Gardening

CITY boy David Beckham has spent the best part of a decade becoming a country gent — and is now proudly sharing his new lifestyle in an iconic magazine.

He has turned a Cotswolds farmhouse into the perfect family home and is pictured wandering its idyllic sprawling grounds with his working Cocker Spaniels Sage and Olive.

The father of four, nicknamed Goldenballs in his playing days, has planted hundreds of trees, put up 27 bee hives and created a lake with duck house and wooden jetty.

In a special edition of Country Life, he tells how he keeps chickens and has a vegetable plot, where he tends onions, radishes, carrots and kale.

East London-born David tells how he counts fellow converts Vinnie Jones and Guy Ritchie among his country friends.

But he recalls: “My earliest memories of doing anything in the countryside are when I was a Cub, then a Scout, and we used to go camping in Epping Forest.”

Read more on David Beckham

cook-off!

David Beckham mocks Victoria’s cooking skills after cheeky swipe from Harper

BECKS APPEAL

Beckham ‘approached by UAE group to be face of £5bn Man Utd takeover bid’

His kitchen fitter dad Ted and hairdresser mum Sandra did not have much time for gardening — though grandad Joe would tend to the roses, often damaged by the young David kicking a ball about.

The 50-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star’s interest in country pursuits grew after meeting Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy, 57.

The ex-England skipper even made a cameo appearance in Ritchie’s 2017 flop King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword.

David says about Guy: “He’s a modern-day caveman, who has made me fall far deeper in love with the countryside and helped me to understand it even more than I did before.

“Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night.”

Ritchie’s sweeping 1,100-acre estate Ashcombe House in Wiltshire is the inspiration for what David is trying to achieve.

And it was during late nights at the homely Georgian property that Becks got to know footballer-turned-actor Vinnie, who has appeared in a number of the director’s projects.

Guest editing 128-year-old Country Life, David admits: “When I was playing, he was one of those footballers you did not want to go near on the pitch.

“He would either grab you, throw you or kick you!

Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night

David Beckham

“Back then, that was his thing and he made a successful career before becoming a pundit, when he did criticise me.

“I didn’t think he liked me. But when I met him later at Guy’s place, we didn’t stop talking.”

‘Solace in the country’

Former Wimbledon hardman Vinnie, 60, has a 147-acre farm in Petworth, West Sussex.

David adds: “He bought me a walking stick he’d made for me and he’s now a great friend, who, like me, has found solace in the country later in life.”

The three stars are now happiest in tweeds and welly boots, a world away from the glamorous lifestyles which made them famous.

Vinnie used to booze too much but tells how he prefers a teetotal life.

He comments: “You’ve got to commit. Do it on a Monday.

“Everyone who has done it says, ‘I wish I’d done it before’.

“You never hear anyone regret ­giving up booze.”

For the main article in the magazine — marking its 1,000th edition with a 288-page gold embossed issue — David, his tattooed hands ­poking from his cuffs, gives TV gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh a tour of the family estate

He and fashion designer wife Victoria, 51, bought the farm near Great Tew, in Oxfordshire, for £6million in 2016. It is now estimated to be worth twice that sum.

They have turned a 26-acre plot with one maple tree and a few derelict barns into a landscape of wildflower meadows, native trees and shrubland that form a home for insects and birds.

Proud David reveals: “I can still remember the morning when Victoria and the children were all due to arrive to see the refurbished barns for the first time.

The moment she walked in, she burst out crying

David Beckham

“It was still a complete mess. One of the guys, who was helping with the building work, and I were literally running around laying the rugs, sweeping up and getting all the dust out.

“Then I waited at the front door with a glass of wine for Victoria to arrive.

“And, the moment she walked in, she burst out crying because she couldn’t believe how perfect it was.”

Now the couple often serve their home-grown ingredients in meals served for friends and family.

And in the magazine, David gives the Queen’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, a taste of his culinary skills.

David, originally from Leytonstone, tells Tom: “There’s something so nostalgic about mashed potato, liver, bacon and lots of gravy.

“It’s one of those British comfort classics that my mum used to make for me and was also my grandad’s favourite dish.

“My gran was also a great cook, and it was always a treat going down to the pie and mash shop in Chapel Market.

“If I had to choose my last meal, it would be pie, mash, liquor and ­jellied eels.”

Previous guest editors of the Country Life have included King Charles, and the most featured face on the cover in the past was the late Queen Mother.

In his cover shot, David looks every bit the rural gent, leaning on a ram’s horn cane and dressed in a tweed jacket.

FOOLED FOR LOVE

Dating app conman robbed me of £90k… it could happen to anyone

HOUSE THAT

Five home improvements you can get for FREE to help cut £2,000 off energy bills

American celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ellen DeGeneres have since followed the Beckhams to the Cotswolds — and it is easy to see why.

• David Beckham’s Guest Edit of Country Life is available now.

WE all know gardening is good for you.

But did you know that when you’re getting older, it can also help with arthritis?

2

2

Research published in the Journal of Ageing and Physical Activity also found gardeners were 30 per cent less likely to report falls than non-gardeners, with improved gait and balance helping you along the way.

World Arthritis Day is celebrated on October 12th, so why not get out there and garden – safe in the knowledge that you’ll actually be helping your aching joints.

Dr Wendy Holden, Arthritis Action’s Medical Advisor and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, told Sun Gardening: “Being active and incorporating exercise into your life helps arthritis .

“Even if joints are hurting, they can’t be harmed by exercise.

“Getting outside in the fresh air, being close to nature and nurturing plants also improves both mood and mental health.

“Just remember to pace yourself, take breaks when you need them and make use of many types of adaptive tools available to assist you.”

She added: “Whatever type of arthritis you have, staying active, keeping your joints moving and looking after your sleep and mental wellbeing are all vital to help beat pain.”

Naomi Patrick, Clinical Director at Medella Home Physio & Occupational Therapy, based in Dorset and Wiltshire, added: “Pruning requires controlled movements that work through the full range of motion in shoulders, elbows and wrists.

“These actions can help maintain joint flexibility and may reduce stiffness in people with early-stage arthritis.

“The reaching and snipping motions help maintain the upper body mobility that’s essential for everyday tasks like dressing, cooking and personal care.

“Research shows these movements can be as effective as targeted exercise therapy for certain conditions.

“For those with painful joints, we recommend using lightweight, ergonomic secateurs and taking regular breaks,” she said.

TOP TIPS FOR ADAPTING YOUR GARDENING

Make access easier by using raised beds, vertical gardens, hanging baskets, or containers
Reduce stress on joints and muscles from repetitive movements by using garden tools that keep hands and wrists in a good position
Minimise bending and stress on back, neck and shoulders by using special long-reach easy grip tools – this includes bulb planters
Reduce the amount of weeding you do by applying a weed barrier with mulch
Reduce the amount of force required to trim plants by using power assisted tools

ADAPTIVE TOOLS FOR ARTHRITIS

Essentialaids.com is a website selling adaptive tools for gardeners. They include tools like easy grip gardening tools with arm supports, and long handled tools for those who struggle bending down. Great for easier weeding and digging. From £29.99

Stiga.com has a cordless, battery powered electric pruning shears and saw. I’ve tried both of these and the pruning shears especially, are fantastic for those with limited strength, as they require no effort to cut. From £129

Flexon Guard N Grip Hose, which earned an Arthritis Foundation Ease of Use certification, makes connecting it to outdoor faucets less strenuous on hands and wrists and stops the need for lugging around heavy watering cans.

Safetygloves.co.uk has a whole range of gardening gloves for arthritis from £3

Amazon.co.uk sell Bionic ReliefGrip Premium Leather Gardening Gloves which are good for arthritic hands. From £29.99

New company www.rootup.co.uk has launched a new product perfect for people with limited reach. Called the Growyo Hanger, it is endorsed by thirteen-time gold Chelsea Flower Show winner, Medwyn Williams MBE. The hanger organises individual yo-yos used to lift the branches of heavily-laden plants — such as tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers and apple trees — allowing users to more easily and efficiently support and train them. £14.99

Also in Veronica’s Gardening Column this week…

Top tips, Gardening news, plant of the week, and a competition to win a year’s subscription to 123Flowers

For more gardening content and competiitons, follow me @biros_and_bloom

WIN! 123 Flowers is a UK-based online florist designed to make flower delivery ‘as easy as 1-2-3’, with a commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. They’re offering one Sun Gardening reader a whole year flower subscription.
To enter, visit www.thesun.co.uk/123FLOWERSCOMP or write to 123 Flowers Competiton, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. October 18, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! CORNUS ‘Midwinter Fire’ AKA Dogwood.
This is a perfect plant to see you through Autumn and Winter. Not only does it provide lovely green leaves over summer and into Autumn – they fall to reveal stunning vivid orange red and yellow stems which look like fire through Winter.

