A GARDEN with a difference in Chiddingfold attracted the crowds and raised more than £800 for two worthy charities on Saturday.

Ted Hobbs, 85, is no stranger to opening up his beautiful quarter-of-an-acre garden in Woodside Road complete with its own model railway track. He has raised thousands of pounds in memory of his wife Joyce who died seven years ago ‘to give something back to two organisations’ that have helped him ‘so much’.

With this year’s proceeds of £814 split between St Mary’s Church, and Macmillan Cancer Support, Ted, who has lived in the same house since the late 1960s has transformed a huge patch of stinging nettles into a garden to be proud of.

But it’s been a difficult time with the recent heatwave and Mr Hobbs admitted ‘he would have lost the lot’ if he hadn’t been out morning and night watering his plants.

He told The Herald: “I don’t even get to have my dinner until about 10 pm at night.”

Mostly laid to flowers and shrubs, the garden has a model railway track which meanders round it and across the pond. It features model wagons belonging to Ted and his friend’s from the Liphook Modeller’s Club which he chairs.

Volunteers provided cakes to help swell the funds and helped with the washing up.

Ted was sraight back to work with his building company Hobbs Construction which he stated in 1955 ‘with a push bike and a back of tools.‘

“I’ve slowed down a bit now,” said the spritely gardener after a lifetime in the building trade.