Determined families enjoy favourite holiday activities and pastimes despite coronavirus lockdown misery

A GRAN whose once-in-a-lifetime safari trip was ruined by coronavirus has instead created a 6ft elephant in the garden to ride on.

Gail Blackwell, 66, had been planning a trip to Kenya with a friend when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

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Luckily her green-fingered husband Eric, 72, was able to trim a bush in their garden to recreate Gail’s favourite animal – the African elephant.

The couple, of Taunton, Somerset, have nicknamed the leafy green mammal ‘Nellie’ and even attached tusks which Eric picked up in an abattoir.

Gail told The Sun: “I was so looking forward to going to Kenya but coronavirus has shut everything down so it seems the only animals I might see this year will be at Longleat.

“I absolutely adore animals, elephants and giraffes are my favourite, I would love to see them in the wild and a trip to Kenya would have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Part-time receptionist Gail and Eric, who is disabled and unable to leave their home, have been stuck indoors like millions of others during the coronavirus crisis.

But their garden project has given the pair hours of entertainment.

Gail added: “We have been coping with the virus and dreaming about the holidays.

“Last year I was lucky enough to go away to Dubai, Turkey and I went on a Mediterranean cruise but this year I wanted to go a bit further, a safari has always been my dream but for the moment Nellie will have to do.”

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