Tips for creating an accessible, beautiful garden for everyone, whether you’re making a garden safe for someone with specific difficulties or just want to ‘future-proof’ your garden for the years Mark Lane, the UK’s first garden designer in a wheelchair and presenter on BBC Gardeners World, takes the Middlesized Garden round his own garden and talks about how to make a garden safe, beautiful and comfortable.
Find Mark Lane Garden Design at https://www.marklanedesigns.com/
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15 Comments
I've enjoyed this video as it speaks to layers of needs required in a garden. As I listened, thinking of my own garden, how it as changed based on my age. Mark Lane have a beautiful garden. I love the iron ball structure, the randomness of the garden that still addresses its needs, and makes me want to see more videos on garden lights.
this is boring
Thanks Alexandra – enjoyed that. Great description of how he designed the garden and did the gravel paths. That's a lovely garden with gorgeous little seating areas and lovely plant groupings.
This is wonderful!!!! I do believe is very important. We should always think of others in our gardens as well so everyone can enjoy. I have children a child with autism and pets also older friends that visit and I need to make sure it’s safe and that they can enjoy. I love that he has found a way to enjoy his beautiful garden and to be able to maintain it as well. Great video! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
I found this really valuable. Lovely to see Mark’s garden and ideas for accessibility. As an older disabled gardener I totally endorse everything he says and already taking on his point about gravel.
Very informative video and a lovely garden. I really enjoyed the various tips. As a senior I am increasingly aware of the need to make gardening accessible, not just for me and my husband but for various family and guests. Also small children have accessibility needs too. The seating point made by Mark is a very good example. It's important to have a variety of chairs that everyone can sit on comfortably and tables that everyone can reach. It does require some thinking and planning. 🙂 The other day my five year old granddaughter was sitting on a timber chair under our big tree as we had a picnic, and her feet were dangling in the air. She didn't look too comfy and it crossed my mind that I need to provide something else that suits. 🙂
Mark you may be at a disadvantage, but I bet you have put more work in to your garden then Mark Lane gardens manager of Bucking ham Palace gardens ever did. He is and his office staf are happy to sit back and take the credit for the poorly paid worker's.
Thank you for this video. Accessibility to the garden was not something I ever gave any thought to….until 6 years ago when I became chronically ill and began using a walking stick…goodness me…all my beautifully laid steps and the twists and turns of narrow paths, different levels, the once easy to weed/plant borders , the sunken pond…all had to go and basically we had to begin again!! It is still a work in progress as it is a very large garden, but, weather permitting it should be completed by the end of this year. It has been an absolute eye opener for sure 🙂 Plan ahead folks!!
Thank you I am disabled and although do not need a wheelchair in my garden yet, I am really struggling to do any gardening. This video was very informative and useful. It's given me a lot to think about and to plan for. Many thanks.
i am also a wheelchair user, but i would like tubs so i keep it under control, if i had a choice i would have it designed into area. and like a herb garden
Very thought provoking and a wonderful garden.
It would be great to see how a person in a wheelchair can physically garden and the technique that can be used.
I'm seriously thinking about moving to a property I will build on and since my knees have issues I needed to know what my paths should be like. I found this helpful.
Would love to see the night time view of his garden and paths. This is one of my favorite videos for ideas on garden design and seating that's welcoming for everyone ☺️
A number of years ago, I was struck by an illness that required using a wheelchair for about a year, followed by a gradual recovery. I realized then (having previously enjoyed robust good health) that gardens shouldn't be designed for only fit, uncumbered people between the ages of 16 and 50! Thank you, Mark for your eminently practical suggestions and for the tour of your beautiful garden – I would have loved to see it at night. One thing I would add is that we, and our loved ones are all temporarily or permanently disabled, or at least "encumbered" in our lifetimes. Height of seating (about 19-20" for most older people), and good strong armrests to assist in getting up from the seated position is extremely helpful; younger people may have the strength and coordination to get in and out of a low-slung lounge chair – but not everyone! Thank you Mark and Alexandra – from M A Jaworski Landscape Design in Ottawa (Canada).