Garden Rescue episode 19 2024
Category
🦄
CreativityTranscript
00:00The Garden Rescue Team are on a mission.
00:04What's not to like?
00:05To make garden dreams come true.
00:08Oh my God!
00:09Charlie Dimmock.
00:10Plants there, plants there, plants there, plants everywhere!
00:13Lee Burkill.
00:14Take me to my people boys!
00:17Flo Hedlum.
00:18I've gone for the big bad boy.
00:20And Chris Hall.
00:21A couple of inches made all the difference.
00:23Tell me about it.
00:25Are here to answer your gardening emergencies.
00:28It's just a wild jungle.
00:30Okay, that's a challenge.
00:32Each week, two of our designers will go head to head.
00:35Now I really hope you like this garden.
00:37The design we have gone for is...
00:40Drum roll please.
00:43Lee!
00:44Yes!
00:45Flo!
00:46Ah!
00:47And whichever designer loses...
00:49It's all about my water feature.
00:51My water feature.
00:53Helps the winner build the garden.
00:56Turning garden dreams...
00:58Please, open your eyes.
00:59Into reality.
01:01Oh wow!
01:03That is absolutely stunning!
01:11Awaiting the team today is a soulless empty garden
01:14on the edge of Taunton in Somerset.
01:18I'm Paul.
01:19I'm Becky.
01:20And behind us is Max and Mariella.
01:25So we moved here from inner city Bristol, Bedminster.
01:28Right in the middle of the city.
01:29No space.
01:30And we wanted something that was going to be great for the kids.
01:34Quantity surveyor Paul and solicitor Becky
01:37took the plunge 12 months ago
01:39when they moved to their new home near the Quantocks.
01:42An area famed for its magnificent vistas.
01:45Although sadly, the view from their back door
01:48isn't so compelling.
01:51OK, welcome to our garden.
01:53We are surrounded by brick.
01:56Fence.
01:57All the sort of generic nonsense that you get with new-build gardens.
02:01And we hate it.
02:03At 100 metres squared, it's a great size,
02:06but offers little else.
02:12There's patchy grass.
02:14These horrible concrete flagstones
02:18that seem to come with every single new-build house.
02:21I mean, come on, look at this area over here.
02:23This is supposed to be our socialising space.
02:25And quite frankly, it's just embarrassing.
02:28We love wildlife, but I can't imagine why they'd ever come in here
02:31because there's literally nothing in this garden.
02:37Behind our double garage here, we've got this space.
02:40Fairly big space. Fairly usable space.
02:43And something we're never going to do anything with ourselves as adults, so...
02:48We've got this garden full of children's things,
02:51so we were wondering whether this could be utilised as a sort of kids' zone
02:55so that it's hidden from the house.
02:58The original dream was, like, an oldie-worldie, mature garden.
03:02So, come on, Garden Rescue, get the crew together,
03:06come on down and give us a hand with our garden, please.
03:09Please.
03:11Competing for a chance to transform Paul and Becky's new build
03:15is Charlie, whose rustic, relaxed gardens might well fit the build...
03:21Somerset home ground for me.
03:24Ooh, so I might have the advantage.
03:26..and Chris, whose highly polished designs
03:29could be the answer to the sea of red brick.
03:34This is a lovely big garden for a new build,
03:36and I love that they've got all those brick walls.
03:39Could do a lot with this space.
03:47Look at all that space. It's a big garden.
03:50Yeah, it is a big garden.
03:52And it's got that funny shape to it.
03:54The bit behind the garage.
03:56Yeah, perfect for letting the kids play behind there out of sight.
03:59Yeah, it has its positives, but what else do they want?
04:03Let's find out, shall we?
04:06We absolutely love being surrounded by the beauty of the Quantocks.
04:10Going on to Exmoor, it's just such stunning scenery.
04:13It's really dramatic.
04:15There's just beautiful wildflowers, just plants everywhere.
04:19It's just stunning.
04:21The kids just find it so exciting to explore.
04:24And what we'd really like is a proper Somerset garden
04:28that really reflects the area and ties in
04:31and feels like it's at home within its surroundings.
04:34With trees and plants and wildflowers and whatever that might be,
04:38and start to cover some of the space,
04:40start to enclose us in a tiny little oasis that we can enjoy with the kids.
04:44Quantocks, my old stomping ground, but that's much more woodlandy,
04:49like beech trees and little streams, mossy streams.
04:52Yeah, then you think Exmoor is much more harsh, isn't it?
04:55It's more kind of open moorland tours, little brooks.
04:58And definitely an area for the children to play.
05:01Sounding very expensive, Charlie. What's the budget on this one?
