Being in greenery, with life all around us, helped after my diagnosis
is until they’ve operated. If it had spread to my lymph nodes or if it was the aggressive Her2-positive type, I knew I’d be having chemotherapy. Waiting for my appointment, I noticed a donations wall explaining that the National Garden Scheme (NGS) had given £1.5 million to the cost of this fantastic building and garden. I said to Ade, “This is a sign. If it’s not really bad news, I’m going to open for the NGS next year.”
It was good news.
They’d got all the cancer out and I didn’t need chemo. I got in touch with our local NGS organiser as soon as I got home. I needed something to focus on beyond the impending radiotherapy in December 2022. By mid-january, I was back in my wellies and it was full steam ahead to get the garden ready for summer.
Imposter syndrome kicked in.
I’ve visited some amazing gardens through NGS Open Days. I love getting ideas from people who grow in similar conditions – plus there are amazing cakes. The NGS organiser had brilliant advice. “Only you will know what you haven’t been able to get done,” she said. “Everyone else will just be enjoying the Peak District views.”
No gardening task gives me more joy than picking organic produce to cook.
I’m self-sufficient in fruit and veg, except potatoes and onions. Ade makes beautiful teepees using our coppiced willow for my climbing heritage peas and mange-tout – they’ll be covered in beautiful pink and magenta flowers when we open for the NGS in June.
I was nervous before our first Open Day in 2023,
but the weather was gorgeous and 200 people came. We had Prosecco cream teas on the patio – my girl-squad of friends baked the scones and I provided the homemade gooseberry jam – and we sold beer from Ade’s microbrewery in our barn. We raised £2,500 from entry tickets, plant sales and refreshments, splitting the proceeds between the NGS and the local hospice charity that helped us care for my late mum.
Mum passed away last year, a few months after the open day.
She’d lived with us for ten years and was in the later stages of dementia. She loved picking flowers and checking on the walnut tree we’d planted together. We’d have coffee together every day in the herb garden. It’s my favourite place to sit, and I often think of Mum while I’m watching the bees on the rosemary bushes and listening to the clucks and crows of our free-range hens.
at Ashen Clough in Derbyshire opens for the National Garden Scheme on June 16, 11am-4pm. Tickets £5, children free. Book at findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/45419/ashen-clough. Follow Maggie’s gardening adventures on Instagram @whatmaggiedidnext.