Newport Family Turns Backyard Into Tropical Jungle

When Dave Robinson and Gemma Furby planted a banana tree in their Newport backyard in 2017, they had no idea their seven-year-old son would someday be leading his friends past poisonous plants and spiky ferns. Today, their ordinary terraced house in Alway hides a thriving tropical jungle that looks like it belongs in another climate entirely.

The couple bought their first home in 2016 with an empty garden and big dreams. Dave, 39, grew up surrounded by plants thanks to his grandad's allotments and his dad's love of gardening, so he filled the space with houseplants right away.

After a trip to Madeira and the Eden Project in Cornwall, they planted their first banana tree. Gemma, 37, a nurse who wasn't initially interested in gardening, found herself catching the same enthusiasm.

Within a few years, their sunny lawn transformed into a shady retreat filled with plants from Africa, Asia, and South America. Dave, who works at a garden centre, says milder British winters and hotter summers now let exotic species survive outdoors that would have died just years ago.

Young Arlo has grown up playing among the unusual plants and helps his parents take cuttings and sow seeds. He knows the garden so well that when a friend visited, he proudly showed them every poisonous or spiky plant, creating his own "danger tour."

The couple sources rare plants from nurseries across Wales and England, and they trade cuttings with an online community. In 2020, they started a Welsh tropical gardening group that has grown to 700 members who share tips and swap plants at garden fairs across the UK.

The Ripple Effect

The jungle has become more than just a family project. Last year, Dave and Gemma opened their hidden paradise to the public to raise money for a mental health charity, since spending time in the garden has helped Dave's own mental wellbeing.

They planned another opening in July to support Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice. What began as one banana tree and a dream has blossomed into a way to give back to their community while inspiring others to create their own green spaces.

Sometimes the smallest seeds grow into the biggest impact.