05:04It is a healthy budget, £6,000.
05:08This is going to be fun, this one.
05:11It's now down to Charlie and Chris to use their design skills
05:15to turn a bland new-build garden
05:18into a rustic country retreat with £6,000.
05:23Paul and Becky then have to choose one of their designs
05:26and whichever designer loses must help the other build it.
05:30The budget will be spent on materials,
05:33with Charlie, Chris and their trusty landscapers doing the work for free.
05:41In Taunton, the pitches have arrived.
05:45So...
05:47Here we go. Here's the designs. Ready?
05:50Ooh, exciting!
05:54Rebecca, Paul, this is your garden, the Somerset Sanctuary.
05:58Now, I know you wanted a garden
06:00that was inspired by your walks on Exmoor in the Quantocks.
06:04You wanted a secret hideaway where the kids could go and play.
06:07And you really wanted a garden that stood out in a sea of new builds.
06:12Oh, whoa, look at that!
06:15Rebecca, Paul, here's my design.
06:17I know you wanted to bring the beauty of the Quantock Hills
06:21into your brand-new garden.
06:23So what I've done is I've given you lots of different designs
06:27and I've given you lots of different areas in the garden.
06:31Oh, gorgeous!
06:33So I've designed it using these sort of sinuous curves
06:36that take you on a journey around the garden.
06:39I have left a little bit of the original paving here
06:41just to get you out the gate to help with the budget.
06:44Now, as you step out of the back doors,
06:46I wanted to give you something completely unique.
06:48This is going to be your very own rugged patio.
06:52I wanted to use a reclaimed, locally sourced Somerset stone
06:57that will be set in a kind of crazy paving form over this space.
07:01And just in all the gaps will be some local gravel.
07:04Oh, local Somerset stone. That'll be lovely.
07:08Chris is capitalising on the Somerset theme
07:11with his rustic, sweeping design.
07:13So, what's Charlie's grand plan?
07:17Now, the great thing about your garden is it's nice and big
07:20and it's got quite an interesting shape to it.
07:23So I've divided it up into different zones.
07:26So I've simplified the patio you've got there.
07:29So I'm using the paving and just rearranging it
07:31just to keep it nice and simple.
07:33So looking out these patio doors,
07:35you're going to look over some lovely cottage planting here
07:39and then I've got a key focal small tree shrub,
07:43something like a magnolia.
07:45And then you walk out of these patio doors.
07:48When you're looking out, you're going to look up to this seating area
07:52and this is all cottage planting
07:54and you're going to actually sort of walk through that cottage planting.
07:58So there's going to be lavenders that you knock against
08:01that will give you the scent.
08:03Lots of different perennials giving you colour.
08:06I like that.
08:07You'd be able to see that when you're sitting in the lounge.
08:10Charlie's going for a structured, zoned garden design.
08:14But how does Chris plan to bring the rugged landscape
08:17on Paul and Becky's doorstep into the garden?
08:21As we move through here, I've got a long border
08:23sweeping up that lovely brick wall that you've got there.
08:26I also wanted to put a few wires on it
08:28to get some climbers growing up there.
08:30With this bench here, I want it to be a dry stone wall,
08:33typical of anything you'd see on Exmoor.
08:35But the unique thing about this is it's going to be built into that bank
08:38and it's going to have wildflowers spilling out all around it.
08:41You can have wildflower turf all the way along there,
08:43but I wanted to use native trees along the back.
08:46Ah, yes, wildflowers.
08:48I love the boundary of plants encircling the garden.
08:51A dry stone wall perching spot,
08:54wildflower meadow hillock and native trees.
08:57Charlie needs to bounce back with something big.
09:02So I've given you a pergola over half the patio
09:05to give you some dappled shade,
09:08of course, with climbers going up and over the top.
09:11By having the seating area here,
09:13you're going to be looking back down over all this beautiful planting.
09:17Now, around the back of the pergola and seating area,
09:20this is like the wildlife area.
09:22We're going to plant through with some meadow plants,
09:25but also we've got these four different blossom trees
09:30that are going to give you flowers in the spring.
09:32It's another brick wall that's covered up.
09:36The final big thing for Paul and Becky is a kids' zone.
09:41So, what fun ideas does Chris have for Max and Mariella?
09:46Peeling off of the journey here,
09:48you've got that secret little nook behind the garage.
09:50I've designed them their very own circular hobbit door.
09:54Either side of that is going to be some simple slatted fencing.
09:57So it feels like they're going into a secret hideaway.
10:00Underfoot, it's going to be a simple playbark molt,
10:03so it's really safe for the kids.
