Grieving mother transforms her best friend's garden

Beauty therapist, Katie Osmond, 31, from Oakley, told the Gazette: “My best friend Nina has been amazing and there for me every single day since my fiancé and father passed away.

“It didn’t feel real to lose them both, it was like I was in a nightmare.

“It was the hardest time of my life.

“My fiancé ended up in St Michael’s Hospice and staff cared for him brilliantly.”

Katie’s fiancé, Carl Beswick, 44, passed away in January 2020 and her father, Michael Osmond, 56, also lost his life in April 2020.

After all of the support Katie received from her best friend, she decided to give something back to Nina and transform her garden to say thank you.

Three and a half weeks were spent transforming Nina's garden

The 31-year-old teamed up with eight girls from the Oakley community, and spent three and a half weeks transforming Nina’s garden.

“Nina’s face lit up when she saw her garden completely changed.

“She absolutely loved it and was speechless.

“Everyone chipped in a generous amount.

“We were sneaky so Nina didn’t know we were transforming her garden,” Katie said.

Beauty therapist, Nina Karlsen, 41, from Oakley, said: “I did not know anything about it until I was at my best friend Katie’s house.

“It’s been a really hard year and I have been with her 24/7.

“With the outbreak of Covid, I was living with Katie and could not leave her on her own.

“Just before her fiancé died, the kids were surprised and we went to Disneyland Paris.

“Katie’s fiancé asked me to take his place before he passed away.”

Only 10 people were able to attend Katie’s father’s funeral due to coronavirus restrictions.

“All the girls have been so supportive to Katie and kept it a secret about the garden.

“It has been such a tough year for all of us.”

The girls purchased a renovated second hand shed, and painted it, with lots of trips to the dump.

In response to having her garden completely transformed, Nina said: “The garden looks beautiful.

“It’s kept Katie’s mind busy as well.

“It is a very nice transformation.”

A poem from Katie

Thank you for being there, throughout everything! You have been my truest friend an Angel did bring,

You’re always there helping everyone going here and there.

So now is time to give back with this new idea we share.

We have had a secret going on and for this I hope you pardon;

but we have raised some money and are going to do up your garden.