Boost for March gardener offering free makeovers

A man who started offering free gardening services in his spare time after seeing a negative social media post about the state of someone’s plot in his town has received a huge financial boost.

After the BBC highlighted his work in July, Stephen Jalland, from March, Cambridgeshire, gained national press coverage.

He launched a crowdfunding page to help him buy tools and equipment, and following an article in The Guardian, the appeal hit £25,000.

“This money will help me do more garden work for people who really need it,” he said, adding that he will maintain his paid handyman work to fund his personal expenses.

Jalland, 57, who has suffered with mental health issues himself, said he empathises with people in need of help, or who are feeling overwhelmed by the tasks facing them.

He said: “I’ve been down the bottom of the barrel looking up a few times and luckily I’ve got out of that barrel and kept going.”

Jalland said the money will give him the ability to help about three people a week, alongside his paid handyman services.

“When I go to aid people, the satisfaction of helping and getting to know them is lovely… you’re creating friendships.”