A COLOURFUL and cheery welcome greets you at the entrance of the house of one creative lady in Greenfield…
For keen gardener Myra Shiel, 86, has brightened up her doorstep on Spring Grove with a ‘kerb garden’, designed and created by herself.
The mother of four explained: “I wanted to brighten the area up and give people a nice welcome so I planted between the stones.
“I have always loved gardening. It’s therapy and good exercise for me.
“I don’t watch gardening programmes on TV or read about it in books, I just come up with my own ideas and seem to know what to do.”
Myra began gardening when she and her husband Frank bought some land at Friezland in 1973 and built a dormer bungalow and Myra created a canal bank garden.
She opened it many times to the public to raise funds for Children in Need and Christain Aid charities.
After 12 years, the couple moved to Bridge Cottage on Manchester Road and while Frank renovated the house Myra climbed down a 12ft drop and created a water garden on both banks of Chew Brook.
Her delightful garden featured in ‘Woman’ magazine in February 1991 and also ten years later in ‘Woman’s Weekly’ – but sadly Frank died in 1990 and never saw what she achieved.
From 1991, Myra opened her water garden frequently for the Saddleworth Festival of the Arts until 2007.
And in 1998 radio DJ Ray Cross visited her to see the amazing garden and featured her interview on his programme.
The same year, her garden was open in spring and summer with 18 others across Saddleworth in support of the Royal Oldham Scanner Appeal, with their efforts organised by chairman at the time James Scott raising £10,000.
Myra said: “I’ve taken cuttings down to Christie’s in Manchester and have a chat to the people in the garden there. It’s good to swap ideas and help with their problems.
“I’ve also given plants to Dr Kershaw’s ‘Walk of Hope’ and I like to visit to see if they are flourishing.”
Closer to home, she has created a luxurious small lawned garden for her neighbours and also maintains her own area, filled with bright flowers and ornaments.
She added: “When I left Bridge Cottage in 2001 I decided to retire from gardening but found Spring Grove looked a bit neglected so I tackled a couple of areas and within a few years won the Saddleworth in Bloom competition in 2004 and 2007.
“My sons Mark and Damian garden for me now while I potter about suggesting ideas.
“I have really enjoyed by hobby these last fifty years and hope the money I have raised has benefitted the people it was meant for.
“Spreading plants spreads happiness and that gives me the satisfaction of it all.”
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