ARTIST Mike Yip has shared his talents with his neighbours in Thongsbridge.
And the results of his colourful and exotic artistic efforts saw him scoop a best garden award.
His stunning Oriental-themed garden in Larch Avenue is a delight.
It earned him the top prize in the contest run by Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing for its thousands of tenants.
The judges, like local residents and passers-by, were amazed at the intricate temples, pagodas and plants that fill the small garden.
Examiner gardening writer Graham Porter, one of the five-strong judging panel, said: “I and the other judges were stunned by the investment of time, money and effort the tenants like Mr Yip have put in to their gardens to enter this competition”.
For Mr Yip, however, it has been a labour of love.
He moved to Huddersfield from London 10 years ago and is now a full-time carer for his daughter Casey.
The Mayalysian-born garden guru said: “For me, the garden is the perfect way to unwind from the stresses of day-to-day life.
“I am an artist who likes to paint and the garden is another expression of that.
“I have also brought the five elements of Feng Shui into the garden as it is important to get the right mixture of plants and colours and textures.
“A lot of the materials I have used in the garden have been recycled. When people who live around here are throwing something away I ask if I can salvage it for my garden and I’ve managed to find a place for bits of old decking, metal and even bicycle inner tubes”.
Helen O’Sullivan, a Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing manager, said there had been dozens of entries.
“We were overwhelmed by the number and the standard of entries we received in this the second year of the competition.
“The standards have been amazing and the gardens are a testament to the hard work of the tenants.”