JOB OF THE WEEK Don’t throw away all your raked up leaves – they can be turned into leaf mould – literally chop them up, pack them in binbags hidden away – and eventually after a year or so, they’ll turn into lovely usable nourishing compost.

WITH winter approaching there’s a simple step you can take to attract robins to your garden.

Santa’s little helper will be drawn to your outdoor space with this budget buy.

2

Adding this one plant to your garden will boost the wildlife, particularly robins.

As Britain’s favourite bird, robins provide ecological benefits to your space.

This includes acting as a natural pest controller and aiding in seed dispersal.

While you can try to attract these birds with food, providing nest material can also be a huge draw.

Ivy benefits

According to the experts at Woodland Trust, robins are drawn to nest boxes if they’re under a natural cover.

This makes ivy or other climbing plants ideal additions to your garden set-up.

And you can now pick up pots of Ivy Mix for just £1.99 each from Wilko.

Available in classic green or with white detailing on the leaves, this budget plant makes the perfect autumn addition to your garden.

According to the product description, this “vigorous climbing foliage” can be “wonderful for creating dense coverage to create shade, cover structures, or act as a backdrop to other plants”.

It is also versatile and hardy, making it ideal for even the most inexperienced of gardeners.

Role of robins

Like all birds, robins can prove useful for tackling insects and creepy crawlies in your garden.

And with the decline in insects during the colder weather, robins are known to forage more on the ground.

This can help to aerate the soil in your garden throughout autumn and winter.

Meanwhile, their droppings can help to act as a natural fertiliser in your garden.

And since the species mainly feed on fruits and seeds, they can also help with seed dispersal.

October gardening jobs

The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.

“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!

Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!

It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.

Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder. 

It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure. 

Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space. 

October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”

More on garden tips

A gardening pro revealed the £1.99 Lidl plant that is the secret to filling outside space with colour all autumn.

Plus, the best flowers to add to your garden for 10 months of colourful blooms.

You can also stop weeds growing all autumn and winter with this quick gardening task.

And a £2.49 item you need to sprinkle on your patio or driveway to banish weeds for good.

Plus, the exact date you should store your outdoor furniture away for winter.

2

IT was the Autumn equinox on Monday – which means the days are about to get a lot shorter.

Before you know it, it will be dark when you get home from work and when you get up in the morning.

2

2

And although that means less gardening time – there’s still loads you can get in the ground or your greenhouse.

In fact, Autumn is a great time to get planting – simply because the soil is still warm but the weather is cooler – which means roots can establish well before Winter.

Whether it’s for produce or colour before Christmas – or flowers after – I’ve put together a guide on what can go in the ground now.

FLOWERS

You can always tell from what’s on sale in your local garden centre or supermarket as to what will bring you colour in the run up before Christmas.

But staples like container grown Geums, Cyclamen, Astor, Japanese Anenome, and Chrysanthemums can be bought in flower and planted now.

Plus racks of bedding plants like pansies, viola and primroses are filling supermarket shelves.

I managed to find three packs of eight viola plugs from Asda for just a fiver last weekend – which means each of the 24 plugs are only 20p.

Plus the gorgeous colour combinations will fill your garden with rainbows of colour.

And a lot of the garden centres are offering Winter Bedding packs – which takes the decision of what to buy out of your hands – and provides you with a lovely rainbow of colours for your outside space.=

Seeds-wise – you can plant sweetpea, poppies, calendula, cornflower, nemesia, forget-me-nots, and lavender under cover.

BULBS

Daffodils, crocus, alliums and grape hyacinth bulbs are good to go in September and October – as well as the more unusual large Fritalliaries  and Camassia – which look really like bluebells.

But hold fire until November until you plant your tulip bulbs – they love the colder weather.

If you put them in too early, you’ll risk the change of Tulip Fire, which is a fungal disease that causes distorted leaves and spots – that look like scorch marks – on the tulips themselves.

A lot of online garden centres have big bulb sales on at the moment, so it’s worth shopping around.

Suttons Seeds are offering Sun Gardening readers an exclusive link to get 80 per cent off their bulb sales right now.

Access it now at www.suttons.co.uk/sunoffer

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

Butterhead and Lamb’s lettuce actually like the colder weather – so under a cloche or cold frame, or in a greenhouse – sow the seeds thinly, about 1.5cm deep. Sow every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply.

Overwintering cauliflower seeds like ‘All The Year Round’ and ‘Autumn Giant’ can be planted now – under protection.

Plus onion seeds, winter greens, garlic, pak choi, spinach and kale.

There’s a lot of fruit you can grow in pots – including cherries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.

Then wait until November for bare root season

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

Gardening news, top tips, Plant of the Week plus a chance to win a £200 Gardening Express voucher.

Fore more gardening content and competitions follow me @biros_and_bloom

NEWS! Did you know that 22 billion carrot seeds are sown each year in the UK, and we eat our way through 700,000 tonnes of carrots annually?
This works out to be around 100 per person, and laid out end to end they would stretch 1.4 million miles – two and a half trips to the moon.  
And as British growers provide 97 per cent of the carrots consumers buy in the UK, there is almost no need to buy imported carrots.
They’re also worth £290m to the UK Economy yet are one of the cheapest vegetables – with loads of nutritional benefits.  
The incredible stats have been released in time for British Carrot Day on Friday – which celebrates the UK carrot growing and encourages people to buy, get creative, eat, and cook with carrots.
For more information visit www.britishcarrots.co.uk 

NEWS! A whopping leaf four metres long has been grown at the Eden Project, Cornwall. Lodoicea maldivica, more commonly known as coco de mer, is native to the islands of the Seychelles and is famous for producing the world’s largest and heaviest seed.
The mature leaf has taken around ten years to develop to this stage. And over the next decade, it could reach a massive eight to ten metres. A coco de mer can live for up to 800 years, reaching up to 112 feet tall.

TOP TIP! September is the start of baby hedgehog (hoglet) season, and you may find that they need your help.
Autumn Juvenile hedgehogs are old enough to be away from their mums, but often too small to hibernate successfully.
Guidance from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society  says that “if the hedgehog is a regular visitor to your garden, is only seen at night, appears active and you are prepared to feed it every night then it can be left in the wild.
But  if the hedgehog goes off its food, wobbles and staggers or starts coming out in the day, then it needs extra help as soon as possible.
The best way to ensure wild hedgehogs are well-fed is to create organic wild spaces, leafy corners and log piles where they can forage for natural foods, like grubs and insects.
To supplement their diet in the wild, you can offer hedgehogs a good quality meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food or dry biscuits for cats.

NEWS! If you fancy turning your hand to growing houseplants, Unwins have launched a brand new Houseplant Seed Collection, a curated range of eight varieties that have been specially selected and bred to flourish in UK and Irish homes.
Including Asparagus Ferns, Sempervivum, Bird of Paradise and Dichondra Silver Surfer, the packs are available now in your local garden centre.
Natasha Lane, Head of Seed, for Unwins, commented: “We’re very excited to be launching a collection of houseplant seeds for the first time. It now means that it’s easier than ever to create your very own indoor jungle. Whether you’re looking to enhance wellbeing, purify the air, or simply add style to your space, our houseplant seeds are ready to grow with you.”

WIN! One lucky reader can win a £200 Gardening Express voucher to spend online. To enter, visit www.thesun.co.uk/EXPRESSVOUCHER or write to Sun Gardening Express competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. October 11, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Japanese Anemone. Blooming now, they’re graceful and tall with long stalks and single or double flowers – great for brightening up shady corners, but prefer a bit of sun. Spread by rhizomes.

JOB OF THE WEEK! If you’ve got a pond it’s time to get it ready for winter – net it before leaves start to fall and trim back any overgrown pond plants. Put a tennis ball in to help prevent freezing.

AN ICONIC Norwegian-style house featured in a TV show watched by millions – but do you recognise it?

Nestled in the picture postcard landscape of the Wye Valley in Hertfordshire, the wooden home appeared in a hit Netflix series.

7

7

7

7

The Edwardian building features in Netflix’s high school comedy drama, Sex Education, which first aired in 2019.

It features prominently throughout the series and fans may have recognised it as the home of high schooler Otis Milburn and his mum Jean, played by Gillian Anderson.

The Scandinavian inspired property has room for 10 people and is located near the Forest of Dean with cycle trails and a river nearby for canoeing and fishing.

Fans will recognise certain rooms in the house from many of the scenes between Otis and Jean.

Built in 1912, it was initially used as a fishing lodge and also featured in Extraordinary Escapes on Channel 4.

With five bedrooms over three floors, the property has breathtaking panoramic views of the valley.

And the main bedroom can be found at the top of the house, spanning the entire floor.

