I have been gardening for several years, mainly vegetables, herbs and a few flowers here and there.

My love of gardening stems from my childhood when I used to toddle along with my dad down to his allotment. Then when I was about 7 or 8 my dad gave me some Nasturtium seeds and a place to grow them around the front porch.

It is still a flower I grow to this day.

Since my health has deteriorated, I have found it increasingly difficult to get the motivation to grow things in my garden. I may have won a battle against CKD, but not the war, because dialysis is a treatment not a cure

This year (2026) is going to be the year that I will do more in the garden. I have so many plans for my garden this year, especially growing vegetables, herbs and a mix of meadow flowers, along with companion planting. I will be using the veg trugs to plant my salad seedlings.

I am also the proud owner of an 8ft x 6ft shed, which houses all my gardening equipment, compost and pots. My greenhouse has new staging for my seedlings, and my garden is being reorganised so it looks better, as I sit on my bench watching the plants grow.