The gardens of Essex

With so many of us spending extra time in our gardens during lockdown, Essex Life asked readers to share what they have been doing in their gardens to demonstrate that Essex gardens really have never looked better

KAREN LATHAM

Great Wigborough

Even after having so much additional time, my garden is still a work in progress and would not win any medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, but what lockdown has given me is the time to enjoy it as well as to work in it. I know where the blue tits are nesting, I watch the squirrel cheekily stealing the bird food and as I dig, orange tip butterflies fly round my head and a toad crawls out to say hello by my feet. Then at the end of the day we put down our tools, open the wine and put the barbecue on, knowing that if it isn’t finished we can just do some more tomorrow.

DEBBIE DRIVER

Stow Maries

Here is a picture of our garden after the installation of one of the garden pods that we sell at Harveys Quality Garden Buildings. We positioned one in our garden at Stow Maries, with the church in the background. I also thought you’d like to see one of my two pups sitting among the anemones.

ANNA SPARKES

Rowhedge

My garden has always been my happy place and I have spent the last 20 years creating the space I love. During this lockdown period I have had so much more time to take care of it and enjoy the colours, the patterns, the smells and the sounds of the birds. It is my sanctuary.

JOANNA KNIGHT