Cadbury Heath resident Zoey Ryland turned her garden into a spectacular Halloween display for the fifth year running to raise money for Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
The garden was a true labour of love, built mainly from recycled materials and broken mannequins, and featured eerie props crafted with the help of her uncle, Robin Golding. Zoey also had support from eight local volunteers to bring the spooky vision to life.
She said: “It started as a lockdown project in 2020, when I was unable to work as a hairdresser at my salon Zed Hair. I had a wacky idea that if I didn’t have a salon to decorate then I was going to build an American style Halloween garden.”
For Zoey, the cause is deeply personal. Her Mum, Vivien Gidman, died in 1999 at just 48 years old after a long battle with Crohn’s disease, and another family member was diagnosed 12 years ago.
Zoey recalled: “I have very fond memories of my Mum making my amazing costumes out of things she found around the house or in the .She would not only do the traditional Halloween games but even make up her own like ‘pin the wart on the witches nose’ instead of pin the tail on the donkey. Despite her illness, she never let us kids feel like we were missing out. As an adult with IBS (not Crohn’s), I don’t know how she found the strength!”
What started as a local attraction now draws 1200 visitors, including 100 bikers from the Ride 2 Raise Zombie Ride Out, who make an annual stop at Zoey’s spooky display.
Zoey said: “I’ve had visitors from Wales and even Ireland—it’s incredible. “The garden costs me between £2,000 and £5,000 each year, but seeing the joy it brings and raising money for such an important cause makes it worth every penny.”
The charity supports people living with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease. This year, Zoey’s already raised £755 and hopes to beat her previous totals.
To find out more about Crohn’s and Colitis UK visit: https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/