As you approach the Norwegian-inspired home, you are immediately struck by it’s distinctive exterior.

It’s comprised of red wooden slats and white detailing amidst the expansive greenery on the slopes overlooking the River Wye.

It has a winding drive lined with trees leading up to a garage.

Viewers had the chance to own it in 2023 where it hit the market for an eye-watering £1.5 million.

It was renovated in 2002 that saw the conservatory dining room extended and a bespoke painted wood kitchen installed alongside a contemporary bathroom and shower rooms.

It was done in such a way that it blends effortlessly into the rest of the house.

Move outside and you’ll notice it’s beautiful gardens where there are steps that lead straight down to the river.

It also has a decked balcony where a Swedish hot back and stone pizza oven can be used as you take in the spectacular views.

The property’s 4.5 acres of land includes two greenhouses, a stone and tile outbuilding and an orchard.

It’s currently a private residence but fans used to be able to rent the whole house for £75 per person a night – but you can still admire its beauty from afar.

Other properties

There’s also this very famous house from an iconic 90s kids TV show that’s just hit the market for £1.1 million.

The property is located next to an breathtaking ocean view and was regularly featured in the Australian comedy drama.

And this breathtaking beachfront house featured in a beloved BBC drama

The stunning waterfront property on the Scottish west coast has picture postcard views of Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde.

Millions of Brits also grew up watching this iconic house on another beloved kids TV show.

If you need a clue, the character of Miss Hoolie lived in the property in the BBC series.

7

7

7

A COUPLE have made a stunning discovery of English treasure while weeding their back garden and are set to sell it for £230k.

The husband and wife found an extraordinary stash of 70 gold Tudor coins in clumps of clay soil at their suburban home in Hampshire.

6

6

6

After they wiped off the mud and laid out the coins on the decking, it dawned on them that they were remarkably preserved.

They’re now set to go to auction in Zurich, Switzerland in November where they’re expected to fetch an estimated £230,000.

The earliest coin dates back to the reign of King Henry VI in the 1420s but a large number are from the 1530s and the reign of Henry VIII.

Some contain the initials of two of Henry’s wives, Catherine of Aragon and James Seymour.

They were found in Milford-on-Sea which is near the historic Christchurch Priory.

The hoard may have been buried for safekeeping by an exceptionally wealthy church cleric during the time of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries and Catholic priories.

The couple, who have asked not to be named for fear treasure hunters may descend on their quiet street, notified the authorities of their find in 2020.

Although the hoard was initially declared as treasure, it was later disclaimed and returned to the couple as no museums or institutions were in a position to buy it during the pandemic.

The coins are now set to go under the hammer at David Guest Numismatics’ auction in Switzerland where they will be sold individually.

It’s usually the case with coin hoards that a portion of the proceeds must go to the landowner, but in this case the finders are the landowners.

The couple are said to be “excited” about the sales which will be like a lottery win for them.

Auctioneer David Guest said: “It is a fantastic hoard found by a couple while they were gardening at the end of the garden of their home in Milford-on-Sea.

“They were digging in a flower border and found these circular discs in a clump of clay soil.

“They put them on the decking and washed them off and realised they were gold coins so they carried on digging and found a total of 64 of them in the same spot.

6

6

“After they notified the Portable Antiquities Scheme the coins were examined by the British Museum.

“They organised a further archaeological dig of the site and found six more coins.

“The earliest coins are from the reign of Henry VI in the 1420s and they go right up to 1537 and the reign of Henry VIII.

“They are in a remarkable state of preservation.”

Guest added that it was clearly a hoard assembled over a long period of time and that the coins amounted to £26 which was the equivalent price of a house back then.

“It was a lot of money. I doubt most people in England at the time ever saw a gold coin,” he said.

“The gold coins could have belonged to a merchant of considerable wealth or a church cleric who was very rich.

“Milford-on-Sea would have been part of the estate of Christchurch Priory at the time.

“The dissolution of the monasteries was a very tumultuous time and we know that other hoards were buried at this time to keep money away from the King’s commissioners that sought to take control of lands.”

He said the couple who made the find were in their 50s with two children and added “they were sitting on a gold mine”.

“I don’t think anyone digging in their back garden can imagine what it would be like to find one gold coin from Tudor times let alone a hoard of 70.

“The combined pre-sale estimate is a considerable amount of money and a life changing amount for the vendors.

“I have invited them out for the sale but I don’t know if they are coming yet but they are very excited. We have considerable interest in the sale.

“Hoards always attract interest as people love stories about the thrill of finding buried treasure.

“Combined with the quality of many of the coins and the state of preservation adds to the appeal.”

6

THERE’S been a lot of talk about bedding plants recently.

Rebranded as ‘Seasonal Interest’ they’ve annoyed some folk in the gardening industry because of environmental concerns.

2

2

You’ll know them better as those lovely flowers in garden centres and supermarkets that bring an instant burst of colour to your outside space – like petunias, marigolds, begonias, nemesia, cosmos and lobelia.

Often you’ll buy them in plugs to plant straight into the soil before the frost sets in.

Naysayers reckon that because they’re not perennial, need a lot of watering and are bred in greenhouses – which use lots of energy – they’re bad for the environment.

But there’s one man in particular who couldn’t have loved them more – holding firm in the face of all the negative comments.

Sun Gardening Editor Peter Seabrook took on Floral Fantasia at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex back in 2019 and right up until his death was championing bedding plants.

I was lucky enough to visit recently and was overwhelmed with the astonishing array of beautiful planting – showcasing swathes of stunning colours and species – which are crucially all affordable.

“‘We sell smiles’ is what Peter would have said,” Mike Smith, chair of the Floral Fantasia Working Group told me.

“His vision was to be ‘the centre of excellence for seasonal plants’ and although we’re not quite there yet – we’re definitely on our way.

“When I first came to Hyde Hall I was in awe of the gardens there, but appreciate they’re quite overwhelming to try and recreate in the average garden that is less than 15 metres square.

“We want to inspire people to have a go, show them something achievable – and this is where the Seasonal Interest comes in.

“They’re not grown in peat any more, they bring happiness to the consumer and they’re manageable.

“But also, it’s worth recognising that ornamental growers add over £1bn to the economy.

“Alan Titchmarsh agreed with Peter, and said after he died: ‘We all need to take up the baton from him to keep fighting our corner and explain what this means and how important horticulture is and it’s value to the British economy.’

“And that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re showing visitors to Hyde Hall the latest UK plants – and we’re celebrating Fleuroselect’s Year of the Begonia with over 150 varieties being trialled in beds and containers – they’re a stunning splash of colour.

“The public get to see all manner of cultivars that they’ve never seen before and everyone comes out smiling.”

Peter’s son Roger Seabrook told Sun Gardening: “‘Floral Fantasia at RHS Hyde Hall meant so much to Dad – he saw the garden as a way to show what could be achieved with seasonal planting and to inspire people to get growing, however small their space.

“He put a huge amount of energy into championing Floral Fantasia and rolled his sleeves up to spend long hours working in the garden himself.

“For this reason it’s a special place for our family and it’s just fantastic to see it looking so vibrant and colourful.

“I’m sure that Dad would have been delighted to see the progress made, a testament to all the hard work of those involved over the years.’

Tim Kerley, of Kerley Plants, Cambridge, which provides blooms for Floral Fantasia added: “They’re bright, cheery flowers that will put a smile on your face all summer long! Modern varieties are low maintenance and thrive in our varied climate.

“They’re great for your mind and pollinators -all for the price of a cup of coffee.”

Annual chrysanthemum’s are also considered bedding plants. And they’re a fantastic way of bringing colour to your garden in Autumn when everything is dying back a bit.

Lidl has one on sale for £1.99 from next Saturday and it’s going to be my cheap secret weapon to bring colour to my outside space.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week

News, top tips, plant of the week and a firepit competition

For more top tips and gardening content follow me @biros_and_bloom

NEWS! THE Cuprinol Shed of the Year results are in – and the winner is engineer Mike Robinson from South East London with his spectacular shed, ‘The Tiny Workshop.
Designed to slot neatly into a garden with limited room, it wowed judges with its imaginative use of space. With off-the-shelf sheds too big for his plot, Mike built the shed using two sets of heavy-duty steel shelving, bolted together and clad with wood’
Two doors flap open at the bottom and top to provide flooring and handy rain protection, with a smart overhanging green roof to store garden tools and welcome nature to the garden.
Mike wins this year’s top prize of an overnight nature getaway, £1,000 cash and £250 of Cuprinol product.

