HE is a man you may recognise from his Gardeners’ World debut on TV last year. But Gardeners’ Question Time regular Ashley Edwards’ full-time job is horticultural therapist at Horatio’s Garden in the grounds of North London’s Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, where he is also head gardener. 4 Ashley Edwards at work at the incredible Horatio’s Garden Credit: Jon Bond 4 Ashley with patient Paul West, who broke his spine when Para-Gliding in France in May this year Credit: Jon Bond This magical place provides respite, care and education for people who are struggling with serious spinal injuries.
And Ashley has been kind enough to tell me how the power of gardening can help to nourish both body and mind. He said: “The garden allows time and space for patients to process what’s happened, because it’s a big life change.” “It is wheelchair accessible and everything is at eye level so you feel immersed in the garden.
READ MORE ON GARDENING DIRTY HACK Gardening pros reveal 2 tips to help revive my 'dead' bushes - they're cheap too GARDEN GOALS Gardening fans share 'the only way' to kill ivy and stop it from coming back “When you have a spinal injury sometimes it affects your body temperature, so here we provide lots of shade. “And we have plants that attract insects and birds, so there are things to look at, an extra layer of interest. “The pathways, like the beds, are nice and curved, flat and gentle, so people who are new to their chairs can get around.