Latest news with #gardenmakeover
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Wolverhampton children's hospital garden goes from 'drab' to fab
A "drab" children's hospital garden is undergoing a major makeover following a fundraising outdoor cinema screen and projector have been added at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, and new paintwork, windows, flooring and play equipment will be by the parent of a patient began in 2024, with a company specialising in industrial, commercial and educational refurbishments doing the work for free."It has brought a drab and uninspiring space back to life, and now we can get down to building something that will stimulate, inspire and hopefully help children recover," said Amanda Winwood from Your RWTC, the registered charity of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. Plans to revamp the space started after Jason Guy, who has previously raised money for the charity, suggested the garden appeal after he spent Christmas in 2023 in hospital with his young daughter, who was being treated for a genetic condition."It kicked off from there," she said."He got [former footballer] Neil 'Razor' Ruddock involved - he had a Wolves tattoo on his arm, and Jason had a Millwall tattoo, which raised £10,000 - and Jason kept increasing the target." Mr Guy introduced the charity to the education refurbishment company, Inco, which decided to get Lewis, associate director at Inco Contracts, said each year it chooses which charity to support and chose the Royal Wolverhampton Trust last year and decided to do as much as they could for free to enable the money raised to go towards play equipment. The company has been painting and adding lighting and TV screens and the cinema feature."It was quite a drab garden, and we wanted to make it uplifting and have it accessible for all patients so we can now wheel a bed out," Ms Winwood said."Being in hospital is scary for anybody, but imagine being a child... you're used to playing in your garden, and that's what we want to give back. It's part of the rehabilitation for their journey."She said without the community making donations, they cannot "make above and beyond what the NHS provides", which is how the hospital charity helps and enables families and patients to use the said lots of people wanted to be involved and "make a difference" for the children at the Winwood said they welcomed anyone who wanted to become a charity volunteer and maintain the garden area and added that future projects were also being planned."Just continue supporting us, as we really do just want to make a difference," she said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
My tiny garden was looking dull so I turned it into a pink paradise for summer using cheap buys from Home Bargains
A SAVVY gardener has shared how she transformed her garden on a budget using cheap Home Bargain buys. Kathleen Jones, from the UK, decided to turn her dull beige garden into a pink paradise. 3 3 Taking to social media, Kathleen shared the before and after images of her garden to show off her hard work. She wrote: "Really pleased with my little project my hubby and I did. A lot of sweat, I think we have done really well considering we don't like gardening." Prior to the makeover, the garden was lacking any character with its brick and stone floors and a small white bench in the corner. But Kathleen was quick to get to work adding some pink paving stones to add a splash of colour. She also added pink bunting around the garden along with some pink plant pots. She also added some solar lights, flamingos and fake flowers to brighten up the space that she bought from Home Bargains. The gardening whizz then added some new chairs for herself and her husband and also created a small seating area for her two grandkids. "Love my colour choice, now time to enjoy the sun in my pink garden," she wrote. "The grandkids have got their little chairs to enjoy the sun." The lovely and simple makeover left viewers seriously impressed. 3 I was quoted over $13k for my backyard garden renovation - but I did it myself with ChatGPT and saved over $11,000 The post was shared on the Facebook group, Gardening On A Budget Official, which boasts over 400k members. One person wrote: "Looks really beautiful. Well done." "Beautiful," penned a third. Meanwhile, a fourth said: "It looks fantastic! Well done to you both." "This is really pretty,' claimed a fifth Someone else added: "Lovely, well done."
The Sun
03-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
I gave my rental garden a glow-up using only B&M buys – I drew it on a bit of paper & transformed my privacy fence too
A DIY enthusiast has given her rental garden a mega glow-up for summer using only B&M buys. So if you want to transform your outside space but are on a limited budget, then you've come to the right place and will need to listen up. 2 2 Lou, a savvy DIY and cleaning fan from the UK, has shared how she turned her garden from drab to fab, without breaking the bank. With the internet full of grand garden makeovers, Lou was on a mission to show her followers that even if you rent a property, you can still create a space you love without having to spend a fortune. Posting on social media, the blonde beauty shared a before, during and after look at her garden overhaul, which she did totally by herself, leaving many open-mouthed. The content creator, who has racked up over 30,000 followers, explained before kicking off with the project, she first drew herself a plan on a piece of paper of exactly what she was going to do. She then stocked up on bargain buys, as she said: "Everything I used was from my local B&M store, so this really was a transformation on a budget.' What was once a very overgrown space has now been given a new lease of life - and we think it looks fabulous. Lou started out by mowing the lawn and then moved on to putting borders in place and planting some flowers. After this, she used Cuprinol paint to give her privacy fence a glow-up. Additionally, she then created a raised area for seating and used bark and lights to add some personality to the space. Opening up about the challenges of the transformation, she acknowledged: 'The biggest challenge for me was the fences - I had 21 fence panels and nothing that I bought seemed to work. 'I was quoted £10,000 for a garden renovation but did it MYSELF for £1,000 using ChatGPT to show my kids what single mums can do' 'I would do it differently now because so many people helped me out in the comments, but it was too late - I would definitely prime the fences first, but we live and learn. 'I also had a lot of people worry about the bark at the top of the garden, but it has lasted through the winter and as far as I can see, no cat poop.' Lou was impressed with the masonry paint that she used on her fence posts and would do her transformation 'again in a heartbeat.' Showing off the finished garden, which is now super glam, Lou beamed and shared her upcoming plans: 'It still looks really year, I'm going to redesign my friend's rented garden and I'm so excited.' Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% DIY fans beam The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ loushomelife, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 234,100 views. It's also amassed 6,093 likes, 129 comments and 730 saves. Social media users were impressed with Lou's garden makeover and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. One person said: 'This is lovely and just what I am trying to achieve this summer!' Another added: 'Wow, jealous, it's beautiful. Well done.' A third commented: 'Your garden is so beautiful.' Meanwhile, someone else chimed in and wrote: 'Amazing job!' At the same time, one homeowner wrote: 'Wow, looks lush! Done a brilliant job! Come do mine please.'
