We moved to our cottage in west Wales ten years ago, the garden was left untouched for many years as the cottage needed renovating.
I started gardening around four years ago after a bout of ill health. I had no gardening experience, I just wanted to give it a go, little did I know how addictive it would become and what a great sense of contentment it would bring. The garden was a total blank canvas, not one plant or tree. We did however have a lot of concrete and grass.
The first thing we did was plant some trees. I knew I wanted to attract wildlife into the garden, and add some height and privacy, so thought this would be the best place to start. We now have a good mix of trees, apple, plum, fig, cherry, hazel, willow, pine trees to name but a few!! The next thing we did was create flower beds, which over the years have become a little larger to accommodate more plants and produce. We then created a wildlife pond to try and attract more wildlife.
After a few years of getting to know the garden and what worked best in certain areas. We created different zones. The front garden was sectioned off with a side gate, we created a garden shelter so we could enjoy the garden whatever the weather (we do get rather a lot of rain here!!) a shady garden and then the back garden. I find it much easier to manage now, it feels less overwhelming.
I have a very eclectic approach to gardening, I love a mix of edibles and flowers. I grow flowers alongside fruit, vegetables & herbs. I’m not fortunate enough to have a green house but love to sow seeds, so have adopted a very laissez- faire approach to sowing seeds, I direct sow outdoors and hope for the best!
When I first started gardening, I had no fixed vision, as to what I wanted to create, I just knew I wanted to create a haven. Gardening for me is as much about the process as the end result. I love the physicality of it and the feeling of satisfaction, the joy of planting something and seeing it grow is so fulfilling.
Our garden is now concrete free, we now have beautiful trees, a wildlife pond, a fish pond, a couple of hand built pergolas, a garden swing, a very rustic reclaimed garden shed, quite a few garden planters, some very rustic flower beds, it’s very wild, very rustic, but maybe that was always the vision, I just didn’t know it.
For more information about Kay’s garden follow her on Instagram @brook_cottage_