10:05But in there, I wanted to nestle in some bits of fun.
10:07So we're going to have a few simple log seats for them to sit on.
10:10I wanted to make a kind of fun DIY water playstation
10:14where they can just get buckets of water, pour it down, shoot.
10:17I also wanted to try and design a little bit of a musical instrument
10:21made out of natural materials.
10:23Nailed the kids' zone. That looks so exciting.
10:26They would love it. Yeah.
10:28Chris is going all out with his natural wonderland,
10:32but Charlie isn't to be outdone.
10:35Now, the pergola carries straight on and round
10:39to create this division between the lawn,
10:44the wildlife area, and then the children's zone.
10:48It's a fun entrance.
10:50So this is the arch,
10:52but then I filled it in with a door and a window.
10:56Then I put this raised bed here,
10:58and it's got a shallow pool of water in it
11:01because the children will be making mud pies in it.
11:04Then the fun bit is this bit here,
11:07which is the sand pit, but it's actually a little boat
11:11with a sail on it, and then we lead round
11:14onto these little decks that go up to this area with some sails,
11:19and we've got a slide coming down.
11:21It's a great use of that space.
11:23There's so much going on, it's going to be such an adventure.
11:26So that's my design.
11:28The new-build garden becomes a lovely cottage garden,
11:33great for all the family.
11:35I hope you choose this one.
11:39Wow. That's given us a lot to think about.
11:43Now it's all down to Paul and Becky.
11:47Will they choose Chris's rustic circular design
11:50with a dry stone wall seat, wildflower meadow,
11:53and a kids' area with a hobbit door?
11:56I like that we have got a nice boundary,
12:00so we're going to be encased almost by the planting.
12:04That's true. I really like the dry stone wall bench.
12:07Yeah. Obviously the paving's gorgeous.
12:10I don't really like how the old stones are still there.
12:13I feel like that slightly ruins the look a little bit.
12:16OK.
12:17Or will they go for Charlie's zoned garden
12:20with its central pergola with a new patio
12:23and a children's space that comes with a sandpit boat and a slide?
12:28I think the kids' zone in this is just incredible.
12:31Yeah, that's true.
12:32And just so exciting for them.
12:34I think the planting in this is just beautiful
12:36because it's really colourful and that would just look stunning.
12:39Just don't know.
12:40How on earth are we going to pick?
12:42Just don't know.
12:44Only one design can win.
12:47Whose is it going to be?
12:50Right, we've heard back from Rebecca and Paul.
12:53Ooh, go on then.
12:54Are you ready?
12:55Hi, Charlie. Hi, Chris.
12:57Thanks so much for sending through the designs.
13:00Both gardens really had Somerset vibes going on
13:04and so it made it really difficult for us to choose between them.
13:07But we have come to a decision
13:11and the winner is...
13:16Chris!
13:17Yay!
13:20Thanks, everybody. Thanks for your efforts.
13:22Thanks to both of you. They were both fantastic designs.
13:25Can't wait to see it.
13:27I thought after hearing about that child's play area
13:29that you were going to have that one.
13:31Ah, never mind, never mind. That's all right.
13:33So what have you got for the children?
13:35Well, I do have a little sneaky play area back there.
13:37I've got some bamboo musical instruments
13:40and a bit of water play as well.
13:42Oh, yeah, that's what my water was.
13:44I tell you what, you can do that bit if you want.
13:46I'll be back in the garage.
13:48It's going to be fun, this one.
13:54The landscaping team, led by Andy, have arrived in Somerset...
13:59..hoping to turn a soulless garden into a rustic idyll.
14:06Oh, that's pretty organic, isn't it?
14:09Bringing the local area into the garden here.
14:13Long and short of it is, there's a lot of groundworks to do here.
14:16We've got a lot of digger work today.
14:18We've got to get that done as soon as possible.
14:20Let's try and hit the road running and get on top of this one.
14:29The groundworks can't commence without a clear space,
14:32so that's top of the agenda.
14:35Then it's time for Becky and Paul's hated patio to be removed.
14:41Quite a lot of turf to come off, so let's make the start.
14:53The lawn is taken up and will be recycled later.
15:00The turf's got to come off.
15:03The turf's got to come off cos we're putting in paths and gravel.
15:06But instead of throwing it all away,
15:08where we've got the wildflower meadow going down,
15:11we put it face down and that'll feed the soil underneath.
15:14It saves it all going into the skip and us getting rid of it all
15:17and we get to reuse it in the garden.
15:20Time for the digger, Gruff.
15:24He's through.