TOP TIP! Time to start thinking about feeding the birds in your garden a little bit more. And Alex Gill, founder of Awesome Wildlife Company, has some unusual advice.
“By providing food and shelter now, we can give birds, hedgehogs, and insects the best possible chance of thriving through the winter, and in turn, we get to enjoy a garden full of life.
“Both dried and fresh fruit works. Apples and pears are very popular with garden birds. If you do choose to put any spare fruit that you might have out, make sure it’s fresh as mouldy fruit isn’t good for birds.
“Dried fruits, like Raisins, are also well loved by some bird’s species. Just remember to be careful and avoid if you have a dog, as raisins are toxic to dogs.
He added: “During the colder months, birds benefit from high-energy foods, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, and suet. These kinds of foods help them build up their fat reserves so that they can survive the colder months.”  

NEWS! THE CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship will be taking place at the Malvern Autumn Show next weekend. It showcases some unbelievably large vegetables – which often break Guinness World records. Taking place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, you’ll also get the chance to see talks by Monty Don, Adam Frost, August Bernstein, and RHS Ambassador Manoj Malde. And there will be fabulous flowers, plants, bulbs, seeds, tools and equipment to marvel at.

NEWS! BBC TV presenter, keen gardener and National Garden Scheme Ambassador, Fiona Bruce will host a very special National Garden Scheme Ask the Experts event at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Tuesday 2nd December at 7pm. Answering a range of pre-submitted audience questions and covering all aspects of gardens and gardening will be a panel including Arit Anderson, Danny Clarke, Rachel de Thame, Joe Swift.

NEWS! There’s a beautiful new book called The Essential Guide to Bulbs, by Jenny Rose Carey, coming out next month. Published on October 16th by Timber Press, its a fabulous guide to growing bulbs all year round in gardens and containers. The pictures are gorgeous and it’s really informative too, it would make a lovely present for the Gardener in your life.

WIN! As the evenings draw in – warm up with an eco-friendly, low carbon Eco Fuego fire pit worth £179.99 and a wax refill worth £26.99. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/ECOFIREPIT or write to Sun Eco Firepit competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. October 4, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! “Verbena Officinalis Bampton” Still flowering now – it’s an unusual looking bushy drought-resistant perennial with small purple flowers on the end of wiry branches. Prefers full sun, south facing borders.

TOP TIP! Raise your pots now to prevent waterlogging – you don’t have to pay for proper feet – you can use bottle caps, coasters, tiles, bricks, or even logs cut to size. There just needs to be drainage space under the pot.

THIS terraced house may look normal from the outside but one disgusting feature has left potential buyers flabbergasted.

Much of the three-bedroom property looks pleasant and welcoming enough but one feature may be too much to bear.

7

7

7

The family home in Brislington, Bristol, has a bewildering bathroom and kitchen setup that will leave prospective buyers thinking again.

The open-plan utility room may seem perfectly normal at first glance but look a little closer and you’ll find an unwelcome addition.

A surprise toilet can be found alongside the room’s typical kitchen appliances and items – and it’s the butt of jokes online.

The room is home to a washing machine, a fridge-freezer, a sink and even a coffee machine laid out on a cabinet.

But despite food and drink being stored there, there is nothing to separate the toilet from the rest of the room.

The room has been described as the “utility/downstairs WC”.

Listing images were shared on social media, where viewers were left “flabbergasted” by the arrangement, as reported by Luxury Property News.

One person commented: “I get that’s a utility room but… Imagine having your fridge in a windowless room where someone just had a rough time on the throne.

“Or your washing. Either settle for one toilet or put a small cubicle in.”

“This new trend of open plan s***ters has to stop,” another joked.

Someone else wrote: “That’s got to be breaking some health and safety regulations surely?”

“Oh that’s grim, and right next to a kettle and stuff. Imagine how many airborne poop particles are in that fridge and cooking area,” commented another viewer.

Thankfully, the rest of the terraced home looks perfectly ordinary.

It has three bedrooms, a spacious lounge, a dining room, kitchen which opens out onto the back garden and a fully family bathroom upstairs.

And you’ll be pleased to know that there are no other surprise lavatories throughout.

It is currently on the market for £400,000 with Moving You.

It’s not the only property on the market that has some unwelcome additions either.

The Sun recently reported on a perfectly normal looking house that’s hit the market for £435,000 – but it’s hiding a sci-fi surprise inside.

The unique four-bedroom house is certainly bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside.

Another quirky five-bed property has also gone on the market but has a surprise waiting in the basement.

And this unassuming semi-detached home comes complete with its own dance floor, bar and cinema.

Keen entertainers have the opportunity to snap up the five-bed “party house” on Bedford Avenue in Barnet, north London, for £1.25 million.

7

7

7

7

IF you’ve managed to end this summer with a lush green lawn, and no unexplained bald patches or a depressing brown sheen – then well done you.

The majority of people I’ve spoken to have been left with grass that’s definitely looking a bit under the weather (literally).

3

3

3

But fear not.

One of Britain’s biggest shorts-wearing lawn lovers has got some golden rules for Sun Gardening to whip that outside space back into shape.

Jonny Hinks – AKA @gardenwithjonny on social media – describes himself as a self-taught gardener, firefighter and full time garden obsessive from Warwickshire.

And with nearly two million followers on instagram alone – it’s not just his comedy videos that have caught the attention of garden lovers everywhere.

His lawn is spectacularly well maintained – and even in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record, it still managed to look a lot better than most.

“Now is the perfect time for Autumn lawn care”, he told Sun Gardening.

“It’s nice and moist, the soil is warm from the summer. So in terms of germination for grass seed, it’s just the perfect conditions.

“And it’s also a good time because the grass is still growing and if you get it all sorted now –  the roots will be established enough to take the Winter cold that’s on its way.

“Everyone’s lawns have been suffering and turning brown from all the sun – and although it will come back if it hasn’t already, there’s a few things you can do now to help it along.”

FEEDING

“Be careful you buy the right feed. What you need now is high potassium Autumn feed, which helps the grass improve its root strength.

And low nitrogen – as you don’t want too much leaf before Winter as there’s a risk if it’s too leafy it will be prone to disease.

SCARIFY

“This is like exfoliating your face. Basically you just need to take off all the moss and thatch, which is a layer of dead grass and roots – and too much of it prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass.

It lets the lawn breathe, which is so important. I use a battery-powered scarifier, but there are manual ones, or you can use a rake.

Go diagonally in one direction and then again in the other direction. It’s a great work out

AERATE

“This is when you create air pockets within the lawn which reduces compaction, and like scarifying, allows water and nutrients to penetrate the earth.

“This makes for better root systems. I don’t like using a fork or aerating shoes for this – that just spreads the soil apart.

“Instead I have a tool a bit like a fork, but with hollow tines,  that takes plugs out the lawn.”

TOPSOIL AND SEED

“As soon as I’ve finished all these jobs – I scatter a covering of grass seed over the area – and then cover with a thin layer of topsoil.

“I have been known in the past to do a mix of both together, but I’ve found this way works well. And then water, of course.”

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

Top tips, Gardening news, competition and Plant of the Week

FOR more gardening content, tips, news and competitions, follow me @biros_and_bloom

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Nemesia Melody Morello Ice – still bringing colour to your garden now – this lovely Nemesia is totally hardy, with masses of dark green foliage, flowers from March to October, perfect for filling baskets, containers, beds and borders and has a sweet scent. Grow in moist well drained soil in sun or partial shade.

JOB OF THE WEEK! Prune climbing and rambling roses, remove any leaves covering pumpkins to get them ripe for halloween, if you’ve got rotten apples on the tree, remove them to prevent disease.

TOP TIP! It can be confusing as to which bulbs should be planted when – so here’s a few tips. This month – September – you can go for early spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths and crocus.
Especially daffodils – as it will help with their root establishment.
You can also get hardy summer flowering bulbs like Alliums and Lillies in now as well. None of the above mind the soil still being warm.
But wait until November for Tulips – as they much prefer the colder soil to get them going. Always plant bulbs in groups to get a better display. And they like the warmth and sun – so keep that in mind. Try and plant them three times the depth of the bulbs – this is when a sturdy bulb planter comes in handy.

TOP TIP! If you’ve noticed dead patches, loose turf and even holes appearing in your lawns, you could be under attack from Leatherjackets – the destructive larvae of crane flies, AKA daddy long legs.
They feed on grassroots and seedlings, and can also attract birds, badgers and foxes that dig up turf in search of a snack, adding to the damage. But there is help at hand.
Nowadays you can basically water in a beneficial nematode – called Steinernema feltiae – which are basically microscopic worms that naturally target and kill leatherjackets. They enter the grubs body and then release bacteria that kill the pest from within. Sounds grim, but it works. There aren’t many brands on the market – I’ve used Nemasys, which was great – but you can also find them from Dragonfli and Dobies online.

TOP TIP! Clean out old pots to make sure they don’t have old compost/bits of dead plants – that can hide pests and diseases over winter and check online to see if you’ve got local recycling – some garden centres take them. 

