Widow defies doctors to tend to her beloved garden

Val Brown was airlifted to hospital after she badly dislocated her right shoulder and damaged her right arm in a fall just a day before her beloved husband Dave’s funeral in June 2017.

Medics initially told Val, who spent more than a decade developing the Japanese stroll garden Tranquillity Haven with Dave, that she would never garden again due to the level of nerve damage.

But with the help of physiotherapy and her determination, Val has built up her strength and is able to tend to the garden in Whitton, near Knighton, eventually opening it up to raise funds for the National Garden Scheme charity.

Now the garden has been featured in a virtual film tour for the charity allowing viewers to enjoy a taste of tranquillity from home.

Val, 79, says she is proud to open the garden for the National Garden Scheme to help charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, as Dave was cared for by a Macmillan nurse following his lymphoma diagnosis.

“The care Macmillan gave to both Dave and I was exceptional and they went above and beyond their duties. I cannot thank them enough,” said Val.

“After my accident, when they said I’d never garden again, I thought ‘I’ll show you’.

“I did physiotherapy and kept working really hard. Luckily, I’m left-handed and I hurt my right side.

“It doesn’t stop me from gardening. I’m very determined.

“After Dave died I thought this would be a good way to raise money, opening the garden and to keep me occupied and also to give people the chance to see the garden. People often comment how they feel at peace and relaxed in the garden.”

Val started the garden from scratch with her late husband, Dave.

During the film by Burnt Orange Media, viewers can take a stroll over the garden’s red oriental bridge and watch the babbling river run underneath it as well as enjoying a multitude of greenery and flowers.

Val and Dave developed the garden from scratch, doing the landscaping themselves with Dave building the Japanese-style bridges.

Val’s garden, which will open on weekends in June and October next year, is one of 3,500 gardens opened to raise funds for the NGS to support Macmillan Cancer Support and other nursing and health charities.

George Plumptre, CEO of the National Garden Scheme, said: “Our garden owners are inspired to open their gardens for many different reasons; the strongest is to share the joy of their gardens with others, closely followed by a desire to support our beneficiary charities.

“Val’s story brings the whole ethos of the scheme into one beautiful space.”

Nicola Keith, of Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “Val’s story is an inspiration.

“On behalf of Macmillan, I want to say a huge thank you to Val for opening her beautiful garden for the National Garden Scheme and raising vital funds for their beneficiaries, including Macmillan.

“We are delighted people are able to enjoy a virtual visit too, enjoying both the vibrancy and tranquillity of Val’s garden from the comfort of their own homes.”

Macmillan Cancer Support and the National Garden Scheme work together in a unique partnership where opening private gardens to the public helps transform lives.

Since 1984, the NGS has donated over £17.6 million and has given a total of £60 million to nursing and health charities since 1927. This year it has donated £425,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support.

This money is raised though generous garden owners, like Val, opening their gardens to members of the public for a donation. The money donated to Macmillan went towards the state-of-the-art Y Bwthyn NGS Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Unit in South Wales.

For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk. To donate, fundraise or volunteer call 0300 1000 200.

To support the NGS and find a beautiful garden near you, visit www.ngs.org.uk.

Finally, you can watch the film of the garden at https://youtu.be/LmZtnqdSUWs.