15:27The garden is slightly sloped,
15:29so some levelling is needed with the excess soil
15:32used to create some Quantox-inspired hills along the fence line.
15:41I'm going to mark it out in a minute height-wise,
15:44but new paving will bring that up to about there,
15:47so then that has to be level across the site.
15:50Well, actually, with this bit coming up a bit
15:52and that bit going down a bit, we're not a million miles off now.
15:55Then there's only the small matter of 30 square metres of paving to put down,
15:5930 square metres of wildflower turf, 30 square metres of lawn
16:02and goodness knows what else.
16:04But just when Andy thought his day couldn't get any busier...
16:09Hey, Andy, how's it going?
16:11I'm all right. How are you?
16:13I'm good. I've got some really good news for you.
16:15Have you? What's that?
16:17Right, so we've got a little bit more budget.
16:19That's great.
16:20Which means we can actually extend the patio down towards the gate
16:23so we can get that beautiful paving all the way across now.
16:26Oh, mate, that's the best news I've heard all day.
16:29I'm really wanting some extra work on this job. That's great.
16:32Do I sense a hint of sarcasm?
16:34No, I would never be sarcastic.
16:36It's just that I don't like...
16:37I'm going to stop answering the phone to you, that's all.
16:40You're going to block me now, are you?
16:43Originally, Chris's design retained some of the concrete paving
16:47in the far corner of the garden,
16:49but with an extra £500,
16:51now it can all be paved using the same local Somerset stone.
16:56I'm laying the new patio, this natural stone crazy paving.
17:00It works at about £40 a square metre,
17:03which is a really economic way to do it,
17:05cos it's about a third of the price.
17:10Work on Becky and Paul's rustic Exmoor-inspired perching spot
17:14has also begun.
17:20This bench we're going to be building here
17:23is going to be faced with the beautiful dry stone,
17:26which is very much in character with the rest of the garden.
17:29But the back of it is going to be...
17:31We're going to mound up the soil coming up to the back of it,
17:34so it's not going to be seen.
17:36So not only will these make it a lot stronger,
17:38but they also help us with the budget as well.
17:40So these are going on nice and quick, nice and strong,
17:43and it'll give it a really firm foundation for us to work with.
17:50Along with the seat, patio and path,
17:54there's also an 18-metre-squared kids' zone
17:57to create in the garden's alcove by the garage.
18:01So what I'm doing now is I'm putting in the fencing
18:04for the children's play area,
18:06and it's going to have a round hobbit door in the centre,
18:08which is quite fitting that I'm doing this,
18:10cos I always get told I've got hobbit feet.
18:12I don't really know what that means.
18:14This garden is a massive undertaking.
18:18But the landscapers' dedication means progress is swift.
18:23Just as well, because...
18:26...Chris and Charlie are ready to jump right in.
18:33Charlie, look at this!
18:34Look at this! Oh, loving that!
18:36Hey, doesn't feel like a bland, new-build box anymore, does it?
18:39No, not at all.
18:41Doesn't feel like a bland, new-build box anymore, does it?
18:43No, not at all.
18:44I have to say, I'm loving the curves.
18:47Very corn-talky.
18:48Isn't it? The rolling hills, you see?
18:50So what am I doing then?
18:51So I want you in this area of the garden,
18:54where it's going to be completely dedicated to the kids.
18:56So you're going to put me behind the back of the garage?
18:58Exactly, like a naughty schoolgirl.
19:00But there's loads of fun things I want you to do in there.
19:03I've got an idea for some maybe musical bamboo,
19:05something with water, but I want you to own it.
19:07OK, right, I'm off.
19:11Now, I'm really glad that we've got a little bit of extra budget
19:14to extend the paving out to the back gate,
19:16because the contrast between those typical new-build pavers
19:20and this beautiful, crazy paving would have just been too harsh.
19:23So this looks so natural.
19:25And the look I want to achieve with this paving
19:28is I want it to almost dissolve out into the garden.
19:31So rather than just having a straight edge or one really clean curve,
19:35I want it to sort of phase out and step out.
19:39And then this is where the other part of the journey starts.
19:42Because it was all on a slope,
19:44obviously you needed some nice level areas to sit on,
19:47but having these level changes really helps
19:50to give that feel of the Quantock Hills.
19:52So I love how it all banks down here,
19:54and once the wildflower grows up around it,
19:56it is going to feel really natural.
20:03Now, nothing says Exmoor like beautiful dry stone walls.
20:07Now, I wanted to get it in the garden
20:09because it fits with that really natural feel that I'm going for.
20:13And I do want it to be quite a polished finish.
