Alan Titchmarsh held the sobbing mum as she cried on ITV1’s Love Your Garden on Tuesday (Image: ITV1)
Alan Titchmarsh was forced to hold a sobbing mum as she wept on his shoulder after he revamped her outdoor space for her seriously ill little girl.
The Ground Force legend was sent to help redo the garden of Rachel and her little daughter Isla on an episode of ITV1’s Love Your Garden.
Little Isla has a rare and severe form of epilepsy, so has to use a wheelchair to get around. But in its current form, the family’s drab outdoor space is completely inaccessible and Isla has to be carried around the yard.
, along with Frances Tophill, Katie Rushworth, David Domoney and the rest of the Love Your Garden team as they set out to give the family the ‘garden they deserve’ in the episode first broadcast in July 2023.
The team ripped out an old, tired swing and turned the outdoor space into an ‘accessible, magical paradise’ full of colours and senses.
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How the garden looked before Alan’s revamp (Image: ITV1)
The changes included a pizza oven, an outdoor dining area, a water globe and a ‘magical moon ring’ walkway with paved resin path, perfect for a wheelchair user.
Alan Titchmarsh told viewers: “David’s resin bonded pathway is perfect for Isla’s wheelchair, guiding her through a lush green tunnel of magical moon rings, past a bubbling snowglobe of water and elegant, leaping fountains.”
“Thanks to Katie, she and Betsy can hide away in a new den with a flower filled roof.
“And watch brother George making pizzas in front of Frances’ spectacular giant mural.
“And last but not least, the whole family can dine in style in my outdoor lounge, built around Rachel’s fireplace where fiery planting warms the heart.”
The accessible pathway complete with moon rings and water globe (Image: ITV1)
Seeing the garden, mum Rachel gasped audibly before adding: “Oh god it’s amazing. Look at this and my fireplace. It looks so posh! It’s so posh!
“Oh the kids are gonna love that (snowglobe). That’s so cool. Look at the size of that pizza oven. The boys are gonna go mad!”
“It’s just more than I could ever have dreamed of. It’s absolutely everything… thank you,” Rachel said before she burst into tears and Alan had to hold her as she sobbed with gratitude.
could only muster four words in response as he cradled her, sobbing. He told her: “You’re so, so welcome.”
The next scene saw Rachel bring Isla, a “special little girl whose bravery has inspired us all”, said Alan, out into the garden.
Mum Rachel with her little girl Isla enjoying the new garden (Image: ITV1)
Isla was all smiles as she grabbed flowers and played in the den, laughing visibily.
“I think she likes it,” Rachel said.
Alan then gave his final thoughts on what was an extremely heartwarming episode.
Alan said: “Just a garden? It might be just a garden but for this family it’s working its magic. And boy, do they deserve it.”
Viewers were left in tears at the scenes.
@misslittle said: “Bloody hell #loveyourgarden has wrecked me this week!!! What a beautiful garden for a beautiful family”
@jjanineca said: “The joy on Isla’s face”
@sarahmi56698 said: “Wonderful garden, to deserving family. Was thinking I’d love one of those water globes, £1900 so perhaps I won’t!#Loveyourgarden”
ITV’s Love Your Garden is still available to watch via catch up service ITVX.