
I ditched landscapers and saved £1,000 by transforming my tiny, ugly, average garden – I don't care if trolls hate it
A DIY enthusiast has revealed that rather than splashing the cash on getting the landscapers in to sort out her garden, she and her husband did it themselves.
In a bid to cut costs and save money, Hollie Baxter and her partner got to work on a mission to transform their 'small, ugly, average garden '.
2
2
Using bargain buys from Home Bargains and Tile Mountain UK, the stay-at-home mum-of-three, who was pregnant at the time of filming, took to social media to share a before, during and after process of the garden renovation project.
The content creator, who lives in an 'average three bedroom semi-detached home' in the UK and recently gave birth to her third child, a baby boy, explained that she was able to save £1,000 by getting her husband to do the majority of work for her.
Alongside the short clip, the blonde beauty confessed that she isn't bothered by what trolls think of her DIY makeover, as she penned: 'Before the landscaping trolls come for us, we clearly aren't professionals and we CHOSE NOT TO set the slabs in concrete because, have you been here for the last year?
'This garden is forever changing and I wasn't about to make a commitment like that SET IN STONE so sand it is. Also sand is cheap.'
Prior to getting started on the garden project, Hollie said: 'We are on a mission to transform our tiny, ugly, average garden and we got quoted £1,000 to have this done.
'But my budget-friendly answer to that? Make your husband do it.
'Whilst I was doing a lot of belly rubbing and project managing, and being extremely helpful, the husband tried so hard to level out this ridiculously gross garden.'
Alongside clips of her husband hard at work, Hollie added: 'He did a little raking, a little stamping, a little sanding, a little laying - I swooped in at the end and laid those all-important stones and gave them a little clean.'
Showing off the finished result, the influencer beamed: 'There you go, we've saved £1,000 - I'm still not over this transformation and it's not finished yet.'
What was once a very bare garden has since been brightened up, all whilst on a budget.
Cheap and easy ways to transform your garden including painting fences black
Not only is it now a very light and welcoming space, but it's also super trendy and luxe too.
Hollie later confirmed that she bought her white porcelain garden tiles from Tile Mountain UK, while the sleepers were from eDecks.
We've saved £1,000 - I'm still not over this transformation
Hollie Baxter
Meanwhile, to pocket pounds where possible, rather than splashing the cash on pricey stones, Hollie nabbed her Cream Cotswold stones from Home Bargains, for just £4.49 a bag.
To add colour to the space, she also planned Laurels - a type of evergreen plant often used for hedges - which she bought from a local garden centre.
DIY fans beam
The Instagram clip, which was posted under the username @ your_average_home, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 50,200 views.
It's also amassed 564 likes and 50 comments.
DIY fans were gobsmacked by Hollie's purse-friendly project and many eagerly flocked to the comments to express this.
One person said: 'It's looking amazing.'
Another added: 'What a great transformation, it looks brilliant.'
A third commented: 'It looks lovely.'
