Pensioners have spent over 24 years growing a £15,000 oasis at their Walsall home

A green-fingered couple have created a £15,000 oasis at their home in the industrial heartlands of the Black Country which boasts 3,000 species and attracts visitors from 28 countries.

Marie and Tony Newton, both 67, from Walsall, West Midlands, have spent 24 years transforming their back lawn and flowerbeds into a spectacular paradise, known as the 'Four Seasons' garden.

Bursting with vivid colours, the third of an acre garden boasts 140 Japanese maples, 20 ilex golden kings, 15 juniper blue stars and two huge Virginia creepers.

The couple, who have four grown-up children and one grandaughter, have opened up their garden up to the public back in summer 2014 as part of the National Gardens Scheme for the second year in a row.

Mrs Newton said: 'It's an all season garden so in autumn you see brilliant reds, oranges and yellows and in the spring the colours are equally as vivid and vibrant. There will be azalea and acer leaves along with the evergreen conifers. 

'Over two days we can get 350 people but it is dependent on the weather.

We sometimes get more and sometimes less. It's been wonderful the visitors we've had in the past.

They have come from 28 different countries in addition to the UK.'

Mrs Newton created the garden behind their £350,000 three-bedroom home after she retired from her job as a transport planner and taught herself horticulture as a hobby. 

They spent about two hours every day maintaining the plants, which are bought from garden centres, markets, on the internet and even from shops including Wilkos

She added: 'It's good to put Walsall and the West Midlands on the international garden map. We have derived immense pleasure from doing this huge project together without outside help.

'It has been very satisfying to use so many skills, and to have done every task ourselves. All but two of all the plants in our garden have been planted by us.'

Retired doctor, Mr Newton, added: 'The weather this year, especially this spring so far has been a wonderful mix of bright sun and showers which has created the most amazing colours.' 

It has since won them several awards including the Walsall in Bloom large rear garden award in 2006 and the Overall Gardener of the Year in the Garden News National Competition in 2010.

In January ITV's 'Britain's Best Back Gardens' the garden was ranked the winner of the Impossible Gardens episode by Alan Titchmarsh.

Small, deciduous trees grown for their graceful habit, autumn colour and beautiful foliage which may be coloured or deeply dissected. Many acers grow extremely slowly and are perfect in a smaller garden, grown in large containers.

They cost around £20 for a three litre pot. 

Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King' 

Golden King' is a small bushy evergreen tree or shrub with broad ovate, slightly spiny leaves margined with bright yellow. Flowers small, dull white; berries brownish-red, not abundant. Berries may cause mild stomach upset if ingested.

They cost around £12.99 for two litre pot.

Juniper 'Blue Star', also known as flaky Juniper 'Blue Star' (Juniperus squamata)

'Blue Star' is a compact, bun-shaped evergreen conifer making a dwarf shrub of dense growth. Foliage bright blue-grey, can cause skin irritation. 

They cost around £4.99 for a 9cm pot.

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

The Virginia Creeper is a vigorous large deciduous climber. Leaves with five ovate leaflets, turning bright red and orange in autumn. Flowers inconspicuous; berries blue-black, originally from eastern north America.

They cost around £4.99 for a 3cm pot.