Ashley Ball wanders around a garden built with a loving tribute in mind
SOME people may garden on instinct, to a methodical plan or to suit the needs of themselves or even wildlife.
Steffanie Prest, 42, gardens on emotion.
She explains why: “My daughter, Angel, passed away on the night we moved into this property.
“She had a condition called Marfan syndrome, which we didn’t know she’d got.
“She had been perfectly fit and healthy until then so it was a complete shock.
“Instead of flowers for the funeral I asked for plants - Angel was big into nature, birds, bees and insects and rewilding.
“That is how it started.
“Three years ago we took on the woodland garden at the back which was completely overgrown.
“It’s hard work and takes a hell of a lot of time but everything is a tribute to Angel and often when I am up there a little robin will appear and I think: ‘she’s happy with what I’ve done’.”
From the little I’ve learned about Angel, who died aged ten five years ago, the two gardens she has crafted alongside her husband Rob would have been perfect.
The tidy flowery front garden has a newly-designed love heart shape of her flowers in her favourite colour of purple.
Rose bushes are in full bloom and there are multiple seating areas to enjoy the views created.
Salvage, sustainability and reclamation - all-important in the modern age - also play a part.
Steffanie, who owns a cleaning business, has used an old trampoline to create a beautiful archway in the woodland garden and a bicycle has been stripped down and sits elegantly.
The nature garden is now home to a band of ducks, there is a wildlife pond, vegetable beds and all manner of wildflowers.
It would have been an ideal place for Angel to do one of her favourite things: reading among wildlife.
What Steffanie has done is admirable and she feels it has helped he healing process.
Steffanie added: “As a mum, when you lose your only child, you need that nurturing and something to put your energy into.
“I can watch the plants grow like I would watch a child grow.
“I always try and see the positives: yes, I lost Angel at a young age, but I had ten amazing years with her and some women don’t get that opportunity at all.
“The garden keeps me busy and keeps my mind focused.
“The garden is a place, even on bad days, where you can re-evaluate life and it grounds you.
“That’s my therapy.”
The search for Barnsley’s Best Garden is kindly sponsored by Sunflowers From The Hills.
Read more about our 'Barnsley's Best Garden' competition here: https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/28494/the-search-for-barnsleys-best-gardens-is-on
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