Fred - new outdoor enclosure

[Amron]

Hi everyone, thought i would share this outdoor enclosure I am building for Fred.
I haven't built his house yet but I am working on it. It will be made of wood one side enclosed for sleeping, one side on paving flags with a basking lamp. I am hoping to run it by solar power and with some sort of weight activated switch so it comes on when he stands under the lamp. Until it's built he comes inside to sleep, bask in the morning, soak ( not every day) wander around until he decides it's time to go outside, he uses the cat flap, I have to be on my toes and listen for him escaping so I can transfer him to his enclosure.
Plants inside the enclose include: aloe vera,herb Robert,tyhme,coriander,lavender,forget me knots, wide plaintain, narrow plaintain, succulents, cacti, dandelions,snap dragons, petunias,campanula,mimulus,dianthus, elephant ears ( forgotten the proper name).
He has water in the grassed area, a hide in his sun room.
Anybody got any suggestions or ideas for improvement? I would welcome feedback. Hope you like so

 

[Rue]

Looks good! How does Fred like it?

And I don't quite see where it is. Is it in your garden?

 

[JoesMum]

Looking good. A piece of slate, some skate chips or a dark slab will create an area that warms up quickly that your tort can bask on.

 

[Amron]

Fred loves it, he is even eating the cutle fish that's been in there for a week, I read somewhere that they do that when it's been left outside for a while. Yes it's in our garden, it got flooded recently so it's all mud at the moment, the chickens are wearing wellies. The plants can only grow so high before the chickens start keeping them trim

 

[Amron]

Thank you for saying it looks good, I don't think it looks pretty at the moment but with a rockery and some masonry paint on the outside might make it look better.

 

[Amron]

Thanks Joe's mum, I was intending to run some blue slate through the centre to make a pathway, maybe next weekend's job

 

[Rue]

No, it looks good.

What garden doesn't have room for improvement?

Well - truth be told...I've seen one that was close to perfect...it was in England too, but it belonged to an estate. Can't remember the town, but it was in Cumbria somewhere...we were happily wandering around looking for standing stones...and the very nice Gentleman who owned the estate, was out in his Wellies and his hunting jacket doing chores. He graciously allowed us on the property to look around, and showed us a standing stone nearby.

 

[Jacqui]

In the last picture, what is that plant in the lower right side?

 

[Amron]

That is the ' elephant ears' can't remember the correct name ;-)

 

[Amron]

It is on the Tortoise Tables list, feed in moderation, should get pink flowers on it but it has been growing in the shade in my front garden before I pinched a bit for the enclosure

 

[Amron]

No, it looks good.

What garden doesn't have room for improvement?

Well - truth be told...I've seen one that was close to perfect...it was in England too, but it belonged to an estate. Can't remember the town, but it was in Cumbria somewhere...we were happily wandering around looking for standing stones...and the very nice Gentleman who owned the estate, was out in his Wellies and his hunting jacket doing chores. He graciously allowed us on the property to look around, and showed us a standing stone nearby.

there are some lovely estates in Cumbria and most owners are down to earth sort of guys