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In January 2006 we have started a major garden undertaking using the excellent local landscaping company "Wilkinsons Landscapes". We had for years wanted to take some of the pressure off maintaining the garden, and at last the financial opportunity has presented itself. The work involves the removal of some old apple trees and two mature hornbeams, a complete reconstruction of a new smaller vegetable garden at the bottom left of the plot, extensive levelling and turfing, and the provision of lighting and water where needed. Additionally towards the front and side of the house we are tidying the area outside the kitchen window to provide a new home for the multiplicity of waste bins and containers we have to manage these days, and improved access to our neighbours' drive to make bin handling somewhat easier. We also decided it was an opportune moment to have all the hedges cut back to make them more manageable. The project is expected to take around 6 weeks.

The photographs which follow chart the development of the work. All of them have brief notes which appear if you hold your mouse over the image. First we have three views of the rear garden taken this winter before we touched anything so you can get some idea of the starting point.

Then on the 4th January as promised Mr Johnson the tree man arrived, and our world was turned upside down - it was amazing just how much they could do in three days

The tree work was done, so on Monday 9th Peter Wilkinson turned up with his heavy gang to start reshaping (initially clearing the ground). By the Wednesday we were ready for the mole man (someone who uses some clever technology - a mole - to create small underground tunnels for the services without the need for excavation of trenches everywhere). By Friday evening all the heavy work was done and despite a couple of surprises like finding a brick lined pit which looked like a well but wasn't, and accidentally moling through a drain which we didn't know existed.

So a week and a half has passed and what a difference... The weather has been unbelievably kind so far, and all the people involved have been great. Lots of very hard work and lots of cups of tea. Graham and Norma who live at the foot of the garden have been great in allowing so much access via their drive.

So now we move into construction rather than destruction. The second week starts with gardeners arriving to rotovate and clear, and then joiners to build the paths, beds, fencing etc. The transformation over the week was fantastic.

Week three carries on where we left off the previous week - the completion of structures, the rotovating and refreshing of borders with lots of rich mushroom compost, and finally turf arrives - what a huge transformation. The weather has once again been kid - the hard working Wilkinsons people have had to put up with a little rain, and had great fun/difficulty getting some vehicles down the narrow drive.

And now they have finished the construction phase - we await Wilkinsons ideas for planting. The weather was not so kind for the last few days, and I've had to wait to get some photographs - here are some which show parts of the finished product, more will follow.

We now await the electrician's attention to install lighting and the planting plans - more excitement to come!