Couple turn mid-terrace garden into tropical jungle with poisonous plants

From the outside it looks like an ordinary house on a terraced street - but behind lies a tropical jungle complete with some poisonous plants.

It all started when Dave Robinson, 39, and his fiancée, Gemma Furby, 37, decided to grow a banana tree in the garden of their home in Alway, Newport, inspired by their travels.

Their green space has since taken on a life of its own, and son Arlo has even given a "danger tour" to his friend of all the spiky plants.

Having rented flats, Dave had always filled these with house plants - but after they bought their first home in 2016, the garden with a large lawn gave him a "blank canvas" to fill.

The haven now features colourful flowers from around the world.

Dave, who has always been passionate about ferns and rare unusual plants, said: "My grandad had allotments, my dad was into plants as well.

"[But] I never had my own place to get into it.

"Any rented properties we had, we always had house plants, but Gem wasn't massively into it to begin with, she had her own interests.

"But I feel our interest has grown together since we got into creating our own tropical garden."

While Dave works at a garden centre, Gemma is more used to caring for people not plants, as she is a nurse.

The banana tree was the first thing they started to grow - which gave them the idea the garden could potentially turn into a mini jungle.

As well as seeing greenery on a trip to Madeira, Portugal, in 2017, the couple took inspiration from Cornwall's Eden project - where thousands of plant species grow.

"A few years ago lots of the plants we grow wouldn't normally survive our winters," Dave said.

"With the exceptional heat, they need lots of watering but apart from that, the plants now look after themselves."

The couple believe the key is knowing your limitations and not putting anything in the garden without doing research first.

Dave said with milder winters and hotter summers, it is surprising what exotic plants will grow in the UK.

The couple have a seven-year-old son Arlo who they have taught about the tropical plants, and who helps by taking cuttings and sowing seeds.

He also has his own blueberry bush and enjoys eating the fresh fruit they grow.

While Arlo loves running around his little jungle, they made sure there is still space for his paddling pool at the bottom of the garden.

"He knows quite a lot of the plants and when he had a friend round a little while ago, he did a danger tour of all the poisonous or spiky plants," Gemma said.

Although this may sound alarming, a number of poisonous plants can be found in ordinary gardens in the UK, with people completely unaware of their dangerous potential.

Serious poisoning by plants is very uncommon in the UK and although some garden plants present a hazard, the risk of severe poisoning, skin reaction or an allergy is generally low, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.

While the plants originate from around Africa, Asia and South America, the couple don't have to travel too far from home to source them - using what they call rare and niche plant nurseries and garden centres.

"There are at least two in south Wales who sell lots of exotic plants," Dave said.

"There is also places in west Wales and north Wales we go to, as well as some in England."

It has also become easy for the couple to grow their jungle simply by swapping plants and trading cuttings of their more unusual plants through the online community they have built up.

In 2020 the couple started their own Welsh tropical gardening group, where people would share tips and tricks for growing.

It has now grown to 700 members, while they are continually adding to their network through people they meet at garden fairs across the UK.

While the jungle may not be visible to passers-by on the street, it doesn't mean it's completely out of bounds to people.

Last year they opened it to the public to raise money for a mental health charity, explaining how being outside in it has helped Dave's own mental health.

They are planning to open it again next month, to raise money for Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice.