondary root system for this tree
0:39:03 > 0:39:07which will help this tree establish and help it suck up more water.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13While Danny works his way around the rest of the trees,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15AJ needs some holes for his poles.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20What we're going to do with these posts here is -
0:39:20 > 0:39:22which we always seem to do with the post -
0:39:22 > 0:39:24is to have them at a slight angle.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27If they're angled away from where the pressure is
0:39:27 > 0:39:31from it being pulled, it just gives it that little bit of leeway
0:39:31 > 0:39:34cos if they were absolutely perfectly sort of straight,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38and then you did get a big gust of wind, it'll just pull it,
0:39:38 > 0:39:42where, if you're at an angle like this, you've got more strength
0:39:42 > 0:39:46with it in the ground and it'll just sort of not fall over, basically.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56Right, I've dug the hole now, clipped it on there,
0:39:56 > 0:39:59now I'm just going to put the post in and connect the sail
0:39:59 > 0:40:02just to get the angle of the post before we start cementing it in.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06I'm happy with that. Nice angle there and it's nice and taut.
0:40:06 > 0:40:11There's enough excess on the chain to slacken it off if they want to.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13And the sail should look good.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18So, it's quick-drying cement,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21so, in theory, Luke's only got to stand here for 20 minutes.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29Now, with the final touches in place, a little later than billed,
0:40:29 > 0:40:34Danny can finally hand over the finished garden to the farm.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37After all that work, we got it done in a couple of hours.
0:40:37 > 0:40:38- Yeah.- And it's looking great.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42- Now for the big test. Shall I go and find them?- Yeah.
0:40:42 > 0:40:43- And see if they like it?- Definitely.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46But I think you may have to hold this pole.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49- Yeah, I know you're fatiguing now. - I am fatiguing, yeah.
0:40:49 > 0:40:50See you in 15 minutes.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Before Danny started, this patch of the farm was
0:40:57 > 0:41:01a bare and barren wasteland, with no place to sit and socialise.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Now, Danny has utterly transformed it
0:41:07 > 0:41:09into a serene and sheltered space,
0:41:09 > 0:41:13where this hard-working community can take some well-earned time out.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16By making the most of the recycled materials,
0:41:16 > 0:41:20he's created an eye-catching design with a sociable layout...
0:41:21 > 0:41:24..enhanced by some stunning trees and sturdy hedging
0:41:24 > 0:41:27to offer protection from the elements.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32All capped off by a colourful shade sail.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Its rustic materials match perfectly with the farm's laid-back vibe.
0:41:40 > 0:41:44And those gorgeous grasses bring the bank alive with graceful movement.
0:41:46 > 0:41:51What's more, it was all done on a shoestring. And in almost one day.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56Top job, Danny. Now it's time to see what everyone thinks.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Oh, check out the sun sail! Very nice.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07A fire on the go, beautiful, very nice.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Looks fantastic. Very open, very airy.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13I'm looking forward to bringing people down here.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15Just basically scrubland, that's all it was,
0:42:15 > 0:42:19- so it's a complete transformation. - Love the sun shade.- Good.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23- Do you think it works well with this environment?- It does, yes.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25It really offsets the green, I really like it, yes.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28You can easily move around, which is what we needed.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31It's away from the hustle and bustle of the main farm,
0:42:31 > 0:42:34so potentially you can do all the hard work down there,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38then just come down here for a bit of a chill-out and relax.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39It just shows what you can do.
0:42:39 > 0:42:43All that hard work, that terrible weather you had to put up with,
0:42:43 > 0:42:46- and it's beautiful, it's peaceful. - We've got all the grasses you chose.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49All the grasses we chose, yeah. Good choice there, guys.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Very good choice, I'm impressed with that.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54It's going to mean an awful lot to the users of the farm.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56The kids I can bring down here for the holiday activities,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00the fire-lighting, people with learning disabilities can come here,
0:43:00 > 0:43:03if they feel anxious, they've got a nice place to relax and be calm in.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05Yeah. And I suppose what's great for this is
0:43:05 > 0:43:07it makes a good focal point as well, doesn't it?
0:43:07 > 0:43:11- We might even have our next staff meeting down here. - LAUGHTER
0:43:11 > 0:43:14It's not just for you, you know.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16If we can bring some of the people down here...
0:43:16 > 0:43:18- You most certainly can. - OK, no problem.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Hello, welcome, everyone.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25James, if we get bored of woodwork,
0:43:25 > 0:43:27we can come down here and have a fire, mate.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29No problem.
0:43:29 > 0:43:30Yeah.
0:43:32 > 0:43:33What do you like most about this space?
0:43:33 > 0:43:35- Pretty.- It's pretty?
0:43:35 > 0:43:38Do you think you'll be use it a lot?
0:43:38 > 0:43:39Yeah.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42Well, it's your space, come and enjoy it.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51THEY ALL CHATTER
0:43:53 > 0:43:57That reaction speaks volumes, and I know, with that design,
0:43:57 > 0:44:00I have really hit the spot.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02And I am so pleased.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06Congratulations, Danny, this design is a definite hit.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09Join us next time for another Instant Garden.