NIGEL Maby's backyard isn't so much a garden as an animal sanctuary. A helicopter hop from Edinburgh Airport, Maby's 8.5-acre garden is as grandiose as his bank balance, but less well-publicised and that's the way he likes it.
The garden demonstrates that there's more to the market millionaire's creative flair than a gift for making money.
What the man behind Spook Erections Ltd has created over 21 years is a slice of the Highlands, a wildlife park in what was once a flat field.
Eighty thousand tonnes each of soil and boulders, natural woodland, and no fewer than nine ponds have moulded a mountainous landscape in Edinburgh's greenbelt. ``I've tried to do it as naturally as possible,'' explains Maby. ``It's all out of my own head.'' Others, however, have literally pitched in. In the style of Capability Brown, Maby has the visions, but it's down to right-hand-man Eddie to attend to the execution.
They have established an organised natural habitat in which additional food sources (including swill from two city restaurants) are supplied all year round to mallards, muscovies, and teal.
Two hundred rats live a self-regulating existence on an enclosed moated island. Six peacocks share the grassy slopes (trimmed by 20 geese) with fan-tailed pigeons; and the interconnecting ponds are stocked with goldfish and golden orfe.
As for truly natural wildlife, the garden is visited by foxes (Maby feeds them daily), deer, bats (provided with bat boxes), weasels, stoats, and moorhen.
An RSPB life-member, Maby is as keen to provide varied habitat as he is mindful of food chains. ``We put out sugar for the ants, and swill for the wild birds. They all contribute droppings which encourages more insects and that in turn encourages spiders and wrens.''
To the casual observer, only time can further enhance the astonishing panorama beyond Maby's sitting-room window.
But this Muhammed is not content with a single mountain. ``I am going to create a wetland area and also top the hill with a 17-tonne rock,'' he says.
Once upon a time, Maby ran a Great Dane rescue service: ``I ended up with five because I couldn't find homes for them.'' But any suggestion of adding further to his responsibilities outside fill this animal lover with horror. ``I've got quite enough of a feeding bill without anything else, thank you,'' he says tartly.
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