A Dundee family say they are “blown away” after landscapers volunteered their time to transform the garden of a wheelchair-bound nine-year-old.
Sophie Stewart’s parents, Lyndsey and Harry, were getting work done on their Hilltown garden after saving up money during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the firm carrying out the work – Tayside Garden Services – later returned to complete the job free, after hearing the youngster’s story.
Sophie was born with a life-limiting form of epilepsy called Ohtahara syndrome.
It causes the Kingspark School pupil to have up to 80 seizures a day and she is fully dependent on a wheelchair.
Lyndsey, 41, says the family started to save for the work while shielding during lockdown – in an attempt to give Sophie and sister Millie a better outdoor space.
She said: “Tayside Garden Services came initially in October to put in raised beds and a wee sensory area for Sophie.
“We explained we were going to get them back at a later date to put some grass down.
“The lads from the company contacted us just after Christmas and said they wanted to volunteer their time.
We were completely blown away by this offer of time and materials.”
“It was the best Christmas present we could have asked for.
“They said hearing Sophie’s story and meeting our family had really struck a chord with them.
“Tayside Garden Services said Jewson had kindly donated materials for them to carry out the final part of the transformation.
“We were completely blown away by this offer of time and materials. The bottom half of the garden wasn’t accessible before this.”
Tayside Garden Services directors Simon Knox and Graham Monteith say they wanted to do more to help the family.
Simon said: “Both Graham and I knew we wanted to go back and do something more.
“There was still work to be done at the bottom of the garden as it was inaccessible for Sophie.
‘Seeing Sophie being able to use the space is fantastic’
“Our staff numbers were growing and we knew we could volunteer our time.
“We spoke to Jewson and they agreed to provide the materials free of charge.
“We came back in and removed the slabs and the old turf and replaced it.
“It took us about three days but seeing Sophie being able to use the space alongside her sister is fantastic.”
Lyndsey says the renovation has been “incredible”.
She added: “I would class these guys as friends for the work they’ve done here.
“Sophie now has access to the whole garden and it allows us to bring the park into the garden.
“We can’t thank everyone involved enough for they’ve done.”
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