Garden Rescue episode 32 2024
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
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 Hedlund.
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.
00:55Yes!
00:56Turning garden dreams...
00:58Please, open your eyes.
00:59Into reality.
01:01Oh, wow!
01:03That is absolutely stunning!
01:09Today, the team are in Staffordshire,
01:11creating a garden to help a couple enjoy some precious me time.
01:16Hi, I'm Julie.
01:17We live in Roaster.
01:19I'm married to Phil.
01:20And we've lived here for two years.
01:22We've been married for 22 years.
01:24We've probably spent five years together.
01:29I work in emergency services,
01:31so I've done that for 20 years now.
01:33So we are used to me working shifts.
01:36And Phil works normal office hours,
01:39but mostly away from home.
01:41So when I do get home from work on a Friday
01:44after working away all week,
01:45usually within an hour, Julie's going out the door.
01:48And I probably won't see her again until midday the following day.
01:52So the time we do have is quite limited.
01:55The couple live with their three rescue dogs,
01:58and though they quite like the garden, Phil doesn't.
02:02When you look out into the garden, you have two options.
02:06It's either the sofa and the TV, or the garden.
02:09Unfortunately, the sofa and the TV wins at the moment.
02:12Julie is hoping that a more interesting garden
02:15may help tear Phil away from the TV,
02:18but that could be tricky.
02:20So as you can see, it's just brick wall everywhere.
02:25No real structure or anything to the garden.
02:28It's just a typical new-build garden.
02:34We have tried to do various bits
02:36by putting some light in and that in.
02:39We have put plants in and they've died off.
02:42It's really boggy around this area here
02:45because the garden's on a slight slope,
02:47so it just naturally tends to fall down this area.
02:51As you can see, the patio's way too small.
02:54When we open the patio doors,
02:56you literally have to climb over the table to get round
02:59or walk on the wet grass.
03:01It's not a really useful space.
03:04And it's not just Phil Julie's trying to lure into the garden.
03:08I'd love the wildlife to come and visit us.
03:11Any animal that wants to visit us is very welcome.
03:15We do get some bats coming into the garden.
03:17They seem to be attracted to the garage wall for some reason.
03:20There's nothing there for them, so off they go.
03:23There's no trees or anything for them to land on.
03:26Just brick, yeah.
03:27It would be nice to have somewhere that they could come permanently
03:31and set up home if they want to.
03:33Beside the bats,
03:34they also want to make it a better space for their beloved animals.
03:38They mean a lot to us,
03:40to have a garden where they're comfortable and they can go out.
03:44Competing to inject some wildlife and interest
03:48into Julie and Phil's bland garden are Flo and Lee.
03:54Will Flo's love of curvy creations give her the edge?
03:59There's so much brick to look at in this garden.
04:02And these angles as well.
04:04I need to soften those.
04:06I need to do the Flo magic and bring some curves in.
04:09Or will Lee's out-of-the-ordinary thinking
04:11be what's needed to lure Phil into the garden?
04:16Now, everything in this garden is crammed into corners,
04:19and what I want to do is bring them into the centre of the space.
04:29Oh, they really need a garden to bring them all together, don't they?
04:33Yeah, a place that will attract Phil,
04:35that's dog-friendly,
04:37that's going to be a real sort of destination for them
04:40to just sit and enjoy time together.
04:42Yeah, but it sounds like they don't want anything too in-your-face,
04:45too garish.
04:46They want something that's soft and subtle
04:48so that they can coax Phil gently outside.
04:50Yes, yes, soft and subtle.
04:52Ooh, that would be a new one.
04:54Now, there is a theme, so let's find out more.
04:57Come on, Harry. Come on, boy.
04:59We go for walks in the woods.
05:03We go for walks in the woods.
05:05Love it. It's just calming.
05:07I like the feel of it.
05:09It's quiet, it's nice.
05:11The couple would love to bring that connection with nature
05:14and the wildlife that comes with it into their own outdoor space.
05:19We'd love a woodland-themed, natural-feeling garden.
05:25Oh, it's so nice in here, isn't it?
05:27Yeah. It's just so peaceful.
05:30Mmm. This one's going to be interesting.
05:32Yeah. That definite woodland theme.
05:35I'm thinking soft, hide the walls,
05:38make a bit of a journey through the garden for the dogs.
05:41So I'm thinking, actually, a destination.
05:43I want to pull them out of the house into this little woodland escape.
05:47What's the budget with this one, though?
05:49Well, it's 3K, which is a challenge.
05:53Yeah, that's going to be quite tricky, though,
05:55because we've not got any shrubs or trees to work with.
05:58They're saying they want wildlife in the garden,
06:00so, you know, the planting is key for that.
06:03And bats.
06:04I love wildlife gardens. One of my friends is a bat rescuer.
06:08I've had some ideas already about how I can bring the wilderness to this garden.
06:12So what did your friend say?
06:14Well, I'll tell you after we've designed our gardens, though.
