Skip to content

Covid: The cloud gardener who has an 18th floor balcony oasis

A man who lives on the 18th floor of a city centre apartment block has transformed his balcony into a gardening oasis.

Jason Williams, 34, started off buying one marigold at the start of lockdown before turning his balcony in the Deansgate area of Manchester into a "cloud garden".

He said his newfound hobby has helped with his anxiety and depression during the Covid pandemic.

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

13 May 2021

Explore More

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, the Rt Rev John Arnold, is dressed in black. He has grey, parted hair and is wearing glasses

Bishop 'can see Pope Leo XIV coming to the UK'

Women dance jubilantly waving Union flags

How North West England celebrated VE Day

Girl holding bunch of freshly picked beetroot on her allotment.

'You'd get a plot quicker in Roselawn Cemetery than an allotment'

Northern Ireland

Barber and customer, who is homeless

Barber offers free haircuts to homeless people

Mural of The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke unveiled

Jim McColl wears a tweed cap and green jacket and jumper with a checked shirt. He stands in front of a Beechgrove Gardens sign.

Watch: 40 years of Jim McColl on Beechgrove Garden

NE, Orkney & Shetland

Former homeless and tour guide Andy holds guided trips around Manchester

Former homeless man becomes city centre tour guide

A Manchester woman sitting outside at a restaurant wears a grey t-shirt and talks into a BBC microphone

‘Ow much? Oasis fans react to homecoming gig prices

A man plays a guitar on stage

'We witnessed history' - video of Oasis's last gig in 2009

A Shoezone shop on fire

Cars and shop torched in violent UK protests

A den made from sticks and wood in a garden designed by London children

The London garden where no adults are allowed

Crowd stuck in darkness at airport

'It's utter chaos': Video shows huge crowds stuck in darkness at terminal

Wendy Hurrell meets Martin Hojka from the Hyde Park super nursery

Behind the scenes at Hyde Park 'super nursery'

A younger woman hugs an older woman

Neighbours transform 94-year-old's 'jungle' garden

Fans at Co-op Live venue

'We thought it was a joke' - Dismay as Co-op Live gig cancelled

Drag queen Lady Bushra on life, laughs and Bradford

Running club at Salford Quays

The running club that is changing people's lives

Police dash cam video shows chasing stolen vehicle

Watch: 'Someone took my car, and my 89-year-old mum'

Hairstylist Callum Walker doing a client's hair

Fashion week 'surreal moment' for young stylist

Dominic holding gardening tools

Community rallies after boy's garden tools stolen

Liz White, wearing a dark blue England tracksuit and a dark blue top, stares away from the camera in the play Dear England

'Gareth made football more appealing for me'

Dear England actress Liz White says the former England boss made her like football more.

Anna Barrow, with brown hair and a striped white and gold shirt, sits in a wheelchair speaking into a computer mounted on a stand

MND patient says recording voice was 'emotional'

Anna Barrow, from Eccles, who was diagnosed two years ago, recorded a "voice bank" for the future.

Roof sags as rubbles, brick and dust falls from top floor of building

Watch: Building collapses in busy village centre

Crowds gasp as bricks fall and parts of the three-storey building in Hale collapses in on itself.

David Howarth with a short grey beard and bald head wearing an orange shirt and red jumper and a high-rise building in the background

'The flood has absolutely devastated my life'

David Howarth's apartment in Stockport was flooded and his car ruined on New Year's Day.

Police officer standing over a male whose face is blurred out lying on the ground

Watch: Police detain teenager 'carrying stun gun'

Police officers say they heard screams before spotting a suspect with an electric stun gun in Wigan.

Joey Swindells, a 28-year-old busker from Bolton, sits at his makeshift drum set. His hand-written "Busking Joe" sign is propped up in front of him, next to his equipment case

Drummer quits office job to busk near gig venues

Joey Swindells says it is "amazing" to earn a living from busking near gig venues and festivals.

Six children stand in front with their karate medals while three teachers stand behind them smiling

Karate kids return home with 100-medal haul

A group of young martial artists from Rochdale are celebrating after a pan-European tournament.

Image from video showing incident at Manchester Airport

BBC Verify analyses Manchester Airport incident footage

BBC Verify's Richard Irvine-Brown analyses the footage from Manchester Airport's Terminal 2.

Rebecca Joynes smiling with folded arms as she watches boy A with the Gucci belt

CCTV shows teacher buying Gucci belt for schoolboy

Teacher Rebecca Joynes is seen paying for a £350 belt for a schoolboy she groomed and had sex with.

A donkey has been given a life-changing pair of orthopaedic boots

Therapy donkey gets life-changing orthopaedic boots

A community farm raises hundreds of pounds for the boots for the rescue donkey who was neglected.

Jack Grealish standing on a bus during Manchester City's title parade

Grealish almost falls off bus at Manchester City parade

The midfielder appeared to get caught out as the vehicle started to move from a stationary position.

Hacker meets Emmanuelle Lhoni

CBBC's Hacker T Dog celebrates 15 years on screen

The canine star of children's TV continues to entertain the nation with his madcap antics.

Cindy Ngamba

Boxer's delight at spot on Olympic refugee team

Bolton-based Cindy Ngamba will represent the International Olympic Federation’s Refugee Team in Paris.

Deborah wearing an eye patch made with pearls

Woman who lost eye due to cancer in sunburn warning

A woman who says she got cancer after not using sunscreen is warning others to take care.

Cheerleading team

Cheerleading team bring gold medals home

Cheerleaders from a special abilities group in Salford won gold at the World Championship in Florida.

Jasmine from Swinton

Girl, 7, on mission to clear the streets of litter

Jasmine is on a quest to tidy up her hometown because littering is "bad for the environment".

Erik ten Hag and Alfie

Man Utd fan who cried at FA Cup win meets heroes

Alfie's tearful reaction to a last-gasp victory over Liverpool was widely shared on social media.

Bob Darlington

Train driver retires after more than forty years

A retirement party has been held at Manchester Victoria for a popular Northern train driver.

Adonis Norouznia

Vegan cafe boss abused online for selling meat

Adonis Norouznia has been threatened since adding meat to menus due to rising costs.

Policeman on horse

Police force recruits its biggest horse

Adjustments have been made for Trooper, who should give his rider an advantage in crowded areas.