A gardener has scooped a hat-trick of awards after transforming his once-neglected courtyard into a stunning Italian-inspired haven – on a shoestring budget.
Mark Jones, 42, who works as deputy head gardener at the Pendine Park care organisation, spent six years creating the Mediterranean-style retreat at his Pontcysyllte home, using reclaimed materials, bargain finds and even free plants.
The dad-of-one, helped throughout by his daughter Lilly, 11, was crowned the overall winner of the Llangollen Rural Communities Best Kept Garden Awards, also taking home titles for Best Containers and Best Courtyard Garden.
Mark, who joined Pendine Park four years ago after working in factories, says turning his lifelong passion into a career has been a “dream come true”.
He now oversees a team caring for the outdoor spaces across Pendine Park’s nine care homes and is studying for an NVQ to further his skills.
Mark said: “To make gardening my career is amazing. I love being creative and can picture how I want something to look and can find a way to make it happen.
“I didn’t see how I could make it my job and ended up working in various factory roles, but I built up my skills and knowledge which improved my confidence and I started looking for gardening work and I have never looked back.
“I am very lucky to do my hobby for a job.
“Being outdoors makes me happy and it is what I have always loved doing. Growing up I remember my dad didn’t enjoy gardening but I was always digging around in soil and my love for gardening work grew from there.
“Working at Pendine is very rewarding, especially when you see residents enjoying the outdoor spaces we have created.
“Being outdoors in nice surroundings is one of the best things for your mental health and I feel very proud to be responsible for keeping their outdoor spaces nice and tidy.”
Mark’s wife Naomi entered him into the competition for the garden he describes as his “pride and joy”.
He said: “ I was completely shocked to win. I didn’t even know my wife had entered the competition for me so I really wasn’t expecting it. I was absolutely lost for words when they said my name.”
Mark’s inspiration for his Tuscan style garden came trips to visit family in Italy which led to hours and hours of web-based research to make his vision a reality.
The six-year labour of love saw Mark trawl the internet on the hunt for bargains and free items.
He said: “It should have cost thousands to do but I have managed to get it all done for just a few pounds except the shed and the table and chairs. The plants are all from cuttings so they have all been free.
“My daughter Lilly has been a huge help. She was only little when I bought the house so she has learned so much with me doing various jobs. Now she helps out with things like pruning and cutting and she loves it as much as I do.
Sarah Edwards, Pendine’s artist-in-residence, said: “Mark is a wonderful gardener and we are all so proud of him for winning these awards.
“He is a very humble man so it is lovely he has got this recognition for his talents.
“We are so fortunate to have Mark and our team of gardeners on board here at Pendine. Their work makes a huge difference to our wellbeing and helps to enrich the lives of our residents through having access to green spaces and nature..
“The outdoor spaces in our care homes mean so much to residents, family and staff, and they bring a lot of joy for us all.
“All of the homes are surrounded by gorgeous gardens which is a big part of what we do to improve the quality of life for our residents and staff alike.
“As well as ensuring the arts are part of everyday life, creating a beautiful environment is a golden thread that runs through everything we do at Pendine.”
