Tears as couple with '150 kids' have garden 'ruined' by Alan Titchmarsh's Love Your Garden
Alan Titchmarsh ‘ruined’ the couple’s garden according to some viewers.
It’s one of Alan Titchmarsh’s garden makeovers that has gone down as the stuff of legend.
The gardening stalwart and his team swooped into action to help another dire outdoor space in urgent need of an overhaul – but not every viewer was convinced by the results.
In a now classic episode of ITV1’s Love Your Garden, Alan helped out elderly couple Rob and Margaret, from Grantham, who amazingly fostered more than 150 children over the past 45 years.
Given how the heroic pair have helped generations of children find a home, Alan and co-stars Katie Rushworth, David Domoney and Frances Tophill were keen to turn their house’s drab and uninteresting yard into a magical space inspired by The Secret Garden to help give something back to a pair who have given so much.
How the garden looked before (Image: ITV1)
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Alan’s idea was to turn their shed into a mock Tudor inspired design, while adding several crumbling ‘columns’ of brick, or as Alan put it ‘ancient looking follies’ that would effectively add lots of ruins to the garden, or pretend ruins anyway.
Alan told viewers: “I want this new garden to make them feel as cared for as the children who come to their home.”
The resultant garden definitely looked a vast improvement, but not everyone was keen on the results, especially the fake ruins made of brick and the shed made to look inspired by the Middle Ages.
Viewer @besidetheriver said: “Omg! The Love Your Garden people ruining that lovely garden … with bricks and concrete! No thank you!”
@lally55p said: “It’s too crowded and busy for me but as long as they like it.”
The fake ruins added to the garden (Image: ITV1)
At the end of the episode, Alan showed the revamped garden to the couple.
The couple, on seeing the garden, immediately became tearful as they told Alan: “Goodness me! It’s the best I’ve seen it looking. Woah.
“Thank you so much. I can’t believe it – it’s just….”
Alan then told them “and we found the ruins of an old abbey in your garden.”
“Brilliant!” Margaret then laughed.
Rob added: “I knew it would be special but that’s extra special. Thank you so much.”
Alan and his team then invited scores of the 150 foster kids that the couple have looked after to see the garden for a wholesome and very large family reunion.
Love Your Garden is still available to watch via ITVX catchup service.
Rob and Margaret were left in tears (Image: ITV1)