Gary Goddard, 70, says his therapy garden has helped him to cope and friends have encouraged him to share pictures with the Observer.
Gary said: “I don’t see it as anything special but following a traumatic event in January, I managed to cope by designing it over the past six months. I just think it’s a nice space but I’ve been pressured by friends to share the pictures.”
Gary said he came home one day in January to find his wife had left him.
He added: “It was a devastating shock, so after many weeks of mental health breakdown, I decided I had to do something to divert my thoughts and focus on something I always wanted to do, and that was to create a space of my own to be able to relax and help me believe that I still have a life to live.
“Building my garden has helped me through a very traumatic time and prevented me from listening to the dark thoughts I had.”
5. Therapy garden
Gary Goddard, 70, says his therapy garden has helped him to cope and friends have encouraged him to share pictures with the Observer Photo: Gary Goddard
6. Therapy garden
Gary Goddard, 70, says his therapy garden has helped him to cope and friends have encouraged him to share pictures with the Observer Photo: Gary Goddard
7. Therapy garden
Gary Goddard, 70, says his therapy garden has helped him to cope and friends have encouraged him to share pictures with the Observer Photo: Gary Goddard
8. Therapy garden
Gary Goddard, 70, says his therapy garden has helped him to cope and friends have encouraged him to share pictures with the Observer Photo: Gary Goddard