The Tunnel

This took up to the next area, previously called “The Tunnel” as it was lined with old scrubby trees and ivy overgrown and the ground full of roots. It seemed about 2 foot wide, but we knew it was a lot wider. A big storm made our minds up for us and blew over some of the old scrubby trees and blocked the path, so we had to cut it down, getting in tree surgeons and filling a large skip.

I don’t want anymore paving, we had enough and im conscious of having adequate soak away, so I thought a path lined with scrubs ad small trees. But that wasn’t challenging enough so I said to Davina.

I know lets build a Stream with waterfalls.

That area was still a bit messy with old concrete slabs which we were slowly getting rid of.

Useful tip – Freecycle – put pretty much anything on there and people will come and collect, including old concrete slabs.

We decided to match that area with the Indian sandstone we had used at the bottom of the garden, so there was some continuity.

We hope you’ve enjoyed and been inspired by some of our ideas.

We did all of the work we've shown you on a very tight budget, doing as much as we could ourselves. Contractors are expensive but you can still make savings by doing some work that they are overskilled to do. For example the old paving stones - I lifted them put them in a place where they could be collected and 1 day on freecycle and they were all collected and re-purposed saving us a fortune on contractors costs and skip hire to take them away.

Alway use the skills you have to do the work that contractors are overqualified to do, it will save you a small fortune.

Please get in touch and let us know what you think.