Terry Wilson has learned that trees both give and take in his Monk Bretton garden...
I THINK everybody knows a bloke like Terry Wilson.
Even at 82 he likes taking on a challenge.
He’s got the tools, the know-how and won’t shy away from a job that needs doing.
A cross between a Swiss army knife and Action Man, he has built and maintained himself a garden that now needs a few hours of attention a week.
Terry worked a number of jobs in his career but all with a manual focus, latterly fitting playground equipment.
The garden is an incredibly neat space with perfect lawns and blooming beds.
Tall, protected trees to the top of his plot have always posed him a problem but he has learned to live with them.
He said: “The wife looks after the house and I spend hours in the garden.
“I’m fighting with the trees all the time because I get no sun except for a few hours in the morning.
“I change the beds every year with plants and do one or two baskets, too.
“I like it to look different.
“You have got to keep at it - if I sat down all day then it’d be hard work.
“It’s definitely kept me going. I’ve had problems, I’ve had an heart attack, a stroke and prostate cancer but I’ve never been laid up.
“My wife always says if I hadn’t been doing garden then I wouldn’t be here now. It gives me something to do and I’m not frightened to tackle any job.”
Over the course of 42 years at his Monk Bretton home he has removed trees, pruned them, swept up their leaves and shaped a garden on two levels to just how he likes it.
Hedges are also maintained methodically.
Large trees do block sunlight which has impacted his vegetable growing.
But Terry switched focus and now has beautiful beds, one hosting ruby red geraniums and one very neat rockery complete with a small pond.
There is a huge dash of electric blue from a hydrangea as well as soft fruit growing in various locations.
What the trees may take in sunlight, they give back in leaf fall.
For some it’s an inconvenience but for Terry it’s an opportunity.
He now stores all the leaves in a composting area which eventually breaks down and is used as compost across his garden.
It shows you can make a compromise with nature.
Sunflowers From The Hills have kindly sponsored our search for Barnsley’s Best Garden
Read more about our 'Barnsley's Best Garden' competition here: https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/28494/the-search-for-barnsleys-best-gardens-is-on
Meet all nine of our nominees and cast your vote :https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/29050/vote-for-the-best-garden-in-barnsley
Voteing is open from August 2 to August 11. You must be a registered user of our website in order to vote.