NEWS! Great Comp Garden’s Bulbs N Things Autumn fair has doubled in size this year. Taking place at the seven-acre Kent garden, it will have a huge range of unusual bulbs, including dwarf iris, crocus, anemone, hyacinth, erythronium, fritillary, hermodactylus, leucojum, muscari, puschkinia, scilla and more. There will also be gardenware, handmade gifts, rare and unusual plants and curated sellers at the two day event October 11 and 12. 

WIN!! Two lucky winners will receive a Westland Autumn Lawncare bundle worth £100 each – including feed, seed, a scarifying rake and aerator. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WestlandAutumn or write to Sun Westland Autumn Lawncare competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 27, 2025. T&Cs apply

WE’VE all done it.

Spotting a plant you think will look amazing in your garden – rushing out to buy it – and then realising that on its own it suddenly looks, well, a bit naff.

2

2

But happily, a new book by Jamie Butterworth could be about to banish the embarrassment of a badly put together garden for good.

‘What Grows Together’ – which comes out next weekend – offers up over 60 ‘fail safe plant combinations for every garden’ with no confusing horticultural jargon or lecturing.

You may recognise Jamie from his RHS Show Feature Dog Garden at Chelsea Flower Show this year – which he created alongside Monty Don and DJ Jo Whiley.

He’s appeared many times on Gardeners World, and cites Monty Don as the gardener who inspired him to get into horticulture.

His nursery Form Plants also supplies plants to Windsor Castle – and when he met King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show, the King said: ‘I know Jamie — you are delivering plants to me on Wednesday. Please don’t be late.’”

But it was another famous Jamie that actually inspired his book.
“I love cooking, but I never know what ingredients to put together as to what will taste nice,” he told Sun gardening.

“But when I came across Jamie Oliver’s Five Ingredients Book – where he just goes – take these ingredients and do this and this is what you’ll get, it was just brilliant. It was exactly what I needed.

“I just thought – we need to do this for gardening. We’ve even laid it out like a recipe book – in terms of making it look really crisp and simple – it’s like no other gardening book that’s ever been written.

“There’s so much synergy between cooking and gardening – people want to garden, they want to have nice gardens but they’re time poor and they don’t know what to plant that will a. Survive and b. look good, and that was the starting premise of the book.

“We’re forever learning with plants – my particular passion is growing plants, putting them together and making nice displays – it’s how I like to make people happy.

“It’s about getting rid of the old gardening rules – the ‘you must do this, you must do that, you must plant carrots at this exact time or everything will fail.

“What I wanted to do was make growing more accessible – there is no right way – but learning even just a few combinations and what will grow well together – then that gives people confidence to have a go themselves.”

“Jamie’s an idol of mine – and I want to make gardening as accessible as he did for cooking.

“You pay garden designers hundreds of pounds to tell you where to put plants – hopefully this book will negate all of that and give people the accessibility they need to go ‘oh actually this is what I need to do’ and it’s that simple.”

JAMIES’ FAVOURITE COMBINATIONS

COMBINATION ONE
Hydrangeas Limelight and Agastache Blackadder – both plants individually are brilliant and will flower for a long long time each – Hydrangeas from June to Autumn and even once they’ve finished flowering they’ll hold their seed heads and look great in the winter. Agastache Blackadder is a perennial and has dark purple liquorice flowers and if you plant the two together the darkness of the Agastache looks brilliant against the white of the hydrangea – but will also grow up through it. If you want to add to it – just add in some yellow Cosmos.

COMBINATION 2
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’, Japanese Forest Grass, Penstemon ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’
Calycanthus has really rich ruby wine red flowers which look stunning in their own right. It flowers from late May through to September/October, leg it up by taking off lower branches – then you’ve got a specimen rather than just a shrub – and underplant with Hakonechloa Macra – AKA Japanese forest grass and the Penstemon with dark rich ruby colour flowers the same as the calycanthus. Individually they’re great plants – but put together that’s an incredible combination.

 What Grows Together: Fail-safe Plant Combinations for Every Garden by Jamie Butterworth (11 September, DK)

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

News, top tips, Plant of the Week and a competition to win two hedge trimmers

NEWS! Catherine’s Rose is finally available to buy on the high street – with B&Q taking the honours as the main bricks and mortar stockist.
Named after HRH Princess Kate, and launching in store at the end of this month, funds from every sale will go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The pink ‘Catherine’s Rose’, which is scented, was developed by Harkness Roses – and in May we ran a competition for Sun Readers to become the first in the world to own a rose.
Now everyone can get one from their local B&Q..
The RHS and Harkness joined forces with Kate after she underwent a “very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection” with nature after undergoing treatment for cancer.
The princess announced in January she was in remission after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy.

WIN! WIn one of two Webb ECO 20V 15cm Cordless Mini Chainsaw/Pruning Saws with Telescopic Pole Reach PLUS battery – worth £124.99 each. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WebbPruner or write to
Sun Webb Pruner competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 20, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Heuchera Berry Timeless is evergreen and will still be sending up sprays of pale pink flowers well into September. It’s heat resistant and hardy – and doesn’t seem fussy about soil or shade or too much sun.

JOB OF THE WEEK! You can start with your onion sets now – to overwinter and get a bountiful crop next year. Red Winter is a great one to get in the ground. Potatoes and raspberries are ready to harvest and sweetpeas can be sown under cover.

TOP TIP! IF you fancy growing your own salad leaves over Winter – now is the time to start.
Lambs Lettuce is very hardy and perfect for Winter Gardens. Get the seeds in the soil now – either in pockets you know are milder – or in a cold frame.
The best thing about sowing rocket is that you’ll get your first crop with four to six weeks – and it also thrives in cooler temperatures.
If you plant Arctic Spring butterhead lettuce now – you’ll get a crop early next year. But also keep an eye out in garden centres, as they often sell a ‘Winter Mix’. Sarah Raven currently has one that includes ‘Can Can’, ‘Salad Bowl’ and ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons.’

NEWS! Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is taking place from September 19th to 21st. As well as the usual floral marquees – there’s an Incredible Edible pavilion showcasing the best fruit and vegetables – as well as the giant versions – including a National Onion Championship. Plus talks, live demonstrations, expert gardening advice and competitions. And there’s a plant creche so you don’t have to carry your purchases round all day.

A HOMEOWNER has left people stunned after sharing a video of their disastrous attempt to get a garden shed in their new garden.

After moving in to their new house, they enlisted the help of two friends to try and get the shed over a gate frame and into the back garden.

2

2

The three men decided on a daring attempt to lift the shed – holding it above their heads.

However, in scenes that were predicted by those watching the TikTok video in horror, the shed ended up going a bit too high.

And as it did so, it fell heavily over the fence and into next door’s garden, much to the horror of the men carrying it.

The trio realised in seconds what had happened, and tried to look through the fence to inspect the damage next door.

“Moving day carnage,” Rea captioned the video on her TikTok page.

The gate frame also took part of the brunt of the shed disaster, as a panel was seen slipping down as the structure crashed to the ground.

Commenting on the video, a woman called Leonie wrote: “My partner is the one who got out the car to help, I thought I recognised them!”

“That was never ending well,” another added in the comments section.

“The only 3 people that didn’t see that happening,” a third laughed.

“Great start with the neighbours,” someone else sighed.

“The 2 at the front is at fault, him at the back was doing it properly!” another insisted.

“What the hell? This was hard to watch,” someone else said.

While others imagined what the conversation would be between the homeowners and their new neighbours.

“Can you imagine saying my shed fell in your garden?” one gasped.

“Excuse me Mister, can we have our shed back please?” another joked.

“Knocks on door, ‘hey Mr. I accidentally threw my shed in your yard. Can I go back there and get it?'” a third laughed.

But there were some people in the comments section who wondered what would have happened if there was someone on the other side of the fence.

“Omg what would have happened if a child or elderly person was other side of the fence?” one wrote.

“I would dread to think!”

“Imagine it fell on the neighbours plants or the poor old neighbour sitting in their back garden,” another added.

“Or a baby!”

“What if there was a toddler running around other side?” someone else commented.

When it gets to the colder, wetter months, and the garden’s being used less often, it’s handy to have somewhere to store all your tools.

The 3’6 x 2′ Forest Pent Midi Wooden Garden Storage has been reduced from £219.99 to £149.99 – but an extra discount takes another £7.49 off.

1

3’6 x 2′ Forest Pent Midi Wooden Garden Storage
£142.49 (was £219.99)

In the autumn, wet and windy weather is more common, and it makes sense to want to keep everything safely stashed away indoors in preparation.

A garden shed is an easy solution for organising your outdoor space – but the useful addition doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

Buy Sheds Direct has become a popular retailer to choose from a huge range of garden storage options, and there’s currently a sale on.

