Pair go to great lengths for garden

A typical Victorian garden – long, narrow and boring – has been transformed into a Garden of Eden by two plant enthusiasts who invited the public in to see the fruits of their labour.

More than 350 people, some from as far away as Warrington, came to take a look round the green oasis created by Bob Parker and Greg Kowalczuk at their home in Bradmore, Wolverhampton.

They raised £1,070, adding to the £10,000 they have so far raised for Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care with their garden open days.

For this year's open days the gardening gurus have planted more than 1,000 alliums and hundreds of new lilliums, mostly heavily scented, in a revamp of the plot which was started in 1980 when Bob, former head of art at St Peter's Collegiate School, moved into the Broad Lane property.

Their 75ft by 21ft plot is divided into five distinct areas: the patio, terracotta garden, pool garden, woodland and a rosary.

Each small plot is bounded by a trellis or hedge, intended to deceive the eye into making it appear wider than it is and the optical illusion is compounded by the curving lines of paths and flower beds.

Visitors strolled round the garden yesterday to the strains of classical music and tucked into homemade cakes.

Yesterday's event was organised as part of the National Garden Scheme.

This year the award-winning garden has been transformed again, much to the approval of visitors, with the lawned areas replaced by green slate and red chippings. Much of it has been replanted and repaved and there are two new water features.

Mr Parker said: "I have lost track on how much I have spent on it over the years, thousands probably. I put about four hours a day of work into it. I'm delighted that so many people have been to see it as we have raised a lot of money for some worthy causes."

John McCarroll, a 60-year-old former laboratory process controller, who lives in Oxley Moor Road, said: "I think it's marvellous. It has been a real inspiration."

Roma Cowle from Warrington heard about the garden from her friend Edna Ray, aged 78, of Farm Road, Merry Hill.

Mrs Cowle, also 78, said: "It has taken us two or three walks around just to take it all in."

The garden won the People's Choice Environmental Award for the City of Wolverhampton. It will be open again on July 12 and in the evening on August 2 and August 16.