Our back garden of Eden...
IT used to be an ordinary suburban garden with a neat lawn and well-tended borders.
But Peter and Jan Legge have transformed it into an artfully wild natural haven that would not be out of place at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Their glorious garden of Eden has Japanese-inspired features, a pond, winding brick path, patio and of course a fabulous array of blooms.
It took two-and-a-half years and £5,500 to create – a labour of love that helped Mr Legge to recover from a serious illness. During the coronavirus lockdown, it has provided a relaxing sanctuary for the couple, both civil servants who moved into the house in Leeds 15 years ago.
A bout of flu that developed into pneumonia four years ago left Mr Legge, 55, in an induced coma and on a ventilator at the city’s St James’s Hospital for four weeks.
His wife, 57, said: ‘It was awful and very touch- and- go whether he’d survive.’
Thankfully he pulled through but lost more than four stone in weight and was left extremely weak. Doctors told him to exercise as much as possible and the couple decided that building the garden would do the job.
‘It turned into our outdoor gym,’ said Mrs Legge, who designed the layout while her husband did the landscaping and building to turn it into a reality. ‘It was good exercise.’
Mrs Legge added: ‘The garden has been my sanctuary after watching the person I love fight for their life. The project helped us rebuild our lives. It’s been our haven.’