Ashley Ball meets a gardener who takes both pride and solace in her Royston creation...
IT is not every day that Elaine Ledger gets to go into her garden and get to work.
That is not down to the predictably bad weather, nor is it a case of simply not fancying it.
It is because she is a full-time carer to husband Kevin who is suffering with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other medical conditions.
The 69-year-old former cleaner cares for Kevin, 75, around the clock so only has brief windows in which she can become green-fingered. She absolutely relishes them.
Mother Nature has hardly offered her an easy spot in which to work, though... and then there is her own arthritis.
Given the hand she has been dealt, it makes this bright and steep garden even more special.
The honeycomb-like walling at the back of the garden was in before they moved to this home in 2014. Without the clever planting inside it, it would have a brutalist, cold feel. Now it is a feeding zone for pollinators and adds a patchwork quilt of colour to catch the eye right from the backdoor.
The steepness of the garden seems to work in her favour as an acer and bottlebrush tree, both of which favour good drainage, flank either side of the walk up to a charming seating area.
So what does Elaine get out of gardening?
The answer is two-fold.
She said: “It is good for my mental health. Kevin sometimes has a nap and I can have a bit of a potter - it’s my sanctuary.
“You should always be able to go out into your garden and relax.
“All the plants have not come at a lot of cost. I take cuttings and swap with friends and family.
“I have arthritis but I think gardening keeps you going. It keeps you supple.
“My mum was still gardening up until 86. It makes you ache at the end of the day - but you’ve got to keep going.”
Kevin’s working life saw him work as a coalminer but latterly as a gardener for Wakefield Council.
So that is the other thing Elaine gets out of gardening. It is a legacy to continue.
Before falling ill Kevin would have been the chief gardener but Elaine carries the baton, or more accurately, the trowel.
It is clear to me that Kevin is well in favour of Elaine gardening when she can and on nice days he will sit outside and enjoy it with her. And that is clearly a great comfort to them both.
There will be separate awards for the best private and community gardens with a public vote opening on our website once all the gardens have been featured.
The hunt for Barnsley’s Best Garden is kindly sponsored by Sunflowers From The Hills.
Read more about our 'Barnsley's Best Garden' competition here: https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/28494/the-search-for-barnsleys-best-gardens-is-on
Meet all nine of our nominees and cast your vote :https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/29050/vote-for-the-best-garden-in-barnsley
Voteing is open from August 2 to August 11. You must be a registered user of our website in order to vote.