20:16So you want to take your time and make sure
20:19that your stones are going to fit,
20:21that they're going to sit at the right height.
20:23And you can, if you need to, give them a little chisel,
20:26chip off any bits that are causing it not to be flat.
20:29But I think this looks...
20:33Ah! That's a good fit.
20:36You also, as you're going through it,
20:38you want to get some bigger stones in there
20:40to lock the wall together.
20:42So things like this cornerstone,
20:44you want them to be really meaty.
20:46And this is something that you can easily do at home.
20:49The thing is, there's no mortar in these.
20:52There is, admittedly, at the back,
20:54which is going to bind them together a bit.
20:56But in the front, it is all just the stone,
20:58so it's really easy to do.
21:00And that is going to be perfect in there, look.
21:04This coping stone will sit across these
21:10with a nice little bit of overhang on the front,
21:13a slight fall to the back of the bench,
21:16and then it will cover up this whole top course.
21:20I think when that's on, all the way across there,
21:23it is going to look so smart.
21:25I love that.
21:27MUSIC
21:38In the kids' zone,
21:40first on Charlie's Hit List is something fun to make music.
21:51There we go! Look at that!
21:57Oh!
21:59You need some table tennis bats.
22:03Right, so Chris came up with this idea of musical bamboo pipes.
22:08But the thing is, is bamboo,
22:10each of these bits have a little bit that goes across,
22:14so we had to smash it out.
22:16But, yeah, the sound does work.
22:18It does sound better when you give it the old...
22:23You could cut them down and... Hang them, maybe.
22:26Yeah, so you get the sound going through it.
22:29Yeah. Ooh, so a framework like that, like that.
22:32Oh! Like that!
22:34Yeah. Like that.
22:36Oh, that could be quite cool.
22:38Yes! So they'll be almost like pan pipes.
22:41Oh, yeah.
22:43I knew it was the right thing to do to leave this to you, didn't I?
22:46OK.
22:47Chris also wants to give Max and Mariella a sense of adventure
22:51and a feeling of independence whenever they play.
22:55All right, Tori, what do you reckon to these?
22:57They're lovely, Chris. What are they?
22:59Well, obviously, they look like hinges, but they're not.
23:02But they are definitely going to complete the look of the Hobbit door.
23:05They definitely look the part. Don't they?
23:07So I know you've been working really hard
23:09on getting these fences done over here,
23:11and we need to get this Hobbit door done,
23:13but I've got loads of other things to do.
23:15Yeah. So I was wondering if you could help me out with that one?
23:18Of course I can, mate. Of course I can.
23:20Hurry up, hurry up, you've got a lot to do, Chris.
23:24We do, we do.
23:32I'm just putting in a dry mix, sand and cement,
23:35in the back of the wall here.
23:37And actually, just from the moisture that's in the sand and outside,
23:41this will bed rock hard.
23:43And then we'll build this up,
23:45and then the chunky coping stones can get laid on top.
23:49It's going to be a work of art when this thing's done.
23:55Dory! Hello, Charlie.
23:57Can I use your chop saw?
23:59You want me to karate chop it? Yeah, something like that.
24:07I want to see, because these are different lengths.
24:12Hold that one.
24:14Oh, yes! That one's much deeper, yeah.
24:18All right.
24:27Right.
24:29Coming this way.
24:33Right, then. I'm just going to put these down
24:36to work out how far out my next post is.
24:41Need to leave space between them
24:44so that you can bang them individually.
24:46So I reckon it's about there.
24:48About there-ish.
24:54To make the bamboo musical instruments safe for the kids,
24:58each pipe will be attached to a bamboo frame
25:01sunk a foot into the ground.
25:08I'll just do this all day.
25:17That's the musical side finished.
25:20I'm just tidying it up with this bit of twine
25:23to make it look a bit prettier.
25:25And then it'll be on to the water.
25:28Right, then. Duet time. OK, let's go.
25:37I think we've got a hit on our hands there.
25:40Yeah, this is going to be number one in no time, I reckon.
25:43How's the garden going?
25:45Oh, well, I just want to take a little break, you know.
25:48Loads to do, Charlie. Loads to do, yes.
25:52Back in the adults' garden,
25:54the mini-quantocs are slowly taking shape.
25:57Literally just fine-tuning the tilth here
26:00to put the wildflower turf on.
26:02We're good to go.
26:08Right.
26:10Right.
26:12And Chris's ode to Exmoor isn't far from finished either.
26:16The coping stones are cemented on top
26:18to guarantee its safety for the whole family.
26:25Right, so close to finishing this one now.
26:28Coles is finishing the last bits of the coping stones.
26:31But, I mean, what a work of art.
