Family blossoms in garden

Oct 24 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

THE winner of a “worst garden” award will today be presented with the plot of her dreams.

Nicola Foster, who is blind, and her daughter Karra, nine, who is partially-sighted, lived with a jungle of a garden for five years.

But today a new sensory garden will be officially opened at their home in Eastern Way, Cowgate, Newcastle, which they share with Nicola’s sister Kirsty, 28, and eight-year-old niece Bethany who are also partially-sighted.

Nicola, 32, entered the Worst Garden category of the Cowgate in Bloom competition to highlight her plight. She won £25 worth of garden vouchers but, after hearing about her story, Newcastle environment group Little Wasters, the competition organisers, contacted Dobbies Garden World in Ponteland which donated the materials for a full sensory garden makeover.

Nicola said: “My girls have been unable to play in the garden which was thick with brambles, nettles and thistles. I don’t like to let them play out on the streets so this prize has transformed our lives.

“I have always wanted to have a garden that my girls could play in safely and we could enjoy in ways that ordinary families do everywhere. Thanks to the Cowgate in Bloom competition my dream has come true.”

Grahame Darling, general manager of Dobbies Garden World in Ponteland, said: “We were delighted to assist.

“We have carefully selected a combination of sensory plants, including those that are tactile, sensory and highly visual, to help make their garden as stimulating as possible.”

Liz Crocker, of Little Wasters, said: “It has helped transform not just a piece of ground but someone’s life, which is quite an achievement for a gardening competition.”

Backing also came from Groundwork trainees, Your Homes Newcastle and Cowgate’s environmental action team.

Tony Henderson