The Forest Pent Midi Wooden Garden Storage now costs £142.49 as there’s an extra 5% off automatically applied when you check out, and it’s a great option if you’re on a budget.

With 600L capacity, it’s compact but worth investing in if you don’t have a huge garden and need a shed that doesn’t take up too much space.

You could use it to keep gardening tools tucked away from rain to avoid weathering and rusting, but it could also fit a small lawnmower depending on size.

Made from natural timber, the shed would easily blend in with its outdoor surroundings, but it’s also pressure treated to protect it from damage, with a 15 year anti-rot guarantee.

Double doors make it easy to fill and access your essentials, so you can quickly reach what you need without having to sift through everything.

Keeping your house clean is also a benefit, as none of your dirty tools are being taken inside.

There’s no need to worry about security either, because the shed is built with a clasp for you to add your own padlock, so you lock everything away out of sight.

It’s also sensible to opt for a shed with a pent roof, because it allows water and snow to run-off easily, rather than sitting on top.

3’6 x 2′ Forest Pent Midi Wooden Garden Storage
£142.49 (was £219.99)

If your garden equipment is in need of an upgrade, The Sun Shopping’s best cordless lawn mowers range from budget to more premium options – and we’ve tested them all.

The best chainsaws are worth a look too, whether you’re investing in one to tackle hedges or overgrown weeds.

FAMILIES living in the shadow of two “humungous” warehouses say the buildings have destroyed their view and devalued their properties.

The colossal steel frames, which residents have likened to cruise ships, are part of a 350,000 sq ft industrial site that is dwarfing homes nearby.

7

Residents in Tyldesley, Wigan, described being alarmed by the scale, and some are even considering moving.

Plans from developer PLP show the massive site will eventually be home to four vast warehouses, with the council agreeing to a maximum height of 18.3m (60ft) for two of those buildings.

Delivery giant Whistl has already snapped up one of the huge sheds, signing a 15-year deal on a 140,000 sq ft unit.

A council boss insisted landscaping would help soften the appearance, adding that the project followed proper planning processes.

But residents argued the final approved plans from were far bigger than had been originally designed.

They worried about the effect on property values, arguing there was limited consultation before building started.

John Peters, 71, a retired teacher, has lived on the estate since 1978. He said: “It’s a total shock when you walk out of the door.

“The enormity of the thing just strikes you. It shouldn’t be there.”

He said his dreams of a peaceful retirement were “shattered” by the arrival of the structure so close to his home.

A campaign group has been set up to rally neighbours and fight the development, with more than 200 people in attendance at a recent meeting.

Mr Peters claimed the way residents were informed about the project left many feeling blindsided.

He said: “A letter was sent out to 90 residents, but I don’t know how they selected those residents because some of the people who back onto the site didn’t get anything.

“It was just completely random.”

Paula Boardman, 47, lives with her husband and two kids in a house that backs onto the imposing warehouse.

She said: “It’s quite upsetting, because we used to have such a lovely view.

“We knew this was going to be built, but we thought it was going to be a lot smaller.

“As soon as the framework went up, everyone realised the height of it – it’s humungous. I’m worried it’s going to take all our sunlight.

“It’s like a cruise ship at the back of our garden. Even if we wanted to move, I think the value of the house has gone down.”

She raised concerns about damage in her home that she fears could be related to the warehouse’s size and proximity of construction work.

She said: “I noticed a dip in the flooring back in February and a big crack in the wall.”

Steve Retford, 69, said he no longer sits in the garden because of the structure that stands just 30m away – describing the impact as “profound”.

The retired police officer said: “It’s just dreadful. We feel this sense of injustice.

“I don’t profess to be a planning expert, but when you look at the sheer enormity of this, it’s not right.

“It must have taken tens of thousands of pounds off the value of our houses. Every time I think about it, I feel sick.”

Care worker Danielle Edwards, 38, fears the warehouse could make it difficult to sell her home in the future.

Home upgrades that add the most value to a house

The best renovation to add value totally depends on your property, the local market and your potential buyers.

Zoopla shared a list of upgrades that will instantly add value to your home.

1. Loft conversion – increase of 15%
2. Off-street parking – adds £50,000 to property price
3. New kitchen – increase of 15%
4. Garage conversion – increase of 15%
5. Cellar or basement conversion – increase of 10-15%
6. Open plan living space – increase of 3-5%
7. New bathroom – increase of 3-5%

She said: “It’s awful. We bought this house because we’re a young family wanting to stay in the area.

“It would be very difficult to move. I can see it from my back garden. We thought they were going to be low-rise industrial units, but they’re not.”

Retired project manager Eric Earnshaw, 79, has lived in the Tyldesley area all his life but is now preparing to leave for the Lake District.

The keen dog walker said it’s because he’s had enough of constant building work.

He added: “There are walks that take me along fields in the area where there are plans for thousands of homes.

“All the green space around here is disappearing.”

Aidan Thatcher, director for place at Wigan Council, told The Sun: “This planning application went through our planning consultation and committee process.

“The final plans include landscaping which will help to screen and soften the appearance, and mitigate the impact on nearby properties.

“We will continue to monitor the site throughout construction, ensuring this development bringing new jobs and investment to the area is delivered properly.”

A spokesperson for PLP said they would not comment.

7

7

7

7

7

7

LIDL has released a slew of exciting new items in its famous middle aisle. 

The products include everything from household essentials to gardening gadgets and are available at stores across Britain. 

3

3

3

Two separate sales are underway at the brand’s stores, with both kicking off on August 24. 

The deals include the Clean-up Prices-Down deal and the Parkside sale. 

The Clean-Up Prices-Down has seen a huge range of products go on sale for staggering low prices.

On the more expensive end of the spectrum, Tower Aquajet Plus Carpet Washer retails for just £69.99, while a Nimble Anti-Tangle Vac is selling for just £59.99.

However, some products are selling for under £10. 

The Livarno Home Extendable Handle is just £2.99, as is the brand’s mop head. 

That means a full mop can be yours for just £5 when bought in Lidl’s middle aisle. 

Other products on sale include a £17 Philips iron, a £9.99 clothes airer and a slew of cleaning pads for under £2. 

The Parkside sale includes many of the garden tech brand’s products, some of which are included in the supermarket’s Lidl Plus promotion. 

The Brand’s Long-Reach Hedge Trimmer normally costs £59.99, but is £10 less if you use Lidl Plus. 

The shovel with a root saw retails for £19.99, but is 25 per cent off when you use the store’s promotion. 

Other products in the Parkside middle-aisle sale include a pressure washer, top handle petrol chainsaw and a variety of secateurs. 

A range of Livarno gardenware covers are also available for £4.99.

Lidl regularly goes viral for its wide variety of products.

The supermarket is selling a vacuum cleaner which is £100 cheaper than the exact same one available on Bosch. 

The Bosch Readyy’y Cordless Vacuum Cleaner costs just £99.99 on Lidl’s website. 

Meanwhile, the hoover costs £199.99 on the Bosch website.

The vacuum can be used upright or handheld, making it perfect for cleaning floors and kitchen surfaces.

The device also folds completely flat, making it easy to clean in difficult to reach areas.

A WOMAN has been fined £116,000 for chopping down a tree over ten years ago.

Claire Rands, of Allt-yr-Yn, Newport in Wales, hadn’t realised she was doing anything wrong.

2

2

She had instructed a tree surgeon to chop down the tree after a number of serious grass fires behind the houses in the cul-de-sac.

It left her concerned that the tree could pose a fire hazard.

The mother-of-four took a precautionary measure and had the tree chopped down in 2012.

At the time, she hadn’t realised the 100-year-old lime tree would land her a colossal fine.

In articles in the South Wales Argus and the Telegraph the same year, the couple said that their tree had caught alight during the summer.

Claire said it was the result of alleged deliberate grass fires that had spread.

Several neighbours were also impacted by the fires.

It prompted Claire and her husband to file a planning application that would enable them to chop the tree down.

This required a legally-binding tree preservation order (TPO) to be lifted.

It prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting or wilful damage or destruction of trees without explicit consent of the local planning authority, even on private land.

The couple’s lime tree was protected because of its age and amenity value.

However, the couple chopped the tree down despite the planning applications not being approved.

They planted another tree in its place.

The council said that one of its ecologists was walking past the property when they noticed the tree was no longer there.

Recently, Newport City Council sent the couple a letter saying they would be prosecuted for causing or permitting the destruction of a tree protected by a TPO.

While husband Damon Rands was cleared of wrongdoing, it resulted in a trial at Newport Magistrates’ Court for Claire.

Yesterday, Claire lost her appeal and was sentenced.

