A Brislington man is now inviting the public to visit his incredible back garden after a transformation that began over a decade ago. Martin Fitton was inspired by other picturesque gardens he had visited in the UK and is now sharing his serene home oasis, equipped with a zen garden, koi pond, garden room and fire pit area among other unique features.
Mr Fitton donates the funds raised from visits and tours to the National Garden Scheme (NGS). The NGS opens up private gardens to the public and donates the money to charity.
From the outside, there is nothing too distinctive about Mr Fitton’s house. But after 14 years of work on the garden, the hidden treasure in the middle of Brislington has been featured on Gardeners’ World and has gained media attention as far as Japan. The dad-of-two, who uses traditional Japanese techniques, has spent around £8,000 in landscaping and construction since he started the work.
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Mr Fitton, who is a lorry driver by trade, told Bristol Live: "I was on the world news in Japan in November. It was a shock and I got very excited."
With the support of his wife and neighbour he opens the garden up to those who wish to book afternoon tea. All slots for the tea and scones garden session on May 27 are already fully booked but there is another chance to visit on June 11.
Alongside the regular open days, Mr Fitton has begun to support those who are interested in creating their own unique garden designs. He does this through consultancy but also aims to inspire others in his guided tours by sharing his experience he has built up other the years including his extensive pond work.
He added: “My garden has taken me places I would never have dreamed of. I have been creating my garden since 2009 so I have years of knowledge building Japanese gardens.
“Now I want to help others create something special in their gardens that they can be very proud of,” added Mr Fitton. More information can be found on the Bristol Japanese Garden Facebook page and website."
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