78-Year-Old Grandmother Spends 7 Years Transforming Swampland Into Two-Acre Wonderland

By Amanda Froelich Truth Theory

Behind an unassuming home in Walkden, England, 78-year-old grandmother Sally Berry cares for a tranquil paradise which was once an unloved and derelict swamp. Dubbed The Secret Valley, it truly is just that according to the mother-of-three and those who visit her.

When she first moved into the house in 2010, Berry was surprised to see the two-acre site covered in dense knotweed. Though she was 71-years-old at the time, she was determined to transform it into the oasis she knew it could be, so used a scythe her son William purchased for her and got to work.

Seven years later, the valley is full of nesting swans and kingfishers, and ducks and geese frequently take advantage of the lakes and floating islands. As the Daily Mail reports, there are statues, an apple orchard, a rose garden, an abundance of wildflowers and plants alongside streams and, of course, a myriad of secret pathways one can take to visit the lake. Artists, as well, often times visit to decorate the landscape.

Berry is originally from London but was evacuated to Cornwall during WWII. She says her love of nature stems from the time she spent outdoors as a child. William purchased the land for her as a project and even was married in the garden.

Recalling the seven years his mother devoted to transforming the land, he said: “Mum spent virtually every day down there, hacking balsam with a scythe, chopping brambles with a machete and digging paths with a mattock, which is a type of shovel. After seven years of hard graft, the garden is an absolute success. I am amazed at how the land has transformed from a swamp into a paradise. It has been achieved by mum’s energy, experience, and endless enthusiasm.”

Via Daily Mail

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Images Credit: Manchester Evening News

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I am Luke Miller, content manager at Truth Theory and creator of Potential For Change. I like to blend psychology and spirituality to help you create more happiness in your life.Grab a copy of my free 33 Page Illustrated eBook- Psychology Meets Spirituality- Secrets To A Supercharged Life You Control Here