06:18With the woodland brief in mind, Flo and Lee get to work
06:22on a design that makes the most of the £3,000 budget.
06:26Julie and Phil then have to choose their favourite.
06:29And whichever designer loses must help the other build it.
06:33The designers and their trusty team of landscapers
06:36provide the labour for free,
06:38leaving the full £3,000 budget for materials.
06:44In Roaster, the couple are ready to watch the designers' pitches.
06:48Let's have a look.
06:49We'll see what they've got.
06:51Hi, Julie and Phil. I have created a woodland nature garden for you.
06:55A garden that will be teeming with wildlife.
06:58It's going to be a garden where you two can come together.
07:01It's going to be great for the dogs, great for the birds and the bats,
07:05and entertaining.
07:06Well, that's different.
07:08So I've kept your patio and I've added to it.
07:12So now you have a generous space
07:14that you can sit out with friends and entertain.
07:17Pretty.
07:18Much more usable space, isn't it?
07:20Yeah.
07:21Hi, Julie and Phil.
07:22This is my super wild, into the woods garden designed for you.
07:26Now, Julie, I know you want a garden that will take you back to nature,
07:30that you can relax in.
07:32That's quite different, isn't it?
07:35The first thing I've done is to extend your patio,
07:38and I've widened it for you so there's much more space for you,
07:41family and friends to sit there
07:43without feeling like you're falling into the lawn.
07:45Bigger patio? Yeah.
07:47Both Flo and Lee have extended the couple's patio,
07:50but how are they bringing the woodland theme to this bare garden?
07:53Because your garden's made up of really awkward hard lines and angles,
07:57I want to make those disappear,
07:59which is why I've got these big curved wood chip paths,
08:02and they're going to smell like the forest floor.
08:04I like the path.
08:06As you walk around the garden,
08:07you'll notice that you've got four specimen native trees.
08:11Oh, trees, look.
08:13I wanted a sense of enclosure in the garden
08:15so birds in particular feel secure to come in and feed.
08:19So I put a couple of trees in, a couple of native trees in,
08:23and actually that's going to give you a woodland vibe.
08:26The important trees.
08:29Another important aspect of the couple's brief
08:32was to hide the brick walls.
08:34So how have the designers accomplished that?
08:38As we walk through, you'll notice on the right
08:41that that brick wall has disappeared,
08:43and that's because I've used some heavy green climbers
08:46to scramble up and cover the wall.
08:48This is the prime location for not one, but three bat boxes.
08:53Oh, the bat boxes.
08:55For this brick wall, it's almost like, you know,
08:57they're naked and they need some clothing,
08:59so I'm going to put some evergreen climbers on there.
09:03That's nice, I like the climbers up the wall
09:05because everything's about reducing the brick, isn't it?
09:08I put a bat box on this wall
09:10so you'll be able to enjoy them in the evening.
09:13Oh, look, bat box.
09:15Water is a really critical element for bringing wildlife,
09:18bringing birds into the garden.
09:20So we've got a birdbath here.
09:22We'll have to keep filling it up because the dogs will be drinking it.
09:26So the bats are well catered for,
09:28but what about Phil,
09:30who right now prefers the comfort of a sofa to his garden?
09:34As we come around the path,
09:36you'll notice the circular seating area in the centre,
09:39and I've designed you a custom fire pit
09:41so that in the evenings, you and Phil can sit there
09:44in the centre of the garden and be toasting marshmallows,
09:47watching the bats dart across from tree to tree and into the bat boxes.
09:51There's no space for a TV.
09:53I'll put your settee out there for you as well, if you like.
09:57So we've got a deck here, a nice generous deck,
10:00and I put this arch in front of it.
10:03I like that, that looks like a theatre.
10:06So with the rustic poles and the climbers going up here
10:10and the festoon lighting,
10:12it really feels like a special place,
10:14a destination at the end of the garden for you guys to go to.
10:17Yeah, lighting, that's a great idea.
10:19And then a little water feature here that's just a gentle bubbling sound,
10:23so a little bit of music from the water.
10:26Oh, that one's got bubbles, that looks so nice.
10:29With a rustic pergola and not one but two water features,
10:33Flo's definitely got Julie's attention.
10:35Oh, that's nice.
10:36But Lee hasn't forgotten that the key to bringing wildlife into the garden
10:40is the planting.
10:41This part of the garden is going to be full of soft, herbaceous perennials.
10:45I know, Julie, that you don't want loads of brush flowers,
10:48so I'm simplifying this area by using whites and yellows.
10:52Nice.
10:53So if you want to take a walk into the wilds
10:55and watch some of the evening bats,
10:57then this is the garden for you.
10:59I would really love to bring this garden to you,
11:02so pick me and let's get it built.
11:04Both good, aren't they?
11:06Which one are you going to choose?
11:08Lee and Flo have given the couple two very different designs,
11:12and now it's up to Julie and Phil.
