“We’ve created our dream garden on a budget”
Make-do-and-mend is the ethos behind this wildlife-friendly garden, which is filled with resourceful ideas. Geoff and Carol Fowle tell us more
Make-doand-mend is the ethos behind this wildlife-friendly garden, which is filled with resourceful ideas
Cottage gardening is all about taking a thrifty, make-do-and-mend approach, and this pretty garden in Leicestershire is a shining example. “If a saucepan or wheelbarrow gets a hole, we’ll turn it into a planter,” says owner Geoff Fowle. “My wife Carol is from Malaysia, where recycling is a way of life. It’s good to know that gardening doesn’t have to be expensive.”
This budget-savvy ethos has guided the couple since they bought the house 25 years ago. “Back then the garden was full of meadow grass and brambles,” says Geoff. “But we could see its potential. It’s triangular in shape, overlooks open countryside and has a natural stream running through it.”
Today the garden is a bright and welcoming space. “It wraps around the house, with two lawns, island beds of roses, azaleas and rhododendrons, a natural-looking pond full of waterlilies, f lag irises and bulrushes, 20 different Japanese maples and hundreds of container plants. There are six mature oak trees, each about 200 years old, and a large vegetable plot at the far end, where we grow runner beans and courgettes.
“Carol and I love colour so we’ve planted lots of climbing and bush roses, hydrangeas and foxgloves,” says Geoff. “Swathes of red valerian line the paths, linking different parts of the garden.”
When they started work on it, Carol and Geoff were dismayed to find they only had
The garden was full of meadow grass and brambles but we could see its potential
about 15cm (6in) topsoil. “Under that, the ground was very heavy, red clay. It’s very difficult soil to work and, 25 years on, we’re still constantly mulching and digging in our own homemade compost to improve it. But we’ve also found plenty of plants that will thrive here.”
The couple renovated the garden themselves – creating new beds and borders, sourcing materials and planters and digging out an enormous wildlife pond. “It took me a whole summer,” says Geoff. “Clay is tough to work with, but I found that we could use the clay to our advantage – mixing it with straw to create a watertight pond lining. We saved about £400 on a plastic liner, and it’s never sprung a leak in 20 years.”
Carol and Geoff have enjoyed the challenge of creating their garden on a shoestring. “We bought most of our roses from the market for about £1.50 each,” says Geoff. “We take cuttings and swap with friends too. We bought our obelisks as flat pack frames from Wilkinsons and Carol put together the pergola from a damaged kit of wrought iron parts bought for £70. We also improvised a wooden archway from offcuts of timber.”
Chicken wire mesh helps protect plants from local rabbits and muntjac deer. “You have to coexist with wildlife,” says Geoff. “And there are positives. With all the frogs in our pond, we don’t have problems with slugs or snails.”
The plot is surprisingly low maintenance now it’s established. “Even in summer we only water twice a week. We like travelling, so we wanted a garden that we could leave. The best bit is when visitors come and see it. Their appreciation is what keeps us going.” ✿
With all the frogs in our pond we don’t have problems with slugs or snails