A GREEN-thinking couple, who are blazing a trail in sustainable living, are to showcase their organic garden to the public.

When Yvonne and Steven Lucas moved into their home in Roman Road 13 years ago, the garden was a simple grass lawn.

Since then, the couple have transformed the space into a wildlife haven with eco-friendly gadgets which help them to lead a sustainable life.

They have more than 15 fruit trees, a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, flowers, several ponds, chickens, bees, rainwater harvesting and solar panels. Yvonne, 48, said: “We are almost self-sufficient with electricity. We pay about £50 a year for our bills.”

Steven, 53, added: “We don’t feed our electricity into the National Grid, we store it. So if the power went out in Basingstoke one evening, we would still be going.”

The couple, who have two sons, also have panels installed in their garden which are heated by the sun to generate hot water, to use inside their home, and they collect around 1,000 gallons of rainwater which is used to flush their toilets.

Two bee hives produce honey and chickens provide the family with fresh eggs.

Steven and Yvonne also own a six-acre woodland in Surrey which they use for timber, and have carved out impressive wooden sculptures which are now proudly on display in their garden.

Two greenhouses are used to grow tomatoes and spinach, and the couple also run three allotments in South Ham, where they grow vegetables.

The couple will open their garden, at 24 Roman Road, Worting, Basingstoke, to the public on June 9 and August 4 from 1pm to 5pm, in aid of Garden Organic and Hart Wildlife Rescue.

Plants and produce will be on sale and visitors can discover how to lead a sustainable lifestyle. Entrance will be £1, children free, and concessions 50p.