A colourful outlook: gardening with Parkinson’s

Opening your garden for the National Garden Scheme for the first time can be a daunting prospect and, if you’re also living with Parkinson’s, the challenge can be greater still. For Keith Wall, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, opening his garden as part of the Guilsfield Group in Welshpool, Powys this August is very much about teamwork, and doing everything a step at a time.

“It’s about recognising that you can’t do as much as you’d like,” says Keith who took a long time to accept the limitations that Parkinson’s brought with it. “But I now realise that I’m just a bit slower and that with help I can keep doing the things I love.”

One of those loves is gardening. “My dad was head gardener at Eastnor Castle in Ledbury and I picked up a love of gardening and especially of long lasting, bright colour in the garden from him. Begonia’s in particular are my favourite, for their colour and longevity. Even on a dull day they are bright and cheerful.”

So it’s little surprise to find that Keith’s garden, which he shares with his wife Rhian, is bursting with colour. The front garden is pretty unassuming but the back garden – which borders a nature reserve – is packed with colour. Echinacea, snap dragons and rubekia sing out from the beds and provide a really sunny welcome, and there are also seating areas to rest and soak in the atmosphere.

While Keith is a little unsteady on his feet and calls on Rhian to help with the pruning of taller shrubs, he can easily spend four or five hours in the garden. “There’s always dead heading to be done and it’s been so dry that watering has been pretty full time recently too. I just do a bit, rest for a bit, do a bit more and the time just goes.”

Gentle exercise is a key part of managing Parkinson’s and as well as the garden Keith enjoys daily walks around the neighbouring nature reserve. He also took part in the recent Parkinson’s UK Cymru Walk and enjoys being part of the local Parkinson’s support group. That Parkinson’s UK is one of the National Garden Scheme’s main beneficiaries – they’ve received over £2.4 million from garden openings since 2012 – means even more to Keith and Rhian as they prepare to open for the Scheme.

“It’s a way of saying thank you to the National Garden Scheme for the amazing amount of money given to Parkinson’s UK to help maybe, find a cure in the future,” says Keith. “And we’ve had such wonderful support from the local National Garden Scheme team, and the Parkinson’s UK local group have all promised to come to support on our open day on Sunday 10th August.”

While he admits to being a little anxious about it, Keith takes great comfort in knowing the rewards of visiting National Garden Scheme gardens first hand. “I know from visiting gardens that they not only provide great inspiration for gardeners, but that the garden owners are happy to share their expert advice and often great plants too, so I’m looking forward to offering our visitors a really warm, bright welcome too.”

For details of Keith and Rhian’s garden which opens as part of Guilsfield Gardens on Sunday 10th August click here