11:15Right, here we go.
11:18They've both got back boxes.
11:20They both feel like woodland.
11:23Will Flo's two wildlife water features and cosy seating area win them over?
11:29Really pretty, don't you think?
11:32Yeah, trees in the back, nice.
11:34Or will Lee's native trees and Phil-friendly fire pit secure their vote?
11:39There's a lot more brick area being covered.
11:43They've both got really good things, haven't they?
11:45Yeah.
11:46But which one?
11:48Well...
11:49It's a hard decision, isn't it?
11:51It is.
11:52They have to pick one.
11:54So who's it going to be?
11:56Right, we've heard back from Julie and Phil.
11:58Exciting.
11:59Yeah, let's just find out.
12:01Hi, Lee.
12:02Hi, Flo.
12:03Thank you very much for your designs.
12:05They're both fantastic.
12:07Very difficult decisions to make.
12:09Flo's, I did like the seating area.
12:12And Lee really liked your design too.
12:15It felt like a woodland.
12:18And it's been a very, very hard choice,
12:21but we've decided to go with...
12:25..Lee.
12:26Lee!
12:28Yes!
12:29Oh, sorry, Flo.
12:32So chuffed.
12:33I'm pleased for you, really.
12:35You know, I can't wait for my garden to coax Phil outside
12:38so that when the working patterns cross,
12:40they can look up under the stars and reconnect.
12:43You're getting carried away, aren't you?
12:45I'm getting so method. You need to calm me down.
12:50It's the big day in Roaster.
12:53It's an absolute treat, though, isn't it?
12:55That wetland there, beautiful, isn't it?
12:57And the landscaping team, led by project manager Andy,
13:00are excited to start bringing some woodland wonderment
13:03to Phil and Julie's garden.
13:05That looks nice, doesn't it? Full of plants.
13:07Well, we've got this edge in to do.
13:09We're going to make this straight bit of wood bend.
13:12And that's not always easy.
13:14And it's all pretty much soft landscaping, though.
13:16It's a little bit of paving to do by the house,
13:18extending that paving out a bit.
13:20And poles to go in.
13:22It's going to be fun, I think. Yeah.
13:24Let's get a good start on it. Yeah.
13:26Julie and Phil's garden is an odd shape,
13:28so using curved lines will help bring the focus inwards.
13:32Smoking out this central kind of circular feature.
13:42This is going to be where the new paving goes.
13:47Red for the paths.
13:49Blue for the paving.
13:52Boom!
13:54Nice.
13:56With the paths and paving marked out,
13:58Kyle can get on with stripping the lawn.
14:07What Cole's just done is cut all the notches
14:10into the back of this bit of timber.
14:12And this is going to be the edging for our circle
14:15and for our curved paths.
14:18And what this does is basically make it from a solid piece of timber
14:23into something bendy and malleable.
14:26The malleable timber is primed for the curved path,
14:29but the paving, hmm, that could take a while.
14:33We're supposed to have eight square metres of these,
14:36which is about 22, but we've got eight individual slabs,
14:39so we're going to have to sort out getting some more of them.
14:42While Andy tries to track down 14 slabs of timber,
14:46identical to the ones that were delivered,
14:49the guys continue to dig out the path and the space
14:53for the extended patio.
15:00I'm siding up this edge along here,
15:02because when the new paving eventually turns up,
15:05that will butt up nice and tight.
15:07One of the benefits of new-build gardens
15:10is that the patios are often made from paving
15:13that's easy to get hold of.
15:15So, with sustainability and budget in mind,
15:18Lee opted to use the same style rather than starting all over again.
15:27I think we want to do it maybe kind of bit by bit,
15:30rather than trying to bend it all at once.
15:33We're being very careful, because we don't want any of these to snap,
15:37because we have just the right amount of timber.
15:46Ooh, a little bit of a crack on this one.
15:49But we can put a peg in behind there
15:51just to push it back into round to sort it out.
15:55Timber edging is much cheaper than metal or stone edging.
15:59It means more work for Colin and Gruff,
16:01but it's good news for Phil and Julie's budget.
16:05Right, I'm back. Here they are.
16:08We've got enough now to do the patio, so that's good.
16:11Presumably we don't break too many.
16:14Don't you like it when a plan comes together?
16:19Here we are. Matching slabs.
16:27That's a good start, isn't it? We've got some spares.
16:36Right, first one down. They're not a bad match.
16:39These ones look a bit more weathered,
16:41because they've been down for a while, obviously,
16:43but these ones get a clean-up.
16:45These will look the same, I reckon.
16:52We're using a super bendy bit of timber for this bit,
16:55because this curve's a little tighter than we first thought.
16:58I mean, that's beautiful again. That is beautiful.
17:03Kyle's got, well, a few more slabs to lay, but not too many,
17:06and the guys have done a great job getting this edging in.
17:09That's pretty much all done, I think.
17:11So now I've just got to mark out for these posts.
