SIX years ago Rob Bradley moved into his current home at Crediton in Parliament Street but only this year decided to create a garden on the paved area outside his flat.

Gardening has long been more than just an interest, it became a bit of a passion and Rob achieved a City and Guilds Level 2 diploma in horticultural skills at college in Exeter.

His dream has been to have his own gardening business and he has been adding to his skills by growing roses and other plants from cuttings.

“I recycle as much as I can,” he said. “For instance, when I found an old display unit it seemed a shame to waste it so I lined it and it has now become my ‘potato alley’, filled with the potatoes I left in a cupboard to go to seed as I couldn’t get seed potatoes then.

“I’ve got purple carrots I’ve grown from seed, rosemary and mint, a big area of pelargoniums, I really do like those plants.

“In fact most of it has been grown from seed because I’ve not been able to get what I wanted because of the circumstances this year.

“Although I’ve lived here for six years, it is only this year I have had the time to do anything to make the garden - and I’ve not finished,” he said.

Rob has carted more than 1,000 litres of compost in for the plants, he has a small greenhouse, lots of herbs - he enjoys cooking too - strawberries are coming along including a few of the small and sweet alpine variety.

Everything has to be in pots which Rob finds where he can or gives a new use for something.

It just shows how a bit of determination and imagination can turn a plain paved area into a little paradise.