I’m a Master Gardener – How Our Outdoor Space Helps With Severe Back Pain

He’s a man you may recognise from his TV debut on Gardeners’ World last year.

But Ashley Edwards, a regular visitor to Gardeners’ Question Time, has a full-time job as a horticultural therapist at Horatio’s Garden on the grounds of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in north London, where he is also head gardener.

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This magical place provides relief, care and education to people suffering from serious spinal injuries.

And Ashley was kind enough to tell me how the current Gardening can help nourish both body and mind.

He said: “The garden gives patients time and space to process what has happened, because it is a big change in their lives.”

“It is wheelchair accessible and everything is at eye level, which makes you feel at one with the garden.

“If you have a spinal injury, it can sometimes affect your body temperature, so we provide a lot of shade here.

“And we have plants that attract insects and birds, so there’s something to look at, an extra layer of interest.

“The paths are, like the beds, Nice and curved, flat and soft, so that even people who are not yet familiar with a chair can easily ride it.

“And there’s color and scent all year round — it’s really important to engage all the senses.”

As a horticultural therapist, Ashley can also teach her patients all about the joys of gardening.

He said: “If you’ve had a spinal injury you might think, ‘Oh, I can’t do all those things I used to love.

“So it’s really great to be able to show people new skills or hobbies that they can do in a modified way. And you can show them that they can continue gardening, if that’s their passion.

“It’s about looking at the future. When you plant a seed today, you think about when you’re going to harvest it. And that gives people hope. A lot of people come here after a bike accident and are often quite angry — whether it was someone else’s fault or their own — and being in the garden gives them a chance to just breathe and be outside.

“If you want to have those thoughts, you can have them on your own. It helps you process everything that has happened.”

There are eight Horatio’s Gardens spread across the country.

• See horatiosgarden.org.uk.

TO RESCUE!

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KEEP your plants watered in the heat with this Balconniere Trough, £37.99, from The Range – or grab a Stewart Garden version for £10.49 from Scotsdales.

AUTUMN FLOWERS SHOW

THE Harrogate Autumn The Flower Show takes place at Newby Hall, Ripon, from 13th to 15th September.

Organized by the North of England Organised by the Horticultural Society (NEHS), the show attracts over 30,000 visitors and showcases the finest garden products and flowers.

The focus is on floral decorations, delicious products, expert garden advice and competitions.

The Incredible Edible Pavilion will host the Giant Vegetable Competition and the National Onion Competition, with growers competing to beat last year’s world record of a 19-pound, 7-ounce onion and win a prize of £1,500 money And Guinness Entry in the Book of Records.

There is also plenty of fun for younger visitors and they will have access to Newby Hall’s adventure garden.