17:17Lee's focal point fire pit is backed by five timber posts
17:21to create the feel of a woodland clearing.
17:26I'm in.
17:28I'm in. Not once.
17:30Twice.
17:32I'm in.
17:34Right, let's get them fixed, shall we? Yeah.
17:42Patio done. That's it.
17:44Give this a bit of a clean-up.
17:46And by the time those mucky pups have finished
17:48walking all over the new ones, they'll all look the same, won't they?
17:51I wonder if Lee and Flo will be able to tell.
17:58Oh, look. Ooh, that's nice.
18:02This is a bit different. Ooh, yes.
18:04Oh, I'm loving the curved... Oh, that is great. Yeah.
18:08I mean, this whole garden is to bring Julie and Phil
18:10out. We want to, you know, give them some time
18:12they can spend together because they work busy shifts.
18:14Yeah, getting Phil out is number one, isn't it? Yeah.
18:17And that's quite tricky, but I've got some ideas. Fantastic.
18:20What have you got for me today, then, Lee?
18:22Well, Flo, I'm going to be giving you the wall.
18:27Oh, right. Great, thanks.
18:29I hope there's a bit more to it than that.
18:31I'm going to be giving you this beautiful shady planting scheme.
18:34Oh. There's a really nice native tree. Lovely.
18:37Shady woodland and then the bat boxes.
18:40The bat boxes are fantastic.
18:42I'm going to be helping you because they're really specific,
18:45so I want us to do that together, maybe compete for the best bat box.
18:48Yes. And then position it. All right, OK.
18:50So if I'm going to be working on bat boxes,
18:52I'm not going to hang around here right now.
18:54I'm going to go and get ready. See what you do. See you later.
19:02Now, the biggest challenge with this garden is the budget
19:05and the size.
19:07Now, with this being a woodland, almost wild garden,
19:10you never see a straight line.
19:12You usually see curved coppices, meandering paths,
19:14and that's what I'm doing here with this design.
19:16And by doing that with the layout, it pushes away the boundaries
19:19and makes the garden feel softer.
19:21I've given Julie and Phil a slight extension to the patio
19:24using the same economy-style paving that they've already got,
19:27keeping the budget low.
19:29When it comes to the rest of the garden,
19:31I've had an even better idea to bring the feel of being in a wood,
19:34and that is by using wood chip.
19:37If I was going to gravel or pig this area,
19:39the whole budget would have gone.
19:41But by using wood chip, it helps me save budget
19:43for the next important part, which is plants and trees.
19:46The other major consideration in the garden
19:49is how to bring in the wildlife,
19:51and making use of the giant wall is key.
19:54So in this corner, we're going to have our evergreen planting,
19:57our native tree, and...
20:00Hmm. Bat boxes.
20:03Have I got you in a bit of a flap over these bat boxes for us?
20:06It's interesting. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm game. I'm keen.
20:09Yeah, I mean, bats are mega-specific.
20:11They're really fussy in where they live,
20:13which is why I wanted to give you a hand.
20:15Because if we make them and they're not the right size or shape,
20:18the bats will never come here. Right. OK.
20:20So we need to get this right. We need to nail it.
20:22I'm going to give you a helping head start with these dimensions.
20:25Oh, OK. All right. So, blueprints, if you like.
20:28Yeah, that's the blueprint for the Kent bat box,
20:30which is a really simple one to construct.
20:32We need nails as well. We need to use rough sawn timber, don't we?
20:35Yeah, I've been doing my homework.
20:37You already know some stuff.
20:38Yeah, because they like to clamber up it, don't they? They do.
20:41So we're going to position them on this wall as high as we possibly can
20:44to make sure they've got a clear line of flight.
20:46Brilliant, brilliant. All right, off you fly.
20:48I'm taking myself off so you won't steal any of my ideas.
20:53Now, what Flo doesn't know is that I've got a trick up my sleeve.
20:56Flo might be building the traditional bat box,
20:58but I want to go big and I want to show off a little bit.
21:01I'm going to need an extra pair of hands,
21:03because what I've got planned is pretty huge.
21:08Right, Andy, the competition is on with these bat boxes.
21:12Excellent.
21:13I'm thinking we should build an American rocket box for bats.
21:16I mean, it sounds amazing.
21:18I'm in. I don't know about you.
21:20Brilliant. If it's called a rocket box, I'm building it.
21:23What is it?
21:24It's going to be, like, three metres tall, towering above the garden,
21:27looking down over all the trees and plants.
21:29Yeah, I've got some wood out here. Come on.
21:33Flo and Colin are already forging ahead,
21:36creating their traditional bat habitat from large timber.
21:41And the dimensions are 450 for the back board.
21:45Yep.
21:46350.
21:47OK.
21:48250.
21:49Mm-hm.
21:50The aperture needs to be between 15 and 25mm.
21:52No problem.
21:53And then a bit on top.
