AN ‘EXTREME gardener’ is reviving Dorset streets one plant at a time through free labour.
Joel, 28, has become popular on social media for his videos dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, drinking wine and restoring community spaces.
Since sharing his work Joel has been inundated with requests from residents on which areas he should fix next.
(Image: Joel)
“I mainly do Bournemouth and Poole because that’s where I live and that’s the places I see all the time,” said Joel, although he also stretches his skills from Christchurch to the Purbecks.
Joel is predominantly an artist and musician but said his interest in plants was what inspired the ‘extreme gardening’.
“I absolutely love it and realised this is what I was born to do and don’t want to do anything else.”
He added: “I had the idea and it was the greatest stupid idea of my life.
“I thought, I have to film this if I'm going to do it, I have to show people what I'm doing and I'm glad I did because people love it.”
He joked that since uploading his videos he has to hide from the paparazzi with people requesting he fixes their own gardens.
“But that would be normal gardening, not extreme gardening,” he said.
(Image: Joel)
Joel, who declined to give his surname, used to restore local nature and planting areas through planting seeds but has began installing potted plants to make his videos more exciting.
He said that Bournemouth and Poole “are not the places they used to be” and need reviving.
“It does need work and I think there is also an attitude where people forget that it is our duty to make things look nice.
“We blame the council, but actually it's us.”
Joel also takes joy from the work he does, saying it gives him a “dopamine rush.”
“I love it so much, nothing has brought me so much pleasure and happiness, seriously, nothing in my life.
“Even on the low days, I think I can do extreme gardening this weekend.”
Joel shares his work from across Dorset on his Instagram @extremegardening.
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