Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 8:00PM – 9:00PM
Alan Titchmarsh transforms the neglected garden of a couple who have suffered the most terrible personal tragedy.
Wendy & Graham Pott and their family had their lives shattered in December 2009 when one of their four sons, Matt, was killed in a hit and run accident. The family, who had always been desperately close, were devastated and Wendy and Graham sank into deep depression. As a result, their huge garden – which had always played a central role in their family life – was abandoned and due to its size and need for attention developed into an unloved and overgrown mess.
Alan and his team know that they can never take away the couple’s pain, but they can give them back their garden, and turn it into a place of reflection and celebration, not just of Matt’s life but as a place to create happy memories in the future. Dan, the couple’s eldest son, is having a wedding blessing in August, and Wendy would like to contribute with something from the garden They used to be a great social couple and they would like a place for entertaining again, once they feel up to it.
Alan’s first job is to get David Domoney, the landscaping expert, started on a huge pond which will be the centrepiece for the garden. Alan then sets off for ideas at a beautiful garden down the road which really makes full use of its size, and its potential as a garden for entertaining. It’s an old mill and the pond gives Alan plenty of ideas for the Pott’s garden.
Meanwhile Katie Rushworth is coming up with ideas for planting flowers that can be used in the upcoming wedding blessing, whilst Frances Tophill creates a beautiful orchard for the couple to sit in and reflect.
It’s the biggest garden the team have taken on to date and they really have their work cut out for them. A visit from Dan and his brothers highlights Matt’s love of music, and Alan decides to create a performance area around the pond for future entertaining. A finishing touch is to engrave Matt’s mantra “If it feel’s good, do it” into the paving around the pond as a positive reminder of his attitude to life.
When Wendy and Graham finally see the garden, they are overwhelmed and overjoyed. And when it’s topped off by a performance on the pond’s ‘stage’ by Wendy’s son Alex’s band along with a huge group of family and friends come to celebrate, Alan is left moved by one of the most emotional makeovers of the series.
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