It followed a long dispute over the TPO’s wording, with Claire’s lawyers arguing that the crime is written into law in England, and not Wales.

Instead, they argued she should be convicted of a lesser offence, as she didn’t personally chop down the tree.

Tim Straker, representing Newport Council alongside Elizabeth Nicholls said: “There is no dispute that Rands engaged somebody and secured the large lime tree of considerable amenity value to be removed from her garden, to use the vernacular, lock stock and barrel.

“It is said that in Wales you cannot be guilty of an offence of causing or permitting the destruction of a tree protected by a TPO. But it is unsatisfactory that someone could order a protected tree to be cut down on their land but then run free from any responsibility.”

It led Judge Celia Hughes to convict her of the more serious offence.

She said before sentencing:  “It would be contrary to common sense that a householder could be prosecuted for a more minor offence when they are the person who directed the tree to be removed in the first place.”

The council estimated their property value had increased by at least £50,000 by removing the tree.

As such, she was dealt a £16,000 fine, as well as being ordered to pay £100,000 in prosecution costs.

She has 12 months to pay the fines.

The case has helped to define how the English law applies in Wales, determining that “causing or permitting the felling of a protected tree is an offence” according to Sarah Dodds of Tree Law UK.

IT’s been HOT this summer – it’s no surprise if some of your usual garden favourites are wilting somewhat.

But as the climate changes it’s worth thinking about new varieties that can cope a bit better going forward.

3

3

3

There’s a whole host of wildflowers out there that can handle the heat and still put on a beautiful show.

Dr Emily Attlee, conservation scientist and co-founder of Seedball has shared her top picks with Sun Gardening.

CONEFLOWERS

“Not just a feast for the eyes, these are tough and reliable perennials that come back year after year. Easy to grow and adored by pollinators, coneflowers bring long-lasting colour and drought resilience to any garden.

OXEYE DAISY

“Spotted on roadside verges, the oxeye daisy is a fuss-free flower that thrives on neglect. It handles poor soil well and requires very little watering once settled in.

These cheerful self-seeders return annually and spread with ease – bringing with them rustic charm and a welcome haven for pollinators.

MEADOWHALL CRANESBILL

Although young plants may need a little more water to begin with, meadow cranesbill is a fantastic choice for dry, well-drained soil once matured.

With rich violet blooms and a place in the geranium family, this plant supports pollinators while adding definition and charm to beds and borders.

MUSK MALLOW

With soft pink flowers and a classic cottage garden appeal, musk mallow is both beautiful and hardy. Low maintenance and drought tolerant, it dies back in Autumn but reliably reappears in spring. Its vintage look and wildlife-friendly nature make it a garden favourite.

CORNFLOWER

These eye-catching blue blooms feature open faces, frilled petals, and curly stamens. Loved by bees and other beneficial insects, cornflowers are easy going once established and thrive with minimal watering. Ideal for adding colour and texture to a dry garden.“

She added: “These are just a small selection, as most native wildflowers are naturally suited to withstand drought once they’ve taken root.

“Many have evolved over time to adapt to the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns, including long dry periods. Some even store seeds beneath the soil, ready to regenerate when conditions improve.

“So, if you’re planning for the future of your patch, wildflowers are a smart, sustainable choice.”

For more tips from Emily and the Seedball team, visit  www.seedball.co.uk.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week

Top tips, news, Plant of the Week and a competition to win a Spring Bulb Bundle with 183 bulbs!!

NEWS! Multi award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert, from BBC 2’s Your Garden Made Perfect, is designing the headline feature garden at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, taking place at Audley End House and Gardens in Saffron Walden, Essex next weekend.
 As reported previously in Sun Gardening – the  ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign encourages gardeners to transform a metre of outdoor space for the good of the planet. More than 13,500 eco-friendly metres have been pledged at gardenersworld.com to date, and Pip’s feature garden is brimming with meaningful metres to inspire Autumn Fair visitors to get involved. For tickets, visit  www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.

TOP TIP! If you’re thinking about attracting birds to your garden and keeping them happy in Autumn – then Honeysuckle is a win-win plant for your outside space.
It will provide you with a gorgeous scent and lovely trumpet-shaped flowers, as well as being a great climber for trellis and walls.
But in September it also provides lush red berries – a favourite food source for birds and other wildlife.
Or consider Cotoneaster shrubs – blackbirds and thrushes absolutely love them – just check the size of the one you’re buying as you don’t want it to take over.

TOP TIP! IF you’re coming to the end of your tomato journey for this year and you’ve still got some on the vine that look like they’ve got no chance of turning red – don’t despair.
Some experts suggest putting them in a bowl with a banana! The bendy yellow fruit emit ethylene – a compound that helps fruit ripen. Or you can just make green tomato chutney. Remember to chop up your vines and chuck them on the compost.

JOB OF THE WEEK! If you’re lucky to have wisteria – cut back this year’s current green shoots to five/six leaves. It will prevent it from growing too large and unwieldy.

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Spider Lillies are blooming now – and are named after the stamens resemble spider legs. Great for tropical borders, they look really exotic, best in full sun, in well drained soil and are full hardy to -5ºC

TOP TIP If your kitchen ginger has started sprouting, plant in a shallow tray with the shoot poking out – as it grows, keep topping up the soil. Keep on a sunny windowsill and you can grow year round as long as it doesn’t get too cold.

WIN! Win one of FOUR Spring Saver Bulb Bundle – 183 Bulbs WORTH £64.94 from Suttons Seeds. 
Featuring a variety of beloved spring-flowering bulbs to bring colour from February all the way through May, they’re ideal for beds or rockeries and can be layered in patio pots. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/SPRINGBULBS or write to Sun Spring Bulbs competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 6, 2025. T&Cs apply

For more gardening content follow me @Biros_and_Bloom

A PEST control expert has revealed a simple way to keep rodents away from homes and gardens – and all it takes is a quick shake and sprinkle.

With rat season about to begin, the advice arrives just in time.

4

4

The easy – and humane – method is unveiled in a social media post just weeks before cool weather arrives in the UK.

That is the end of the breeding season for rodents and signals their arrival around homes and in gardens.

This is when the little blighters are at their most active as they search for food and shelter ahead of winter

If hungry they will take more risks such as raiding bird tables and bins.

And they don’t move in at night – they often seek food during the day, particularly if other rats are congregating in the same garden or porch.

But fear not, help is at hand – literally.

In a video posted to his Facebook account, Ceith Griffith unveiled a simple and effective way to keep rats from the door.

“It’s that time of year again, guys … mice and rats are going to try and get inside your home but I’m going to show you how to keep them out by repelling them,” he said in the video, which has received more than 2,500 likes.

Ceith goes on to explain how attaching a spray nozzle to a vinegar, apple vinegar or pine salt bottle can turn into the ultimate repellent.

“Pine salt works the best but I know a lot of people are allergic to it,” he said. “Just take the spray and point it at your porch and anywhere you don’t want the rats to come near.

“You can use this around your garage or even inside your garage … and it’s going to keep all the mice and rats from coming around your home, or garage or RV.”

4

Facebook users rushed to the post to comment and thank Ceith for his help.

One person said: “Love UR videos. I watch and write them down. Thank u.”

A second person said: “Definitely going to try this.”

A third person, however, said they were looking for advice after encountering another type of pest in their home.

They posted: “Hello, how do you get a raccoon or possum out of your loft? Please help.”

Other ways to repel rats

Rats are a nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of but by using the pickled onion hack you can deter them, but other methods can help too, one of which is planting certain plants in your garden that rats hate.

One home expert shared: “Plants such as lavender, mint, marigolds, daffodils, rosemary, sage and several others can be planted in your garden to disrupt the smell of a rat.  

“If a rat can’t smell inside of your home then it is far less likely to try.”

For best results, plant these plants along fences, around sheds, and near compost bins or generally anywhere that rodents might be tempted to settle.

4

A WOMAN who moved from a council estate to a “posh” house has admitted she wasn’t prepared for her nightmare neighbour.

TerriAnn is famous for appearing on TV show Rich House, Poor House, and regularly shares behind the scenes tales from the show on her social media pages.

3

3

3

In a recent TikTok, she decided to post a story time of “coming from a council estate and moving to a ‘POSH’ area”, as she recalled acclimatising to the new home, and an unfortunate situation with their neighbour.

Calling it her “dream home”, which came complete with a cinema room and bar, TerriAnn said the real problems began when she spent £40,000 building a home office in her garden.

“Then I had a new neighbour and he was a doctor and he wasn’t very nice,” she said.

“I think personally he could not stand the fact like I’m just me – I’m not posh, I’m just me, I’ll never change.

“I’ll always be from a council estate, always a bit rough and ready… and he just couldn’t stand us.”

While the house had a “massive drive” for all her staff to park on, they all arrived for work at different times, meaning that they ended up blocking each other in.

