A woman spent £4k transforming her dull new build garden into a countryside oasis.<br /><br />Charlotte Owers, 34, and her husband Ben, 33, moved into their home in the middle of the pandemic.<br /><br />The garden was simply mud - a "blank space" she dreamed of transforming into a countryside cottage garden.<br /><br />Charlotte said she "fell in love" with gardening and created different spaces including a vegetable garden, entertaining area and workshop area.<br /><br />She spent an estimated £4k transforming her garden - by getting things second hand and doing any building work themselves.<br /><br />Plant pots came from Facebook - and she upcycled old sinks and dustbins - with a patio made from salvaged bricks.<br /><br />Charlotte, a senior creative, from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, said: "We had this blank space and because of lockdown we were spending so much time at home.<br /><br />"I found newbuild gardens to be such a stereo type.<br /><br />"I wanted to buy a cottage in the countryside but the reality of being a first time buyer was that new builds were the easiest way for me to get onto the ladder.<br /><br />"We wanted to create cottage vibes rather than a sterile love island aesthetic.<br /><br />"I wanted the garden to feel like it had been there forever."<br /><br />The pair moved in into their new build home in June 2020 and started by adding a seating area at the end of the garden as it soaked up the sun in the evenings.<br /><br />Charlotte said: "Our garden is south facing so we get sun all day and in the evening we realised that the sun was at the end of the garden.<br /><br />"We built the seating area at the end so during the day we can sit on the patio and then the evening we could sit at the end of the garden.<br /><br />"Then we ripped off some turf and put down some gravel that would lead us to the seating area.<br /><br />"Doing that, we were then inspired to do the rest."<br /><br />There is also a potting shed, entertainment area, green house, vegetable garden and workshop area.<br /><br />Charlotte said that her favourite part of the garden is the greenhouse and kitchen garden.<br /><br />She said: "Those are the parts of the garden that look the least like a new build garden.<br /><br />"That is where I spend most of my time as I am growing seeds.<br /><br />"I just love all the areas for planting - I think I have about 80 different pots in the garden for growing."<br /><br />Charlotte said she it is a "shame" that some newbuild gardens are left untouched.<br /><br />She said she feels the responsibility to create a garden that is wildlife friendly.<br /><br />Charlotte said: "One of the reason we transformed out garden is because new build developments are built on green spaces.<br /><br />"I do think I have a responsibility to create a garden that is wildlife friendly.<br /><br />"A big mission of mine is to make the garden thrive. When I look out my window and see the lack of trees and biodiversity it is a shame."
