In 1994, having retired early, we decided to move from the north of England to the Southern Touraine where we hoped to create our dream garden.

Why the Touraine? Because here the land is wonderfully fertile and the weather ideal with its changing seasons from long hot summers to short cold winters.

And after all this is where the French nobility chose to build their most beautiful chateaux and gardens.

On arrival the land was covered in wheat, in places to within a meter of the house, so it was only after harvest time that we were able to begin our task. Our geese tried to speed up the process by eating their way through but without much success. But it was fun trying.

Starting with a blank canvas we began - the driveway would be on the right edged with a long border planted with hot red and yellow colours and then on the left would be the orchard. That should keep us busy for a year of so!