Alan Titchmarsh's garden makeover for a couple who fostered more than 150 children has sparked mixed reactions from viewers, with some praising the transformation and others claiming the garden was 'ruined'.
Couple's remarkable fostering story
Rob and Margaret from Grantham have fostered over 150 children over the past 45 years. In a classic episode of ITV1's Love Your Garden, Titchmarsh and his team—Katie Rushworth, David Domoney, and Frances Tophill—decided to give back to the couple by transforming their drab yard into a magical space inspired by The Secret Garden.
Garden design features
Titchmarsh's design included a mock Tudor shed and crumbling brick 'columns' which he described as 'ancient looking follies' to create a ruined abbey effect. He said: 'I want this new garden to make them feel as cared for as the children who come to their home.'
The revamp was a vast improvement over the original, but not all viewers were impressed. Some criticized the fake ruins and the medieval-inspired shed.
Viewer backlash
Viewer @besidetheriver tweeted: 'Omg! The Love Your Garden people ruining that lovely garden ... with bricks and concrete! No thank you!' Another user, @lally55p, commented: 'It's too crowded and busy for me but as long as they like it.'
Emotional reveal
Despite the criticism, the couple were overwhelmed with emotion when they saw the finished garden. Rob said: 'Goodness me! It's the best I've seen it looking. Woah. Thank you so much. I can't believe it - it's just....' Margaret added: 'Brilliant!'
Titchmarsh then told them: 'And we found the ruins of an old abbey in your garden.' Rob replied: 'I knew it would be special but that's extra special. Thank you so much.'
Family reunion
To complete the surprise, Titchmarsh and his team invited scores of the foster children the couple had cared for over the years, resulting in a wholesome family reunion.
The episode remains available to watch on ITVX.
