19 May 2023 , 15:20
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A dad spent a whopping £10,000 transforming his back garden into a perfect Japanese Zen space - complete with a meditation area.
Martin Fitton, 55, started the massive project in 2009 and now he has perfect Bonsai trees and even recently added a teahouse to finish it off.
The dad-of-two from Brislington Village, Bristol, said that he's had visitors from Japan who even described the garden as a 'home away from home'.
Martin, who works as a tanker driver, has admitted he has never visited Japan and is yet to try Japanese food, but hopes to travel there in 2025.
Martin built the whole thing himself (Tom Wren SWNS)What do you think about Martin's garden? Let us know in the comments...
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Martin said: "We are going to open it as a business to put money back into it.
"I do all the work over the winter, I built the garden on a budget. I spent about £50 a month on it.
"I did everything in the garden apart from the lanterns and recently added a Zen garden which monks use to meditate.
"One Japanese visitor couldn't believe that I made everything myself, including a replica of a famous temple.
He set himself a budget of £50 a month (Tom Wren SWNS)"I was visited by a YouTuber last year who came to the UK to visit it.
"After the pandemic, some visitors from Japan and Asia said it felt like being at home when they couldn't travel.
"I studied Japanese garden culture after going on a course in Dorset in 2009.
"Every day after dinner I go and sweep the leaves, it isn't like an English garden as there's no mud."
He has a pond, bonsai trees, and even a meditation area (Tom Wren SWNS)
In total, Marin spent £10,000 to achieve a Zen-like state (Tom Wren SWNS)Martin's unique garden is now available to the public, as he's opened it up as part of the National Garden scheme.
Martin added: "We have had around 22 visitors per hour. I open it for charity but also to put money into the garden.
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"I am overwhelmed with the attention, I would have dreamed creating something in my garden would go so far in the UK and go even further in Japan.
"I have made some wonderful friends from Japan. I get a lot of people contacting me through my Facebook page, YouTube channel and website saying I have given them inspiration to go out in their gardens and create their own Japanese garden or finish something they started years ago.
It does look calming to be fair (Tom Wren SWNS)"They also say after seeing my Facebook post and reels they feel calm, happy and take their mind off problems in their life."
A student recently held an exhibition in the garden, and an artist has used it as inspiration for a painting.
Martin added: "I do have a kimono and dressed up once like the Karate Kid.
"My neighbours think it's wonderful and can't believe the garden is in Bristol.
"In 14 years I've spent £10,000 on it.
"I have got to try Japanese food.
"Last year we had a kimono photoshoot here."