Caerphilly mum who spent thousands turning home into children’s paradise gets ‘heartbreaking’ messages
A mum has spent over £3,000 transforming the exterior of her home into an enchanted garden using pool noodles and said she has received heartbreaking notes from those who have visited. Kathryn Cribbes, 47, from Caerphilly, dedicated 10 days to constructing the impressive installation — measuring 18ft long and 8ft wide.
She built it using eight pool noodles, six metres of armature wire, two metres by one metre of insulation boards, expanding foam and hundreds of artificial leaves. The magical garden was completed with fairy lights, lanterns and handwritten wishes from visitors at her home in Caerphilly.
The mum-of-five is raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through the display, with visitors welcome to visit and make a donation.
Over the past year she has been transforming her front garden into a series of annual themed worlds, including Halloween, Christmas, and an Alice in Wonderland-inspired Easter. Stay informed on Caerphilly news by signing up to our newsletter here
Many have already visited Kathryn’s enchanted wonderland -Credit:SWNS
Kathryn, who is currently off work with a broken arm, said: “Everyone always looks for a reason why I do these displays. I chose Make-A-Wish because what’s more perfect than a wishing tree for that? I wanted to be able to give back, and I love kids and think life is made for making memories so it felt a good fit.
“I just wanted people to come and enjoy the space and have somewhere nice to sit and talk, then if they want to donate some coins into the bucket they can.”
Kathryn was assisted by her daughter, Lowry Roberts, 22, in constructing a tree from pool noodles, while her husband Graeme, 55, a scaffolder by trade, fashioned the supporting framework from insulation boards.
The work has taken days and has cost £3,000 -Credit:SWNS
She explained: “Making the tree itself took three days and the whole garden took ten days. The base is a huge pipe with insulation boards making a cross frame inside.
“The branches are made from pool noodles with wire inside so they can bend into shape. Then we wrapped them in newspaper and masking tape and covered it all in expanding foam.”
Once finished, she opened up the garden to the public – providing treat boxes containing wishing leaves, cupcakes, crisps and drinks, priced at £40 per 50 boxes. The running costs amount to around £80 per 50 visitors to her enchanted space.
Inside the enchanted garden -Credit:SWNS
Guests are encouraged to write down a wish and place it on the tree, while enjoying tea, coffee, cakes and snacks available in the garden.
There are colouring activities, fairy-themed word searches and teddy bear picnic areas for youngsters, while local Brownies, Rainbows and Girl Guides groups have all visited the display.
Kathryn said: “I’ve always done themed things for my children. We used to do pool parties and pirate parties and all sorts of things when they were younger. They’ve basically grown up with me doing projects so they’re not fazed by it any more.”
There are colouring activities, fairy-themed word searches and teddy bear picnic areas for youngsters, while local Brownies, Rainbows and Girl Guides groups have all visited the display. -Credit:SWNS
Kathryn said one of the most touching aspects of the project was reading the wishes people have left behind. She said: “Some of them are heartbreaking. Ones about wanting to be able to have children, wanting their dad to spend time with them, missing their dead partners.
“One older man walked past and I told him it was a wishing tree. He couldn’t write, so I wrote his wish for him. He wished to not feel down all the time and to feel happy again.
“A lot of older people don’t really have anyone to talk to. People think the wishes are just for children, but it’s for everyone.”
Guests are encouraged to write down a wish and place it on the tree -Credit:SWNS
The inaugural wish placed upon the tree came from Kathryn’s father, Gwyn Roberts, 80, who recently suffered heart failure. Kathryn said: “I really wanted my dad to put the first wish on the tree. He has been in hospital for a while so I bring him down here sometimes.
“I even made sure there was a bench underneath so he could sit there and enjoy it. He’s always been my biggest supporter so it was for him more than anything.”
Despite the mounting costs of maintaining the displays, Kathryn says she continues to fund much of it herself because she takes great pleasure in watching people enjoy it.
She added: “It costs a lot more than people realise but I choose to do the cakes and snacks and drinks because it keeps people there longer and gets them talking.
“There’s not enough brightness in life anymore so I took it upon myself to try and find it for people. I just love seeing people happy.”
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