Claire aims to bewitch young trick or treaters

SOMETIMES it looks just like an ordinary garden – but when it comes to special occasions, it’s anything but.

Decked with pumpkins, cobwebs and witches galore, one home in Pontcanna is ready to become one of Cardiff ’s most popular destinations for trick or treaters.

The house is owned by textile and art teacher Claire Treweeks, and local families know exactly where to head.

She also decks it out for Christmas and Easter.

Penhill Road resident Claire said: “We are on the main road and by the park so lots of children go past with their parents.

“I just put some toys in the garden and it became a talking point. People were stopping to look at them.”

For the 53-year-old and her husband Paul, preparations for Halloween start in September to make the decorations from scratch.

She said: “Children seem to love it, as it’s not done in this country as often. I think it’s something magical with the witches and it just grew and grew.

“I get children asking me in the height of summer when the Halloween garden will be.”

Dressing up for the big day, Claire expects to have more than 100 visitors in her garden on October 31 to see her decorations made from paper mache, plastic bottles and other materials.

She said: “On Halloween a huge amount of children will come as they often want to meet who’s done it. I make cupcakes and last year I made 148 for Halloween and they were all gone.

“I had a gang of boys from Ely who saw the decorations on the bus home and came all the way back down to go trick or treating.”

Claire said: “My husband puts lights on all three storeys for Christmas. We have a Barbie bar with tiny glasses – it’s as much for the adults that go past as the kids.

“For Easter it’s very pretty, there’s lots of paper flowers and eggs and bunnies and I knit coloured bunting.

“Between the toys and Halloween, we are finding it hard to store it all.”

For Claire the idea was inspired by a resident in Canton known for his impressive garden.

She said: “In Canton there was a vet by Victoria Park and the garden was always full of flowers and gnomes and houses and my children used to love it.

“I just love to see the reactions. It’s about memories – if you have something magical that reaches out to you that’s brilliant and children will remember it.”