Stokie Mum Transforms Council House Garden with Creativity

A local mother has successfully transformed her council house garden in Stoke-on-Trent into a vibrant retreat, utilizing innovative and low-cost materials. Joanne Mason-Henry, 53, a kitchen porter, has turned her once drab outdoor space into a tranquil haven despite facing physical challenges due to arthritis.

Joanne’s journey began after moving into her semi-detached council house in 2016. At the time, the garden was in poor condition, with her efforts to rejuvenate the grass often thwarted by her pet spaniel, Stan. In 2022, she decided to take matters into her own hands, investing nearly £750 in a complete makeover. Her project features an 8ft x 8ft garden shed, an Indian sandstone patio, and a wildlife-friendly pond, all achieved through creativity and resourcefulness.

Joanne embraced DIY solutions to minimize costs. For example, she hired a mini digger for £80 to level the ground and purchased a 100-meter roll of membrane for £50 to lay over the soil. When faced with a £700 repair quote for her boundary fence, she opted for a more affordable approach by using bamboo sheeting, which she attached with flat metal wire. “It’s been up three years now and we’ve had some really bad wind, but it hasn’t budged,” she stated.

The patio, made from large sandstone slabs, holds a special significance for Joanne. She acquired the slabs from a friend whose wife had recently passed away due to COVID-19. “I thought firstly, I can use these, and secondly, I’ve got a little bit of my friend in my garden,” she reflected. Although installing the slabs was challenging due to her condition, she persevered, completing the task gradually.

In a unique touch, Joanne utilized empty beer bottles collected from the Bleeding Wolf pub, where she works, to create decorative borders. After soaking off the labels, she carefully positioned the bottles upside down in the ground, ensuring none broke during the process. “I was thinking what could I do that would be cheap and that would look pretty,” she explained.

Despite lacking gardening expertise, Joanne managed to cultivate a thriving garden by purchasing potted bedding plants from her local supermarket. She opted for inexpensive options, often purchasing plants at a steep discount. “I just picked them up whenever I went to the supermarket and saw cheap plants, even when they were half dead,” she noted.

Joanne’s resourcefulness extended to her garden pond, fashioned from a large plastic container for just £20. It has since become a habitat for frogs, snails, and aquatic plants. She also invested £300 in a garden shed, which she decorated with ornamental shower curtains featuring idyllic rural scenes. “They’re dead cheap, like £20, and a really good way of making it look nice,” she said.

The final touches included inexpensive solar lights and a revitalized second-hand arbour she bought from Facebook Marketplace. The garden today is a far cry from the neglected space it once was, transforming not only the environment but also how Joanne and her family utilize their outdoor area. “It’s beautiful now,” she remarked. “We were never able to enjoy our garden before, even during the summer.”

Joanne’s inspiring story highlights the potential for creativity and determination in overcoming personal challenges, all while enhancing the community’s landscape.