Coming down Rye Hill at the bottom of Landgate where there used to be an unloved corner, something rather brilliant has happened. Instead of weeds and usually a broken fridge or two, there's a now a riot of colour. Pots, plants and trees welcoming visitors to Rye.
It's all thanks to Janette and Denis McMahon who moved into the cottage at the end of Landgate in March this year. In making a difference to Deacon's Corner, they've made new friends in neighbours and passers by.
"We have been overwhelmed by the lovely comments," says Janette. "It has literally floored us. We've had people knock on the door and say it has brightened their day or how much they love how it has transformed the corner."
"Rye people are amazing. We're so glad we came to live here," says Denis as he waters the pots. "Everyday they come up and talk to us about what we're doing. Sometimes they bring a pot or a plant. If I've got a bit of weeding to do I always get stopped for a chat."
The couple moved to Rye on March 31 from London, although Janette is from Hastings where she met Denis. They saw the cottage on a day trip to Rye and decided it was the one for them.
The only problem was it didn't have a garden says Janette. "When we got down here I realised we didn't have room for all the pots as we only have a tiny little yard. The side of the house did get a lot of rubbish dumped on it and it was full of weeds. It was a hard graft pulling them up but then it looked a bit bare, so I thought I'll stick a couple of pots out there."
What started with a few planters soon grew. "We put the baskets up on the wall and then gradually we just decided to put more and more out there. Then as things finished, I thought, oh well let's put something different out. I'm aiming to get something that will look nice all year round. I can't promise masses of flowers in December, but I will try and find something that at least looks nice and tidy and welcoming."
The couple are helping visitors too, by keeping town maps handy to give to people asking for directions. In return they've been offered seed trays and pots.
Janette and Denis' hard work was praised at the town council's planning committee on Monday July 28. Cllr Mike Boyd told the meeting the new garden was a very welcome addition to Rye. "They have lived at Deacon's Corner (at the bottom of Landgate) for a short time, but they have done a wonderful job of brightening-up it up. They are to be congratulated and thanked, particularly as this is a very visible and colourful
first-impression of Rye for any motorist approaching from the north."
One thing the couple aren't sure of though is why it is called Deacon's Corner. If you know the answer, leave a comment below or chat to Janette and Denis as they tend the garden.