22:00It's time for the really exciting part,
22:02which is getting this wood shit down onto the floor.
22:11Oh, come on, Flo.
22:12Oh, that looks like fun.
22:13I know. Have a go at this.
22:14Oh, I love the smell of this stuff.
22:16It takes you right back, doesn't it?
22:18It does, doesn't it?
22:19Children's playgrounds, rocks in the wood.
22:21Yeah.
22:22You just play for it, just, like, kicking all this stuff around.
22:25A bag big enough to complete this whole path
22:28costs £150.
22:30And if any chips end up on the lawn,
22:32they won't damage Phil's lawnmower.
22:34Yeah, it's dead soft.
22:35Yeah.
22:36You can fall on it, you don't hurt yourself.
22:38Yeah.
22:39So, Flo, what do you think?
22:40I think this is the woodland walk of all woodland walks.
22:44Yeah.
22:45We're just missing a few key things.
22:47Yeah.
22:48Mainly...
22:49Trees!
22:51Look at this.
22:52Trees!
22:53We've got some gorgeous native trees in this garden, Flo.
22:56What a beauty this is.
22:57And whilst it looks gorgeous on the van,
22:59it's going to look even better in the garden.
23:01I know.
23:02Got it?
23:03Right, where do you want him?
23:04Oh, good question.
23:08Right, so we're going to pop that in.
23:11That is tall.
23:13In Lee's design, trees are crucial to creating the woodland look,
23:17and the right variety will attract the birds as well.
23:20Now, I've picked native trees,
23:22which means that they already exist here in the UK,
23:25and the beauty of that is that wildlife already knows how to use them
23:28for things like pollination, food source and habitat.
23:31On the right here, we've got this gorgeous multi-stem sorbit,
23:34which is going to give a real heavyweight feel to this part of the garden.
23:38It's going to ground it.
23:39But as you move round and mix things up,
23:42we start to use vestigiate shapes,
23:44which is basically like a pencil shape.
23:46Tall and skinny trees that take up height without width.
23:49Now, down here, we've got this whopper of a silver birch.
23:53Look at that.
23:54It'll grow tall, but it's not going to grow too wide and block out too much light.
23:58Behind us, we've got this crabapple,
24:01another native tree that's going to bring spring blossom to this part of the garden.
24:06And last but not least, over here, we've got a carpinus.
24:09But the reason I've put it at the back of the border is,
24:12over time, it will bulk out and completely fill this space,
24:15along with screening off that wall.
24:17And by picking those four native trees,
24:19all of a sudden, they're going to have their own little slice of an English woodland.
24:24Oh, what a gorgeous trachealospermum.
24:27That's going to have instant impact.
24:33Whoops.
24:34I think your side's the best side.
24:36Yeah, it's not too bad from here, is it?
24:38Yeah.
24:39Where are we going? What are we doing?
24:42Ah!
24:43All right, then, back to you.
24:45Yes!
24:47One of the real beauties of this garden design is this.
24:51One of the real beauties of this garden design is this tree.
24:54It's a sorbus, otherwise known as the rowan or the mountain ash,
24:58and it's native to the UK.
25:00And this sorbus has been pruned to be a multi-stem.
25:03Now, with a multi-stem, what happens is the main stem of a tree gets cut,
25:07it gets coppiced, and the next year, that will grow side shoots.
25:11And voila, you end up with a multi-stem,
25:13meaning that the tree is far smaller but wider.
25:16Now, the reason why I've picked this for Julie and Phil
25:19is because it's got these bright orange berries,
25:21and we're going to add little lights in the evening,
25:24and they're going to call out to Phil,
25:26and it's going to say, Phil, stop watching TV and come outside.
25:32A woodland garden doesn't just need trees.
25:35There's a whole host of plants, including climbers...
25:38Oh, yeah.
25:39Are you OK? Yes, yes, yes.
25:41..to help disguise the surrounding brick wall the couple hate.
25:46You may be wondering why I'm digging a hole in the middle of this lawn,
25:50and it's for good reason.
25:52I've got the huge vestigiate birch tree, and it's going to live here.
25:56The reason why I'm putting it in the middle of the lawn
25:58rather than at the back with the rest of the plants
26:01is to act as a transitional space.
26:03It also means that when they're sat on the patio
26:06and they don't want to be too cooked by the sun,
26:09it will provide some shade.
26:12But maximum shade...
26:14It's time to get this whopper of a birch up.
26:17..means a very big tree.
26:19It is a whopper. Do you want a hand with that?
26:21Oh, do you mind? Oh, yeah.
26:23I think this could be the biggest one.
26:25It's massive. This is over, what, over three metres?
26:29I think maybe 3.5. Look at that.
26:31Whoa. That is instant impact, isn't it?
26:34There we go. Right, still got it?
26:37Still got it, yeah. Let's see.
26:39Oh, look at that. Perfect.
26:45Now, let's get you in there.
26:47Now, in the winter, this tree will lose its leaves,
26:50but because these little heart-shaped leaves are so small,
26:53when they fall to the ground,
26:55they pretty much compost within a matter of days,
26:57which means that you can plant these directly in the lawn.
26:59It's great for dogs too, totally non-toxic,
27:01and it provides this dappled shade,
27:03so I can imagine that the rescue dogs
27:05are going to spend some of the hotter summer days
27:07sat under here with a bowl of water,
27:09just taking five minutes to relax.
27:11It's important to stake a tree of this height
27:14to help anchor it and protect it from strong winds.
27:20Don't want it too tight.
27:22Don't want it too tight.
27:35Now, this is a great tree for having in your garden
27:39if you want to bring wildlife into it.
27:41It's a crabapple. This one is called Indian magic,
27:45and it is, at the moment, covered in these beautiful red fruit.
27:50They look a bit like cherries, but actually,
27:52they're small crabapples, which the birds love.
27:55They bring blossom in the spring, pink flowers,
27:58and next to the sawbust, I mean,
28:00the two are just magical in this space.
28:06Lee's design is all about bringing the wildlife
28:09closer to Phil and Julie,
28:11and the bed that flanks the fire pit
28:13is being turned into an insect haven.
28:16Now, the planting scheme in this garden is really limited,
28:19so I've used a few species to tie it all together
28:22and to make it look really soft.
28:24And I've picked things like the oxide daisy,
28:26and already this one's got some insects in it,
28:29a little pollen beetle in there, and look at this beauty.
28:32Physostigia, the obedient plant.
28:34It's going to get big and really bulk up,
28:36but look, those wonderfully delicate white flowers.
28:40We've got English mace here, which is part of the Achillea family.
28:43Each one of these is coloured in tiny flowers,
28:46so it's a real buffet for insects, full of pollen,
28:49and you can actually eat it as well.
28:51And the insects are really important,
28:53because those bat boxes that me and Flo are competing to build
28:56are only going to be of use if there's plenty of insects
28:58for the bats to feed on.
29:00And by using pollen-rich planting like this that attracts the insects,
29:03it also means that it's going to attract the bats.
29:12With the teamwork of the trees out of the way,
29:15Flo is back to the battle of the bat boxes.
29:18OK.
29:20Ta-da.
29:22We've got this back board here,
29:25and I've put a couple of risers on the back,
29:28so that will sit against the wall.
29:31And then this next board goes on here.
29:38These little gaps here are just wide enough
29:42for bats to be able to come in and out comfortably.
29:45Bats tend to hibernate across the winter,
29:48coming out mainly at dusk,
29:50in search of food from April to November.
29:53I think I've got a winner on my hands here.
29:55I'm giving them three different levels.
29:57Comfortable, safe, smart, good-looking, bijou.
30:00This is the winner.
30:05And lastly, a lid to help insulate it,
30:08keep the rain out and keep them safe from predators.
30:13Oh, they look great.
30:17Meanwhile, the last of the trees is going in.
30:20And this is the fourth tree
30:23in the quartet of native trees in this garden.
30:26It's carpinus, commonly named the hornbeam.
30:29It's got these beautiful limey green ribbed leaves,
30:33and it acts as a real colour pop
30:36against the rather dull red brick wall.
30:39But all of a sudden, with the trees and shrubs,
30:42this disappears and the foliage is brought forward.
30:48Now, in terms of the budget,
30:50these four trees brought real value for money
30:53because they add structure to the garden.
30:55This carpinus is around £80 to £90.
30:58The birch, £125.
31:00Flowers, beautiful.
31:02Crabapple, a bargain at £70.
31:04But the real expense was the sorbus.
31:06I spent £400 on that multi-stem.
31:08And that's because it takes years to grow by coppicing it.
31:11But for under £700, all of a sudden,
31:14Julie and Phil, our four magnificent trees,
31:16really bring that feeling of the woodland.
31:18Could have gone for cheaper, smaller trees,
31:20but you just wouldn't get that impact.
31:23One of Flow's challenges
31:25was to disguise the giant wall on the right of the plot,
31:28and trees are the only way to do it.
31:31One of the climbers I'm putting in is this clematis vitalba,
31:36or Traveller's Joy or Old Man's Beard.
31:40And it's great for adding height,
31:44adding texture, adding colour into the garden.
31:49It's covered in beautiful little white flowers in the spring.
31:55And after the flowers have gone, you get these wonderful seed heads,
31:58which are sort of wispy and textural.
32:02It will need some support,
32:04so I'm going to put some canes in
32:06just to help it to establish as it goes up.
32:16It's all systems go getting the plants in on time.
32:19Oh, look at that.
32:21And Flow's part of the garden
32:23also has some specific plants to deal with the boggy area.
32:29Ferns come in all shapes and sizes.
32:32These two, for example, are the same family.
32:34They're Dryopteris, but very different leaf form,
32:38very different leaf shape.
32:39This one is called Brilliance.