26:33For £350, it is an absolute bargain
26:36because this will last a lifetime,
26:38way longer than any garden bench you could pick up from the shop.
26:42This thing is a real beauty.
26:44And the best thing about it is that it looks like
26:46it's just growing out of the landscape,
26:48especially once all the wildflower rolls up to it.
26:50It's going to look so natural.
26:52That's exactly what this garden needed.
26:54Love it.
27:01So my next little task is to make this chute
27:04for the water to go down.
27:06So I'll have it here, run down...
27:10..and then drop into a pot or a bowl at the bottom.
27:16First things first, get the posts in.
27:23Now, these posts, I'm just putting in the soil
27:27because, at the moment, the children are young
27:30and this will be great for them for a couple of years.
27:33But in two years' time, they probably won't want to play with it,
27:36so we can take it out easily and put something else in its place.
27:42Charlie's use of bamboo means the panpipes and water chute
27:45are not only durable, they're also eco-friendly and inexpensive.
27:50The total cost of materials for both toys is around £50.
27:58Tip some water in. I don't want to get too wet, though,
28:00so don't go too mad.
28:02Right, we'll do a little test. A bit more.
28:08I tell you what, that is... That's all right! ..a thing of beauty.
28:11I am very glad that I tasked you with this.
28:13I think you've done a good job. Plenty, plenty! Stop!
28:16No, no, you're talking to me!
28:22Back in their Quantox, the local stone crazy paving patio
28:26just needs a final flourish.
28:30Gravel's going down.
28:32I'm a little bit happier now it's finished.
28:39And the wildflower meadow hillside is starting to bloom.
28:47And this means the planting can begin in earnest.
28:53Keep coming, keep coming.
28:56Right, come on, guys, I need some muscle over here.
29:02There's a lot to unload.
29:04Lucky there's a shortcut.
29:08Chris is invoking the beauty of the Quantox and the wildness of Exmoor,
29:13so a £6 budget means he's able to buy a vast array of native shrubs,
29:18hardy perennials and mature feature trees.
29:22Oh, that was fun. But look at it. Instant maturity already.
29:33This is just a silver birch and it is tough as old boots.
29:38It's going to do absolutely perfectly well in this garden.
29:42But it can take wind, it can take rain, it can take dry.
29:46It is a really, really good plant.
29:48Exmoor is a bit harsh and rugged,
29:51and that is typically where something like this beautiful birch would do very well.
29:57Graceful, elegant, can't go wrong with a silver birch.
30:09So I'm just breaking this soil to a fine tilth,
30:12which basically means making the top layer of soil a really fine kind of crumb,
30:17which is perfect for laying your turf on.
30:20It makes it nice and level. You kind of walk it over and heel it in,
30:23and then break it over again, and it just breaks up that top layer
30:27so the roots of the grass can get right in there and do really well.
30:34I've got a Hobbit gate, Chris.
30:36Oh, I love the look of that. That is very smart.
30:39It's going to even better once we get them posh hinges on, eh?
30:42Right then, do you want a hand?
30:44If you don't mind.
30:46They will hold it, and you can do your business.
30:48Wonderful.
30:51Any fine adjustments we need.
30:55Look at that.
30:59Honestly, that is so amazing.
31:02Once those hinges are on and we get that little extra bit in,
31:05it's going to look so smart. Kids are going to love it, aren't they?
31:08Actually, yeah, we can lock Charlie in there, and she can keep working away.
31:11I'm on this side, Chris.
31:14You're stuck now.
31:16Charlie's not complaining.
31:18She's in her happy place.
31:20Now, the play water feature is almost finished.
31:23I've just got to put the reservoir in, but I'm going to place the plants.
31:27Now, I've got planting here, going for nice, bright, cheery plants.
31:31So we've got these helianthus, nice and tall,
31:34so big, yellow, sunshine flowers against the wall.
31:40And then underneath, where the water's going to be,
31:43we're going to have some ferns and primulas,
31:45because I'm sure when the children are playing, they're going to spill the water.
31:49And then on this side, we've got the meadow grass running through,
31:53and then I'm going to put some more achilles in as well,
31:57into it, just to pick up what Chris has done on the other side of the fence.
32:02So it's all coming together.
32:14This beautiful plant is a viburnum opulus, otherwise known as the gelder rose.
32:21And it's an amazing, amazing plant,
32:24because it has big, beautiful, white flowers in early summer,
32:29and then later on in the year, you get a lot of yellow flowers.
32:33So it's a really, really beautiful plant.
32:36Because it has big, beautiful, white flowers in early summer,
32:41and then later on in the year, you get these brilliant red berries,
32:45which are so good for wildlife as well.
