GOING THE EXTRA YARD
A DAD spent £50 a month transforming his garden which his neighbours love - he's now getting all of his money back.
Martin Fitton, 55, splashed out a whopping £10,000 over the years transforming the outdoor area into Japanese-themed space.
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Starting the project back in 2009, Martin added a teahouse, Bonsai trees, a meditation garden and a zen space to his once-drab garden in Brislington, Bristol.
Despite never visiting Japan and never trying the food, his love for the country's garden culture inspired him.
The dad-of-two has since spent his weeks working on the garden before doing shifts as a tanker driver at the weekend.
Martin said he has hosted many Japanese visitors who all said it was a home away from home.
And now he's opening it up to the public in a bid to make his money back.
He said: "We are going to open it as a business to put money back into it.
"I do all the work over the winter, I built the garden on a budget. I spent about £50 a month on it.
"I did everything in the garden apart from the lanterns and recently added a Zen garden which monks use to meditate.
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"One Japanese visitor couldn't believe that I made everything myself, including a replica of a famous temple.
"I was visited by a YouTuber last year who came to the UK to visit it.
"After the pandemic some visitors from Japan and Asia said it felt like being at home when they couldn't travel.
"I studied Japanese garden culture after going on a course in Dorset in 2009.
"Every day after dinner I go and sweep the leaves, it isn't like an English garden as there's no mud.
"We have had around 22 visitors per hour. I open it for charity but also to put money into the garden."
He will make the garden public as part of National Garden scheme which open over 3,500 private gardens to the public each year.
Martin added: "I am overwhelmed with the attention, I wouldn't have dreamed creating something in my garden would go so far in the UK and go even further in Japan.
"I have made some wonderful friends from Japan.
"I get a lot of people contacting me through my Facebook page, YouTube channel and website saying I have given them inspiration to go out in their gardens and create their own Japanese garden or finish something they started years ago.
"They also say after seeing my Facebook post and reels they feel calm, happy and take their mind off problems in their life.
"I do have a kimono and dressed up once like the Karate Kid.
"My neighbours think it's wonderful and can't believe the garden is in Bristol."
Read more on the Irish Sun
Martin has spent the last 14 years on his now-beloved space and forked out £10,000.
He is now saving money to visit Japan in 2025.
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