32:41The new leaves come out this bronzy colour,
32:44and as it matures,
32:47there are these orange spores on the back of some of the leaves.
32:52And then as it develops,
32:56the whole thing becomes this beautiful,
32:59fluffy, mounded, semi-evergreen plant.
33:03And this one here, same family,
33:06is called Christata the King.
33:08Now, it's already quite a big form,
33:11and it can grow up to 1.2 metres.
33:14And then we have this one here, which is Blechnum plicant.
33:18Quite small, definite detailed little leaves
33:20that actually doesn't get much bigger than this.
33:23But in the border taken as a whole,
33:25all these different ferns will add texture
33:28and create lots of interest.
33:37With most of the garden sorted,
33:39Lee can finally sneak off to complete his secret bat mission.
33:44So, this is the post for the rocket box.
33:48And it's halfway done now, so I've got another length to put on.
33:52But there is method to the madness.
33:54The reason why it needs to be really tall
33:56is because a lot of bats tend to any roost at the 4 metre level.
34:00So, the apex of the garage is probably about 2.7 to 3.
34:04This is going to be a bit bigger.
34:08So, we're building up the layers, aren't we?
34:10We've got little spaces to give that all-important bat gap.
34:14Spaces are going to go in like that,
34:16and then we just go around again.
34:20We're nearly there, aren't we?
34:21You never know.
34:22We may even get some maternity bats in there having little babies.
34:26Whey!
34:28What's really important with any bat box,
34:30whether you're making your own or you're buying them from the shops,
34:33is that once you've put them up, you have to leave them up.
34:36You're not allowed to inspect them. It's actually against the law.
34:39And that's because if you've got bats roosting in there,
34:41you need to protect them, because they are an endangered species.
34:44So, once this is up, if you want to find out whether you've got bats,
34:47don't look inside the box, but simply look at the pole
34:50or any of the posts that it's attached to,
34:52because you will find things like bat droppings
34:54that shows you that something's using it.
34:56Please don't open them yourself, because once this is sealed,
34:59it stays shut for good.
35:06That'll do.
35:10Now, this is the finishing touch to the garden.
35:12So, we've got this fire bowl, but it also doubles up as a water bowl.
35:16Now, because we've got bats, we don't want fires in the evening,
35:19because it's going to distract them, it'll put them off from roosting.
35:22So, when they're out and about in the summer and early spring,
35:25they can use this as a water bowl,
35:27and the bats will actually swoop down and take a drink,
35:30along with all of the insects in the garden.
35:32However, when the bats hibernate around October time,
35:35that's when Julian Phil can use it as a fire bowl in the winter months.
35:39So, it really is a multifunctional feature to get them in to the garden.
35:43But I need to fill it up.
35:45The bats might swoop for a drink,
35:47but Flo and sidekick Colin are sweeping in for the best bat box prize.
35:53Check out you lot!
35:57And there's some serious competition.
36:03What have you got there, Flo?
36:05Not one, but three bad boys!
36:10Ooh, someone's been very industrious.
36:12Yeah, that's right.
36:13Send her up, boys.
36:14What is...
36:16Oh, my...
36:19It just keeps on going!
36:23You are kidding me!
36:25I'm not being funny, but that is really tall.
36:28Have you got planning permission?
36:30Not yet, but it is going in the ground.
36:32It does need to be cut down a bit.
36:34But the reason why it's so tall is that the bats can come at it
36:37from all different angles, and it gives them the best open access
36:41to the rocket bat roost.
36:43Rocket bat roost, OK.
36:45Well, if they get intimidated by that, we've always got...
36:48Exactly. ..the Kent boxes.
36:50There's accommodation for all.
36:56With the bat boxes and rocket going up,
36:59there is officially room at the inn.
37:04Oh, they look good!
37:06This garden is now a perfect habitat for creatures great and small.
37:14We made it, mate! We made it!
37:16It's raining!
37:18Of course, we're in the English countryside, in the woodlands.
37:21Yeah, you can smell the bark now, can't you?
37:23You can, it's lovely, and everything's just really popping to life now.
37:26I've had a bit of rain as well.
37:28Beautiful, that's what it is.
37:30The colouring is subtle, but it's bright.
37:32It just feels just like a space.
37:34I'm sure they're going to want to come out to it.
37:36Talking of beauty,
37:38your bat boxes are looking a little bit like sculpture,
37:41if I may say so. I know.
37:43It was a competition, you know. We both won, really.
37:46All the bats won. I went for height and size.
37:48Yeah. You went for style. Yes.
37:50I've got to say, the multi-stemmed store bus is the showstopper.
37:54Hopefully it'll call to Phil and say,
37:56come on, Phil, switch off the TV, come outside and meet Julie.
37:59I think you'd better bring them out.
38:01I know, if this weather gets any worse.
38:03Come on, let's go and get them. All right.
38:08When the team arrived,
38:10Julie and Phil's garden was wall-to-wall brick.
