A heartwarming story has emerged of a DIY army of kind-hearted individuals who came together to build a dream garden for Lisa Potter, a blind woman who was scammed by a rogue builder. After being left feeling swindled and with a garden that was unsafe for her guide dog, Lisa reached out for help, and three amazing companies volunteered their time and expertise to give her the garden she had always dreamed of.
Lisa, from New Inn, Pontypool, South Wales, had paid £6,500 for new decking, a patio, and fencing, only to be left with piles of debris, gaps in her fence, and steps without handrails. Devastated, she turned to the community, feeling taken advantage of. That’s when the heroes stepped in.
OTL Group, a construction firm, The Edenstone Group, housing experts, and Dragon Taxis all joined forces to make Lisa’s dream a reality. They not only made the decking safe and easily accessible for Lisa, but they also transformed the rest of the garden into a usable and secure space for her, her dog, and her family to enjoy.
Together, they laid new decking, re-turfed the lawn, added raised planters, and installed handrails and new gates. The result? A beautiful and functional garden just in time for Lisa to make the most of the upcoming spring months.
Lisa expressed her gratitude, saying, “I will be forever grateful for what they have managed to salvage from my garden and to them for coming to my rescue at a stressful time. I had lost confidence.” She went on to praise the workmanship and the care taken by the companies involved, mentioning the lasting impact their assistance will have on her life.
Jack Price, from Dragon Taxis, shared their disappointment upon hearing about Lisa’s unfortunate experience, highlighting their commitment to giving back to the community. By contributing to the project’s costs, Dragon Taxis ensured that Lisa would not be further out of pocket.
Nick Barrett, the operations manager at Ashgrove Partnerships, which is part of The Edenstone Group, expressed his delight over Lisa’s happiness with the outcome. He outlined the efforts made to make the garden safe and accessible, including repairing the existing fence, installing a new one, and making improvements to the decking. With these changes, Lisa can now enjoy the outdoors whenever she wants.
The garden makeover was completed with the clearing of the lower level, a facelift that included a new raised planter and the use of Cotswold stone, and the addition of a new side gate.
Stories like this remind us of the kindness and compassion that exist in our communities. The generosity of these companies and the dedication they showed in making Lisa’s dream garden a reality is truly heartwarming. It serves as a powerful example of the good that can come from people coming together to help those in need.