So they instead decided to park on the street.

And following one of her staff having an argument with the neighbour, the man ended up phoning the council to complain.

“Then when council got involved basically the reason I had to move out of the house is because they said I couldn’t run my business from there,” she said.

“So I’d spent £40,000 on this office being built in the back garden and the council turned around and said you’re using your property as a commercial property.

“There was a massive hoo-ha over it anyway and I thought, I’m not staying here and not being able to run my business.

“It’s just not worth it what we’ve invested.”

So they decided to sell the house – making a profit in the process – and then moved to another home, which was the one that featured in Rich House, Poor House.

Concluding the video, TerriAnn said it wasn’t the first time she’d been discriminated against for coming from a council estate – and it probably won’t be the last.

“I think they look down on people who have turned their life around, who are now living that lifestyle – who are doing it by genuine means, who are earning legitimate money.”

She was quickly praised in the comments section for her refreshing attitude, with one writing: “Love to see my own kind of people getting along in life good on you.

“Sounds like the doctor was very bitter and jealous of you!”

“You hit the nail on the head,” another agreed.

“As long as you’re happy now!” a third said.

“Love your story times, you’re so real,” someone else added.

A TERRIFYING giant wasp spider that can camouflage itself has been discovered in the UK.

The rare spider with a wasp-like body has been found in a garden in Norfolk – and they’re slowly spreading across the nation.

1

The creepy crawly was spotted by Craig Calvin and his two children, Ralph and Hugo, in their garden last week.

The wasp spider cunningly disguises itself as its namesake and is easily recognisable due to its striped abdomen and legs.

With its vivid black and yellow stripes and dramatic zigzag web, it’s been dubbed the “great mimic” by the Wildlife Trust.

The species was once a rarity in the UK but now they’re being spotted more frequently across the country.

Mr Calvin said: “I’d never seen one before – it’s quite large and looks completely out of place on the Norfolk Broads.

“It’s such a beautiful creature. A perfect example of how wildlife is changing right on our doorsteps.”

One of the biggest in Britain

Although it has the external characteristics of one, the spider is simply a mimic of a wasp.

It’s the female spiders who have the yellow, black and white stripes just like the common wasp and it’s legs are stripy too.

The males are smaller and pale brown.

They build their webs in grassland and heathland and attach their silk egg-sacs to the grasses.

Wasp spiders are completely harmless to humans and are a fascinating addition to the UK’s biodiversity.

They are originally native to southern Europe and can be found in southern England but they’re slowly spreading northwards too.

The wasp spider measures as one of the six biggest spider species in Britain.

Spider season approaches

Spider season occurs from August to October, with wetter conditions often enticing them into homes, the Royal Meteorological Society reports.

Among its spider prevention tips are keeping windows shut at night. clearing any clutter that they may like to hide in and vacuuming regularly.

The website also praised cats and dogs as great helpers in terminating the critters.

And B&Q has the perfect solution to keep your house creepy crawly free for just £7.99.

Beyond getting rid of spiders, the spray also helps to prevent the build-up of cobwebs.

You can also keep spiders out the house by using a simple kitchen staple.

Earlier this year, The Sun revealed that white vinegar can often do the job.

Peppermint oil is also a great way to keep critters out.

Keep pests out all summer

IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here’s what you need to know.

Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.

Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.

Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.

Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.

DID you know there are rainforests in Britain? Nope – me neither.

But you may well have visited one without realising if you’ve holidayed in Cornwall, Wales or along the Atlantic Coastline.

3

3

3

Especially if you remember walking through green woodland packed with ferns, moss and lichen – with a really memorable earthy, damp scent.

They once covered more than 20 per cent of the UK – but history devoured them – and now there’s less than one per cent.

So the Wildlife Trust, sponsored by Aviva, has just launched an epic 100-year restoration project to bring them back.

The temperate rainforest restoration programme will restore approximately 1,755 hectares of temperate rainforest across the British Isles. 

Some of the new sites created through this programme include Bowden Pillars in Devon, Bryn Ifan in North Wales, Creg y Cowin and Glion Darragh on the Isle of Man, Trellwyn Fach in Pembrokeshire, and – most recently – Skiddaw in Cumbria.

Garden Designer Zoe Claymore, won a silver gilt medal at RHS Chelsea for her British Rainforest Garden.

She told me: “I didn’t know it at the time – but I played in a British rainforest as a child. The end of my grandparents garden in Devon went into Lidford Gorge which is one of the last existing rainforests.

“In the UK they’re found in the Goldilocks zone – not too hot, not too cold – and by rivers, gullies and gorges, because you also need the moisture from the river creating that ecosystem.”

But there are ways of recreating one in your own garden, she said.

“Even if  you don’t live in an area suited to creating a rainforest there’s other plants that will create the same vibes.

“Create shade with Hazels – they’re a great small tree which gives a real native-feel and perfect for small gardens. Or include hollies, birch or willows.

“Create a water feature – from a little stream with a few rocks or simply as an old-school rock water bowl – to  create that sense of humidity.

“But even if you just did a pond in a pot surrounded by some fun little logs, that will create habitat, that will bring wildlife, and it will create that kind of feeling of rainforest-y wetness.”

It’s easy to make a home made pond – using old washing up bowls. Tesco’s are currently selling one for just £2.75.

First choose a spot that’s sunny but not in direct sunlight all day – otherwise the water will evaporate.

Then all you have to do is put some logs around it, and a few stones, so wildlife can climb in and out easily – almost like a ramp.

Ideally fill it with rain water rather than tap.

And then put in about three water plants – like mini water lillies or water forget-me-not and sit back waiting for the wildlife.

Zoe added: “Then use British classic woodland plants and really focus on ferns – the unsung beautiful heroes of shade gardening – as well as bluebells, foxgloves, primulars, ivy, bananas and – if you’ve got a wet area – moss – which is the jewel in the crown – so your garden will be green all year round.”

For a ‘how to’ guide adapted to all UK gardens – as well as a rainforest-inspired pot combination  – head to www.zoeclaymore.com – and a share of the proceeds will go the Wildlife Trust.

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

Gardening tips, news, plant of the week and a competition to win a garden border worth £195

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Dierama Wind Nymph Pink – pictured above – clump forming perennial with slender arching stems with soft pink blooms and evergreen foliage. Bees love it. Plant in direct sunlight, likes well drained soil but might need protection in Winter.

NEWS! A dad’s 60-year-old lawnmower has taken its place in gardening history as the UK’s oldest Flymo – after he read a plea in Sun Gardening. 

Pete Goddard’s monumental mower was inducted into the British Lawnmower Museum in Southport, Merseyside, last week after Flymo sent out a request for old mowers. 

The rare blue Flymo was unveiled last month – taking its place in the museum alongside King Charles, Brian May, and Nicholas Parsons’ former mowers.

It came after a nationwide search for the UK’s oldest Flymo to celebrate 60 years since the iconic hover mower was invented.

The 79-year-old retired Highway Maintenance Operative’s Flymo was originally bought in the 1960s by his father-in-law and lovingly maintained across three generations – and still works today.

NEWS! Great Comp Gardens will show off some salvias not released to the general public before – at it’s  annual Summer Show next weekend. 

The seven acre garden in Platt, near Sevenoaks will be at it’s best – with the hot and cool border in bloom, salvias bringing swathes of colour to the perennial borders and the Italian Garden in full flower in time for their annual two-day flagship event. 

The weekend event features a group of talented artists, craftspeople, award-winning nurseries and garden ornamental suppliers plus live jazz bands on the lawn.

Curator William Dyson says: “We can’t wait to share the garden with our Summer Show visitors – it looks particularly splendid in August with the salvias in full flow.

“We’ve also introduced lots of new and interesting plants to the garden this year including a collection of new world salvias that we’ve inherited from Lindsay Pink (a collector in Portsmouth) that people won’t have seen before. 

“We urge people to come along and see our revamped planting schemes which help to showcase new salvias that we have been keeping under wraps until now. There are salvias that I’ve only seen once before and can’t wait to show people. We are mixing in drifts of South American annuals like Cosmos for interest and colour and Tagetes erecta (Mexican marigolds) plus lots of varieties of dahlias.”

For more info visit www.greatcompgarden.co.uk

WIN! Garden on a Roll – which provide ready-made garden border paper templates, and the plants to put them in – are offering three £195 borders at 3m x 60cm of any style – including the  ‘Wildlife border’ for bees and butterflies. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/GardenBorders, or write to Garden on a Roll competition,  PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. August 16, 2025. T&Cs apply

JOB OF THE WEEK! Stake your dahlias, trim your lavenders, take fuchsia cuttings, prune climbing and rambling roses, add tomato food to corn and peppers.

For more gardening content follow me @biros_and_bloom