32:49With this one, I've positioned it here on the edge next to the bench,
32:54because I kind of just want it to soften up the edge of the bench
32:57and disguise these big red brick walls, because they don't look very natural.
33:02And this is exactly the sort of shrub that would be out in the Quantocks,
33:06in the rolling hills.
33:08You always see them on the woodland edges or in hedgerows.
33:12Don't be afraid to be rough with them, because it will promote new root growth,
33:17get you in your new home.
33:22Obviously, because we've just planted it,
33:24it's going to need a bit of water through this hot summer,
33:27but after that, it will just look after itself.
33:29Such a brilliant plant.
33:32♪
33:37Make some of your best work yet, right?
33:39Maybe you can.
33:41♪
33:43Wouldn't over-wrap it that way.
33:45♪
33:54Right.
33:55Now, I'm popping in one of my favourite perennials,
34:01herbaceous perennial.
34:03This one here, Helianthus Lemon Queen.
34:07Got these lovely, bright, sunny yellow daisies,
34:12and they flower from July right the way through to the end of September.
34:17It's a great plant also if you're a novice to gardening,
34:21because it's very straightforward and easy.
34:23It likes to be in full sunshine,
34:25so this area this morning was really hot and sunny,
34:28so it'd be perfectly happy.
34:30It's not too particular about the soil,
34:32as long as it's free-draining.
34:34Now, they die right down in the wintertime,
34:37so you cut them right down to ground level,
34:39and then in the spring, they'll reshoot,
34:41and then they grow really, really quickly, up to this height.
34:44So it makes a really fantastic cut flower,
34:47and it lasts a long time.
34:49So the children can come in here
34:51and plant some flowers for Mum and Dad
34:53to go in a vase on the kitchen table.
35:12Now, to get that real wild Somerset look in this garden,
35:16wildflower turf all along the back edge of this garden.
35:20And there's some really good benefits to using wildflower turf.
35:24One, it's instant, so compared to seeding,
35:27you just get this instant, really well-developed mat
35:30full of species-rich wildflower.
35:33Two, next year, it's going to establish so much faster than seeding,
35:38because it will just shoot right up.
35:40And also, it is instant impact.
35:42You just see this carpet of green straight away,
35:45no staring at bare soil, and that's why I really love it.
35:48Now, it's about 20 pounds per roll.
35:51Now, I'm being a little bit cheeky with this as well,
35:53because I'm actually planting some perennials into it as well.
35:57Now, this is a beautiful Achillea millefolium,
36:00and it's the same as what will be found in this meadow turf.
36:03However, this is a different cultivar that's been bred
36:06for the beautiful yellow flowers.
36:09So the ones in the turf will be white,
36:11and these ones will have this nice yellow.
36:13I'm going to do a bit of instant impact now,
36:15so that when Paul and Rebecca do see the garden,
36:17they've got a bit of colour at the back.
36:23Now, the garden's really coming together, and it's looking fantastic.
36:27But the one thing in this garden is the walls are really dominant,
36:33and they're sort of overpowering.
36:35Now, the way that Chris is tackling them
36:37is to put climbers up against the walls.
36:39So we've got this gorgeous jasmine clotted cream,
36:42so it's like an off-white.
36:44Now, when you've got walls like this,
36:46it's a really good idea to put wires on for the climbers,
36:50because a lot of the climbers aren't self-clinging.
36:53But if you've got wires there, you can train them along
36:56as well as them going up.
36:58And by training them along the wires,
37:00it means that you can keep a nice, easy shape to them
37:03and clip them, which will stop them going up into the gutters.
37:07But it's looking gorgeous.
37:09I think Becky and Paul are going to love it.
37:21It's been a very hot couple of days in Taunton.
37:28But the team have worked tenaciously.
37:32And with the final flourishes tying the design together...
37:37Let's get that one in the hole.
37:41Oh, look at that!
37:43Looks like it's been there for an eternity.
37:50Chris's fun-filled ode to the Somerset countryside is complete.
37:57We did it! We did it!
38:00It looks fabulous, I have to say.
38:03I mean, you wouldn't know it was a new build, would you?
38:06Oh, no, it does feel like a slice of Somerset, doesn't it?
38:10Yeah, I've had fun today, actually.
38:12I mean, I know I locked you in here and banished you away,
38:15but it was worth it, because you've done such a good job.
38:18And the bench as well, I mean, that thing is beautiful.
38:20Yeah, once all those climbs are done,
38:22it's going to be fantastic.
38:24I mean, that thing is beautiful.
