Gardens for wellbeing from a wheelchair user's perspective
By Debbie Austin, 2021
Fellow’s Profile
Fellow’s Profile
Gardens for wellbeing from a wheelchair-user's perspective
Improving the therapeutic benefits of community gardens for wheelchair users by increasing accessibility
2017
South West
I'm a gardening enthusiast from Cornwall with a particular interest in making my passion accessible to all. My interest in this area stemmed from the benefits (physical, emotional and social wellbeing) I experienced from gardening, but also the barriers I faced as a wheelchair user (I have progressive multiple sclerosis).
My Fellowship focused on gardens for wellbeing in Japan and Singapore. My initial aim was to establish an accessible community-based gardening project in my locality. Whilst I continue to be involved in the voluntary gardening sector, my current work centres on running a preschool gardening group. This came about due to the isolation many parents and carers have experienced during lockdown.
Following my Fellowship I have continued to support a local gardening group, for which I have received a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS). I've been petitioning to improve access to open spaces across my locality and developments are in progress. It's been a long time coming but a suitable location for my community-based gardening work has been offered. I'm excited for the future possibilities.
By Debbie Austin, 2021
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
By Debbie Austin, 2021
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.