Rob and Margaret Isdale, a couple in their 70s from Grantham, Lincolnshire, have fostered over 150 children since 1977. Their dedication to caring for children from difficult backgrounds left them with no time to tend to their own garden, which had become 'dull and boring'.
The couple appeared on ITV's Love Your Garden, where presenter Alan Titchmarsh and his team transformed their outdoor space into a whimsical oasis inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel The Secret Garden. The makeover included a winding stone path, a bird bath, faux ruins, and a hidden door.
Before the transformation, the garden was bare with a broken trellis and an overgrown evergreen bush. The team worked tirelessly to replace a rotting shed with a mock Tudor hideaway, add a curvaceous dining area, and create a wildlife-friendly nook.
Alan Titchmarsh explained the inspiration: 'Rob and Margaret have spent their lives nurturing, and I want them to have a garden that reflects that. I remembered a garden which itself had nurtured children, in The Secret Garden.'
When the couple saw the finished garden, they were moved to tears. Rob said, 'I knew it would be special but this is extra special. It's brilliant.' The garden now provides a space for the couple to entertain family and for children to play.
