County Derry man is encouraging others to take pride in their gardens

A County Derry man is encouraging others to take pride in their gardens. 

Strathfoyle resident Shall Diver has had great interest in his garden in the past from tourists and media outlets, and he believes a well-kept garden is important. 

He said: “You can’t beat a pretty garden. 

“It is all about first impressions, and I’m proud of my garden and the impression it gives off.

"A few tourists from China came and took photos of my garden there a number of years ago."

Mr. Diver is aware that some people don’t have the ability or time to maintain their gardens, so he offers his services to them. 

He said: “There are about 15 pensioners that I would do work for, and I’ve been doing this for about 20 years, and then I do another 10 graves on top of that all year round.

“It is always about tidying up.”

The Strathfoyle resident loves working in his garden, and he thanks one person for this. 

Mr. Diver said: “My father, God bless him, was a gardener, and I picked up tips from him, and if you ever mention his name around these parts, he is well known for his gardening, and so am I now.”