Meanwhile, someone else chimed in and beamed: 'You guys sure know how to smash a garden transformation.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Cotham School's green space not to be shared, court says
A highly-contested 23-acre green space leased to a school to use as a playing field does not have to be shared with the local community, a judge has School in Bristol has been in dispute with residents living close to land it leases at Stoke Lodge since 2019 when it erected a 6ft (2m) high fence around City Council, which leased the land to the school, voted to give the site town green status in June 2023, but this status has now been revoked following a High Court Paul Matthews ruled that the fact local residents had ignored signs warning against trespass did not mean they had use of it "as of right" and Bristol City Council was wrong to change it status. The Redland school, which said it was "thrilled" with the legal ruling, was granted an 125-year lease on the land in 2011 due to lack of space on its inner city site three miles said it was forced to fence the site for safeguarding purposes and due to issues caused by out-of-control dogs and dog fouling on the sports pitches. The school argued that signs put up in the mid 1980s by the now-defunct Avon County Council warning against trespass showed the public never had the right to access the siteCampaign group We Love Stoke Lodge argued few people were aware of the signs and locals used the land "as of right", meaning they did not need permission to use it for recreation. In an 110-page judgment, Judge Matthews found that in addition to the two earlier signs, Bristol City Council had erected a similar one by the car park in noted that originally there had been six signs installed by Avon County Council, three of which disappeared after 2002, and that Cotham School had installed some when it took on the lease."I am satisfied that the various owners of the land in erecting the signs had done sufficient to make clear, during the relevant 20-year period, that unrestricted access to the land by the public was contested," he judge added that by granting Cotham School the lease, Bristol City Council had "transferred its right to possession, and to sue for trespass, to the claimant". 'Justice has prevailed' "Thereafter it was a matter for the claimant, rather than the City Council, as to whether or not to give permission for others to use the land," he ruled that the land should never have been registered as a town or village green, and ordered that the entry relating to the site must be deleted from the registry of such 2014 and 2019, when the fencing was installed, the school did not use the site at all following a risk concluded that a single teacher handling 30 pupils on a site away from the school could not manage the risks of open access to the land, dogs and of pupils absconding. In a statement following the judgment, the school said: "We're absolutely thrilled that justice has prevailed!"The rights and opportunities of our 1,700 students will finally be restored." The We Love Stoke Lodge group said it was "incredibly disappointed" with the decision."Green space is a finite and highly valued shared resource and many thousands of school children enjoy learning to exercise on public land today, both within and outside school time," it said it was considering its grounds for appeal.


The Independent
43 minutes ago
- The Independent
NHS updates cervical screening guidelines with millions of women affected
Women aged 25 to 49 who test negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) will be invited to cervical screening every five years instead of every three, under new NHS guidelines. The change, set to take effect next month in England, follows recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee. According to analysis from King's College London, extending the screening interval to five years for HPV-negative women is just as safe as the current three-year interval, with a similar rate of cancer detection. HPV is a sexually transmitted group of viruses, with around 13 high-risk types known to cause almost all cases of cervical cancer. Most people with HPV don't experience any symptoms. Women who test positive for HPV, or have a history of the virus, will continue to be invited for more frequent screenings to monitor the virus and check for any changes to cells in the cervix. In a written statement to Parliament, health minister Ashley Dalton said the new change 'increases the opportunities to test and recall women and people with a cervix who have HPV, while extending the cervical screening intervals from three to five years in England for individuals who have a negative HPV test. 'This will bring England's cervical screening intervals in line with those of Wales and Scotland.' She said the NHS screening programme in England provides all women between the ages of 25 and 64 'with the opportunity to be screened routinely to detect HPV infection or cervical abnormalities at an early, more treatable stage'. She added: 'The aim of the programme is to reduce the number of women who develop invasive cervical cancer and reduce the number who die from it.' Ms Dalton said testing negative for HPV means the chances of developing cancer within five years are very small, as it can take around 10 years or more from the time HPV is detected to developing cervical cancer. She added: 'Those who test positive for HPV are already being followed up with yearly testing. 'This is important to ensure that individuals are monitored for any early signs of cervical abnormalities and provided the necessary treatment.' Experts have been concerned about falling numbers of women under 50 attending cervical screening, with around a third in England not taking up their invitations. Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women's health, said: 'Taking a more personalised approach to cervical screening will help ensure everyone eligible can make the most of these life-saving services, while sparing women appointments that they don't need. 'The NHS is following robust evidence on how often women need to be safely screened, and by putting invitations and reminders straight in women's pockets on their phones, we're making it easier than ever to take up screening appointments. 'Make sure you come forward for your screening when you're invited, even if it was weeks, months or years ago. If you think you are due but have not yet had an invitation, speak to your GP practice.' Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'We welcome this change to cervical screening in England, which is the result of years of vital research to make screening more effective and has shown it is safe to extend the time between tests. 'Screening, alongside the roll out of the HPV vaccine – which Cancer Research UK scientists helped develop – have seen cervical cancer rates drop by around a quarter since the early 1990s, and we look forward to even more progress. 'If you notice any unusual changes for you, do not wait for a screening invitation – speak to your doctor.' Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal, said: 'We want every eligible person to feel empowered to attend a vaccination and cervical screening appointment when they are invited so we can achieve the brilliant ambition of eliminating cervical cancer.'


