Man with MS designs RHS show garden inspired by his own diagnosis

Gavin Moth, from Langport in Somerset, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2012, leaving him immobile with impaired hearing, speech, and vision. His garden, designed along with Somerset horticulturist Michael Leech, is on show at the first RHS Badminton Flower Show in South Gloucestershire until Sunday. "The idea is to come into the garden, feel relaxed, collected and calm - not have to worry about your day to day pains and struggles with illness," he said. Once the RHS show closes on Sunday, the garden will be transported to live at Brightwell in Bristol, a therapy centre for people with chronic neurological conditions. Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, often debilitating disease of the central nervous system which affects information passed through the brain and spinal cord. According to the NHS, common symptoms include vision problems, numbness and tingling, and mobility issues. Moth's experience of the condition is woven throughout the garden's design. Wooden archways resemble nerve-like structures, providing support for climbing plants, while symptoms and inspirational messages have been carved into decorative rocks. Most of the garden's 400 plants have also been selected for their low-maintenance qualities. Moth described gardening as a place of "peace away from the chronic pain that people can suffer from" Following his diagnosis, Moth returned to college to train as an RHS Horticulturalist and built a social media presence as 'The MS Gardener'. Welling up with tears as he reflected on the completed project, he described seeing the garden finished as "surreal". "Two years ago I was sat at my desk in my home office thinking 'this is it for me and my MS, working and doing this for the rest of my life'," he said. "Gardening has really helped me, both physically and mentally. It's made me happy. "Just to sit here, feel nice about yourself and help your mental health. I'm proud of this and the legacy it will leave afterwards." Leech said he hoped the garden would "tell a story", adding: "It's been a journey for myself learning about [Gavin's] journey, and MS in the wider scope of things. "It's been inspirational." Symptoms of the MS have been carved into the garden and most plants require minimal upkeep Doro Pasantes, CEO of Brightwell, said the drafted plans had not prepared her for how "stunning" the exhibit would be in real life. "I have been blown away by how beautiful the garden is and how well the message fits in with everything that Brightwell does," she said. "I can't believe all of this is coming back to Brightwell's garden - that's the real bonus. "That all of our members can experience it for many years to come, being able to spend some time outdoors, taking in those calming sensations."