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Trolls say my renovation looks like a ‘chavvy Love Island garden in a council estate'… but I think it's perfect
A WOMAN has given her garden a mega makeover for summer - but it's left people totally divided. While many thought Emma Lysette's garden was 'stunning', mean trolls said it looked 'chavvy' and gave ' council estate ' vibes. 2 2 But the 28-year-old DIY fan, who is from the UK and is currently renovating a three-bed detached property alongside her fiancé, confidently clapped back at the haters who have criticised her incredibly modern outside space. Posting on social media, Emma shared a short clip of her brightly-lit garden, which is complete with artificial plants and grass, a chic fence and even a water feature, which will eventually be home to fish. Emma's garden also has a beautiful seating area with a trendy pergola, which will soon be completed with a BBQ, fridge and even a TV. We think Emma's newly renovated garden is one of dreams and is something you'd expect to see in a luxe interiors magazine. The savvy woman, who started the renovation journey alongside her partner 11 months ago, gave spotlight to a nasty comment from a hater, which read: 'That's not a garden, that's a chavvy Love Island garden in a council estate.' But to this, Emma snapped back and penned: 'Looks perfect to me.' council estate came from but we've worked hard to do this.' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ _emma.lysette, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 376,100 views. It's also amassed 18,800 likes, 1,208 comments and 1,313 saves. But while some social media users agreed with the trolls' nasty remark, others were eager to praise the stylish garden. I spruced up my bland decking & gave it va-va-voom for summer with a HUGE Temu buy you can nab for just £8 down from £50 One user wrote: 'To be fair, he's not wrong.' A second admitted: 'It's a bit over the top for me.' Whilst someone else rudely penned: 'It's the ' Klarna ' look.' But eager to set the record straight, Emma responded and confirmed: 'Everything has been fully paid for, no Klarna here babes.' Garden features that add the most value to a house A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% Despite this, many were impressed with the glam garden, as one person said: 'Sign me up for a chav Love Island garden!' Another added: 'This is honestly unreal. My dream garden!!!' A third commented: 'Please can I have a chavvy garden then… Wow stunning!!!'
The Sun
10-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
I made my own privacy fence using our old Ikea doors & £30 ‘forest scene' Temu wallpaper that's been slashed to just £8
A DIY fan has given her garden the ultimate makeover thanks to her new privacy fence. Liz Smith took to social media to share the new addition to her backyard and how she did it on a budget. 2 2 Sharing an image of the garden, Liz had put up a black privacy 'fence' and decorated it with a woodland-themed mural. But instead of forking out for pricey wood, she decided to upcycle old items she had lying about in her house. The DIY whizz revealed she had some old Ikea folding doors knocking about, so she decided to use them instead. Liz said: "Used old IKEA doors and sticky back plastic murals from Temu for the frieze to make a focal point" The black doors were sealed shut and Liz then added the stick-on murals to each door. The cheap and effective decoration is currently on sale at Temu for £8 instead of £30. She revealed she used screws to fix the doors to the top and bottom of the brick wall to keep them upright. The gardening pro also pointed out that her plants were still growing despite the doors blocking the light out. "Plants still growing so the lighting will soften on the house," she said. To finish the garden makeover, she added plenty of twinkling fairy lights around the border of the doors and along the wall of the house. I made a DIY fence for £68 with pallets from Facebook Marketplace - it gives more privacy & people say it's 'fantastic' The post was shared on the Facebook group, Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget, and people were in awe of her DIY skills. One person wrote: "Stunning, love it. What a great original idea to do that with the doors!" Another commented: 'It's lovely I love the lights." "Beautiful," penned a third. Rules on fences and trees Fences: Height Restrictions: In most areas, fences in front gardens should not exceed one metre in height without planning permission. For rear gardens, the limit is generally two metres. Shared Fences: If a fence is shared with a neighbour, both parties are typically responsible for its maintenance and any costs associated with repairs or replacement. Building Regulations: Ensure that any new fence complies with local building regulations and does not obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians. Trees: Ownership: Trees located on your property are your responsibility, including any damage they may cause. Conversely, trees on a neighbour's property are their responsibility. Overhanging Branches: You are entitled to trim branches that overhang into your property, but only up to the boundary line. The cut branches should be offered back to the tree owner. Protected Trees: Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Check with your local council before undertaking any work on a tree, as unauthorised work can result in fines. Roots: If tree roots from a neighbour's tree cause damage to your property, you have the right to remove the roots. However, it is advisable to discuss this with your neighbour first to avoid disputes. Always consult your local council or a legal adviser for specific regulations and advice. "Looks fantastic,' claimed a fifth. Someone else added: 'This is gorgeous."
