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04
Nov 2021
Harrogate's 'Toytropolis' garden bringing smiles to children's faces
Harrogate man Paul Ivison has created "Toytropolis" — a garden resplendent with 200 toys, including Scooby-Doo, Batman and Peppa Pig.
Mr Ivison has lived in his house on Mayfield Terrace for 15 years and each year decorates his garden with different themes. When the Stray Ferret visited in the summer, he had created a loud and proud mental health-themed garden, which raised £137 for Mind.
For winter, he's been bargain hunting on Facebook marketplace to buy toys to make children and their parents smile.
He hopes to raise £500 for North Yorkshire Horizons, a county-wide drug and alcohol addiction service that he has previously worked for. Visitors can leave donations in a box by the gate.
Mr Ivison said:
He said the response from children and parents makes him feel good and helps with his own mental health.
Read more:
- Harrogate man says ‘outrageous, camp and wild’ garden saved his life
- Crime commissioner pledges extra police for Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove
He's had a problem with thieves visiting the garden. One tried to pinch a toy elephant, but thankfully its feet were attached to the ground with super-strength glue.
Mr Ivision will soon be adding six Christmas trees to the garden and Toytropolis will stay until the second week of January.
He added:
You can visit Toytropolis on the corner of Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace.
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