38:26Once all those plants have moulded round it, it'll look gorgeous.
38:29Yeah, yeah.
38:31I think that we're not the only ones
38:33that want to enjoy this garden, though, are we?
38:35I know. I'm going to fall asleep in a minute.
38:37Wait up! Get the wheel! Let me out!
38:39Shall I finally let you out? Yay!
38:41You are now free.
38:43Woo-hoo! Off you go.
38:49When the team arrived, Paul and Becky's new-build garden
38:53was composed by brick walls
38:55and consisted of a patio and a huge lawn.
38:58It was bland, boring
39:00and nothing like the wild Quantox and Exmoor-inspired garden
39:04the couple dreamed of.
39:08Now it's been transformed into a rugged space
39:12to bring memories of family walks in the hills.
39:17A sizeable local stone patio is perfect for entertaining.
39:21From there, a sweeping graveled path
39:24runs in a semi-circle around the lawn.
39:27A beautiful dry stone wall is a perfect perching spot
39:31backed by a banked wildflower meadow
39:34that runs the length of the space.
39:37Native trees and shrubs provide cover and interest
39:40and hide the bricks.
39:43Whilst down the side of the garage
39:45is a secret children's play area
39:48accessed through a bespoke circular hobbit door.
39:52Bamboo panpipes and a water chute
39:54provide hours of fun for Max and Mariella
39:57all surrounded by delicate perennials.
40:00It's everything that was asked for.
40:03But will it be wild enough for Paul and Becky?
40:06So please, without any further ado, open your eyes.
40:10Whoa!
40:12Oh, my God!
40:15That is insane!
40:17Oh, my God, how is this even our garden?
40:20I think Paul and Becky love it.
40:24That is so sick!
40:29I mean, and what about this?
40:31Beautiful Yorkstone, crazy paving.
40:34It looks really, really cool, doesn't it?
40:36It does, it breaks it up a little bit.
40:38And obviously, all along before, it was completely Fredbear, wasn't it?
40:41That looks like a rug.
40:43Perfect to just spill out from the patio,
40:46go and have a lie on the grass, the kids can muck around.
40:49Kids are going to love it.
40:50So now we'll take a little walk.
40:52So the whole idea with this curves and the journey around the garden
40:55is that I wanted to make it feel like you're going for a walk in the countryside.
40:59I'm so happy there's loads of verbena because I love verbena.
41:02And what's really good is that they kind of really stand out against the red brick.
41:06Gorgeous, I love the colour.
41:08The purples, yellows and those walls,
41:11once the climbers are up, you won't notice at all.
41:14Exciting.
41:15This is much more inspired by nature, this section.
41:17So why don't we have a seat on the bench, look?
41:19Really?
41:20I'll sit on the wet patch for you, that's all right.
41:23Oh, it's amazing, I love how it's just built into the bank behind.
41:27Yeah.
41:28It just looks like it's coming out, it's great.
41:30So next year, this will just go woof,
41:33and it'll be really tall, really flowing and just full of pollinating plants.
41:38I'm so excited.
41:41The seat is gorgeous.
41:43Great space.
41:45Tori worked very hard to build this for you today.
41:48It is stunning, isn't it?
41:50It is stunning.
41:51Perfect Hobbit door.
41:52Yeah.
41:53Why don't you have a little look in?
41:54Sure, let's do.
41:56After you.
41:57I can already see some lovely pinky purple flowers.
41:59Oh, yeah.
42:00Oh, wow.
42:01Oh, wow.
42:02Oh, my God.
42:04This is so cool.
42:05So that's your water play area, which is beautiful.
42:08But then, what about this?
42:11What about that?
42:12It looks like a serious piece of kit.
42:14It is.
42:15I think you can see how it works.
42:16Do you want to test it?
42:18Oh, a duet.
42:19Okay.
42:20A duet.
42:27Oh, you guys are pretty good.
42:29Not too hard.
42:31Delicate.
42:32Yeah, yeah.
42:34But was it all worth it?
42:35Did I deliver Somerset countryside for you?
42:38Yeah.
42:39It's just better than we could have imagined.
42:41Thank you so much.
42:42I feel well and truly rescued.
42:44Oh, yeah.
42:47I'm happy with that.
42:48That is a proper result.
42:50It looks beautiful.
42:51I'll give it another year, two years.
42:55Wildlife, fun family space.
42:58Really well done, Chris.
43:00I feel like someone has just got a big lasso,
43:03thrown it at the Quantox,
43:05and dragged it in.
43:07Amazing.
43:10What do you think?
43:17Come on, Daddy.
43:18Okay.
43:30It's water.