Times
an hour ago
- Times
Best women's designer sunglasses for 2025
Are you cat's eye or square; classic or avant-garde? Anything goes this season. Keep scrolling for the best women's designer sunglasses to shop now. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue Drawing inspiration from the shape of Vivienne Westwood's own glasses, these oval-shaped frames feature a classic tortoiseshell interior and gradient lenses that provide UV protection as well as a clever anti-glare tint. The sunglasses, which are also handily scratch and impact-resistant, are part of the luxury house's latest sun collection which references vintage styles with its offering of baroque-inspired frames and intricate embellishments. £185, Vivienne Westwood Keep the frames classic — this small, square shape is universally flattering — and you can play with experimental coloured lenses. While yellow has a cool 1970s feel, this blue tint is a more modern choice for the sunny months ahead. £447, Prada at Fenwick Founded in 1846, the Spanish luxury house Loewe was previously exclusively a leather making company and over 170 years later, it's still a firm favourite for designer bags. However, the brand is making a name for itself in the sunglasses sphere with its playful silhouettes, colourful frames and tongue-in-cheek designs. With their slightly oversized aviator shape and gradient lenses, this pair is the perfect compromise of classic yet contemporary. £335, Loewe at Mytheresa Two accessories in one, Bottega Veneta's black aviators feature curled metal temples with teardrop details at the end of each arm, inspired by the brand's bestselling drop earrings. £490, Bottega Veneta King of oversized eyewear, and a personal advocate of the aviator shape, Tom Ford is dominating the sunglasses space. You're spoilt for choice when it comes to classic frames. However, this pair, aptly named the Icon, are truly timeless. Crafted from glossy, marbled tortoiseshell, the frames are finished with the brand's signature 'T' gold hardware at the sides. £545, Tom Ford at Net-a-Porter Made in Japan and showcasing Gucci's favourite Rosso Ancora red colour, these acetate frames have an oversized, rounded shape that's synonymous with the large lenses of the 1970s. £460, Gucci Founded in 2014, the LA-based label Jacques Marie Mage designs frames that are all handcrafted in the brand's Japanese studio using an extensive 300-step design process. The angular, chunky acetate frames even featured as part of Kendall Roy's quietly luxurious wardrobe in the hit television series Succession — hardly surprising given its track record for using lavish flourishes such as 18-carat gold within its sunnies. £1,100, Jacques Marie Mage at Net-a-Porter A bit Seventies, a bit Iris Apfel — a lot fabulous, these Valentino women's sunglasses can do no wrong in our eyes. Plus, the oversized, square shape is large enough to keep you incognito on holiday. £465, Valentino at Mytheresa Made in Italy, Celine's squoval (a squared-off oval shape) sunglasses feel splendidly Sixties and are ideal for those adventurous types who don't want to stick to black or brown frames. £400, Celine at Mytheresa Far from basic black shades, Dior's luxury sunglasses take inspiration from the house's classic Lady 95.22 bag with a quilted 'Cannage' finish and gold-tone hardware on the arms. £460, Dior at Mytheresa If super oversized frames feel too audacious you're in luck as super skinny shades inspired by the silhouettes of the 1990s are very much back on the menu. These Cartier rectangle frames have undergone the luxury treatment with signature Panthère de Cartier hardware — including panther heads finished with enamel spots and green crystal eyes — at the temple. £1,130, Cartier at Net-a-Porter An alternative to the classic square, round and oval shapes on offer, Saint Laurent's Lou Lou design features large heart-shaped frames for a hit of playful nostalgia. £315, Saint Laurent at Fenwick