GARDEN OF HONOUR

JOHN SPENDS ALL DAY NURTURING ONE OF UK'S BEST PRIVATE GARDENS

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GREEN-FINGERED pensioner John Massey has spent 27 years transforming the land outside his bungalow into a spectacular oasis considered one of the finest private gardens in Britain.

John's Kingswinford garden is now bursting with glorious summer colour - despite being on the edge of the industrial heartlands of Dudley.

The 76-year-old's labour of love features 20,000 different plants, trees and shrubs across a ten-acre site and he opens it up to the public so far raising £500,000 for charity.

The four-time Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist says he needs to lovingly nurture his plot eight hours a day, seven days a week to keep it looking beautiful all year round.