The lockdown project transformed an enclosed area of the garden, which included a Tai-Haku cherry and some nice shrubs, into a much more open Japanese-themed garden with views of Bradwell Edge and the Hope Valley. Phil Hirst produced a beautiful design, with a lot of discussion on Zoom, but we found it almost impossible to get a garden contractor to do the work – they were all too busy with everyone else’s lockdown projects. I eventually persuaded our builder, Noel to come out of retirement and turn the plan into reality.




