Gardening as therapy
BBC presenter Lauren Laverne has described her garden as “massive therapy” after being diagnosed with an incurable condition and losing both parents in the last eight years. The 48-year-old radio host, known for presenting Desert Island Discs, was recently diagnosed with smouldering myeloma – an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that can develop into blood cancer, though her risk is “pretty low”.
Laverne previously had cancer, which was caught early, and she beat the disease. Speaking on the Outsiding podcast, hosted by Adam Frost and Caitlin Moran, she said she has turned to gardening as a form of therapy after struggling “over the last few years”.
Loss and recovery
She explained: “My garden has been massive therapy for me. I mean, I’ve had a tricky time over the last few years. And so I’ve spent more and more and more time outside. I think the older I’ve got, the more I’ve needed that, you know, needed that time outdoors.”
Laverne revealed that in the “last eight years” she lost both her parents. “I lost my mam and dad, they both died. And then, you know, I got cancer and been through lots of different health challenges with like recovery and things like that. It’s been really important to have the garden, I’ve spent more and more time out there.”
She recalled being in hospital for a month during her cancer treatment, looking out at a park during a heatwave. “I just remember thinking, ‘God, I’ve been the same temperature for weeks and weeks and weeks, and the artificial light and everything, it’s very strange.’”
Healing outdoors
Laverne said that after returning home she wanted to be outside, noting that when going through something difficult, parties or work can make someone feel out of place. “But the funny thing about being outdoors and outside, especially in gardens, is that they meet you like wherever you are. You can feel however you want to feel.”
She added: “You’re back on natural time, out in that environment. It reminded me that we’re just little creatures. And if we get hurt or if we go through something difficult, we need the time that we need to recuperate and heal.”