38:16The patio was so small they had to climb over the bench to sit on it.
38:20The odd-shaped garden had nothing to entice wildlife into it,
38:25let alone Phil.
38:27But, working with a £3,000 budget...
38:33their uninspiring backyard has been transformed
38:37into a woodland wonderland.
38:42The patio has been extended
38:44so they can comfortably sit and entertain guests.
38:49The garage wall has now been adorned with climbing plants
38:53and three bat boxes.
38:57The curved wood chip path
38:59creates a sense of journeying through the woods,
39:02whilst also providing a sensory element
39:05for Julie, Phil and their three dogs.
39:09The circular area is the perfect centre point
39:12to grab a chair, watch the wildlife
39:15and enjoy the fire pit in the winter months.
39:19The four native trees,
39:21five posts
39:24and Lee's rocket bat box
39:27further help to hide the back wall,
39:30whilst crucially adding structure
39:32and more interest for birds and insects.
39:38There's no question the wildlife will enjoy this garden.
39:46But, will Julie and Phil?
39:48Julie and Phil, you wanted a space that would remind you
39:51of the woodland walks that you love so much.
39:54So hopefully we've given you that,
39:56and whenever you're ready, open your eyes.
40:01Oh wow!
40:02What?
40:04That's amazing!
40:05It's beautiful.
40:06That's unbelievable.
40:08It looks, just doesn't look like our garden.
40:11No.
40:12That is gorgeous.
40:14So, so different, so different.
40:17I love it, I love it.
40:20Oh, it's wonderful, it's beautiful.
40:23Ah, they love the garden, yes.
40:27So what's the first thing you notice?
40:29The smell.
40:30Yeah.
40:31It smells like woodland.
40:32Yeah, that foresty smell from all the chip bark.
40:34It's beautiful.
40:35The paths.
40:36It's so different.
40:38Excellent.
40:39Wonderful.
40:40So the first thing we've done is extend that patio space,
40:43you've got a much bigger, usable patio.
40:45It's much better, at least now we can come out without
40:48stepping on all the soggy grass and everything else
40:51that we've been doing before.
40:52Exactly, it'll keep your shoes clean,
40:54you can get more family members around this picnic set that you've got.
40:57Yeah, and be able to see the TV as well.
41:01No TV film, we're in the garden right now.
41:04Look at that.
41:06I know, what a specimen tree, eh?
41:07Amazing.
41:08Yeah.
41:09You know what, that does automatically, hides that wall.
41:11Exactly, and it brings some height and joins the garden together
41:14so that when you're sat here you already feel like you're
41:16in the beginnings of that forest.
41:18Definitely.
41:19Shall we take a walk around the garden?
41:21Yes, please.
41:22Come on, follow me.
41:23And Flo's been incredibly busy giving you this shade-loving
41:27border full of ferns, we've got some climbing hydrangeas
41:30that over time are going to grow up and smother that wall
41:33in evergreen foliage.
41:35Beautiful.
41:36Yeah, it'd be nice to get rid of that wall.
41:38Yeah.
41:39It did dominate the garden.
41:40Now Flo has also been busy on some bat boxes,
41:43which have been quite stylishly arranged on the wall.
41:46They're gorgeous.
41:47They're nice, aren't they?
41:48Yeah.
41:51Now we're in the main central part of the garden,
41:54and we've got that really soft white and yellow planting scheme,
41:57super calm, not too much colour.
41:59Oh, it is.
42:00You've got your ox-eye daisies, great for pollinators.
42:02Well, that's your favourite.
42:04Yeah, I like daisies.
42:05They're your favourites?
42:06Yeah.
42:07I do like daisies.
42:08Oh, it's like I've read your mind.
42:09Yes.
42:10What's that?
42:11Ah, that's the surprise.
42:12So we've got your traditional bat boxes on the wall,
42:15but we've also built you what's called a rocket box,
42:18and that's a box that can house bats from all four sides.
42:21That's brilliant.
42:22Yeah.
42:23Absolutely brilliant, that, isn't it?
42:24It is, yeah.
42:26It's amazing, though, when you just add the structures
42:28and everything else,
42:29from all the boxiness and all the gland walls and everything,
42:31it's just...
42:32It's gone.
42:33It's just a nicer place to be.
42:34Yeah.
42:35It feels like I'm in a park or a woodland area.
42:39The smells and things moving, like plants moving and things,
42:44it's just stunning.
42:46It's absolutely beautiful, thank you.
42:53The garden, we absolutely love it.
42:55It's fantastic.
42:56It's beautiful.
42:57Everything we asked for, really.
42:59It feels like a woodland garden.
43:01I've actually got my own piece of woodland.
43:04We've been together for 22 years.
43:06I think I've seen Julie for about five of those,
43:08so hopefully now that we have this space
43:11that we can make up for all the time that we don't spend together.
43:15Oh, look!
43:17What do you think?
43:41.