Travel-loving teacher recreates more than 20 countries in his garden

From the twisting river Nile to the Panama canal, David Nash, 41, has recreated the natural splendour and rich cultures of more than 20 different countries.

He has done so to the delight and bemusement of his partner Emma and their two girls Rose, two, and Ruby, aged four months.

Mr Nash, assistant head teacher at Hedingham School, said recreating destinations from his travelling past highlighted how lockdown conditions had brought people closer together.

“I have tried to bring the essence of each country out while portraying it in a humorous way,” he said.

“The aim of it, more than anything, is to raise a smile on people’s faces during what is a difficult time.

“I feel very lucky, I’m healthy and my family’s healthy, I’ve got a wage, whereas a lot of people out there have an uncertain future.

“As a school we are doing our bit, but it is nothing compared to the NHS workers, the supermarket workers.”

He added: “One thing you find when you travelling particular countries like India or Central America, is that you can’t rush things.

“There is a lot to take in and it takes time.

“We’ve turned into a very ‘hurry-hurry’ culture, if there is one silver lining in all of this is that people have realised the importance of spending time with each other.

“Finding a creative purpose for old cereal boxes and making something, this is something commonly done 20 to 30 years ago, but not so much now.”

David Nash recreates travel destinations

Using household items, Mr Nash fashioned landmarks and mainstays of different cultures, such as using a large milk carton to create a rickshaw.

“I remember in Ethiopia we saw exactly that, one of these Tuk Tuks made out of old oil cans,” he said.

“In South Africa, kids were using bricks as cars.

“The joy of doing this with my two and a half year old daughter is that children tend to have that creative imagination, a willingness to believe anything can become anything.”

Mr Nash has managed to get away so often over the past 17 years thanks to his job in teaching, which provides ample time to travel.

For their honeymoon, he and Emma visited 11 Caribbean islands.

He hopes by bringing a taste of each country to his home, he can enrich his daughters’ lives during lockdown, as well as the lives of his followers on social media.

“It feels like the world has slowed down.

“I am well aware of the tragic events, and I’m not belittling those of course, but for a lot of people it has brought out their best side, and the best of humanity.

“We have been given that thing none of us ever seem to have enough of - time.”