Create an Accessible Garden                     
Equipment, garden structures and plant materials need to be carefully designed and selected to accommodate people with disabilities or physical restrictions. Vertical gardens, which make use of walls and fences, raised containers, a potting up table and a suitable, comfortable, lightweight seat/chair can help make a garden accessible to people with disabilities. Build or adjust your garden around your own needs.

Tip: Asking family or  friends to help you get your garden ready or adjust/re-arrange certain areas of your garden is a good idea. You can always pay them back later with some home grown veggies and fruits.

Raise garden beds to avoid the need for wheelchair bound gardeners, or to save bending and stooping as much.

Make raised vegetable and herb garden beds which are high enough to be wheelchair accessible (if you use a wheelchair), so you can plant and pick the veggies and herbs comfortably, plus a raised bench or table for potting up and planting in the one place.   A plastic, folding trestle table is also ideal as it can stay out in the weather if needed and a wheelchair should fit under the sides. Measure the height of your wheelchair arms to ensure the height of the table will accomodate part of the chair so you can use the table top comfortably.

Tips to help make the garden easy to use:-
To provide easy and safe access and manage varying disabilities, you may want to make some or all the following modifications when planning your garden:

* Keep pathways between the garden beds wider than usual (wide enough for a wheelchair or a walking frame to turn around - plus a bit more space). 

* Use pots, window boxes, old wheelbarrows etc to grow veggies or herbs in.

* Use or create raised containers to make gardening more accessible (this is where family or friends could help) – these can also be used when space and sunlight are issues.

* Wheelbarrow for moving soil, mulch around the garden.....if you are able to use one, make sure you only use a lightweight barrow, and keep any filling to a minimum - so it isn't hard for you to move. 

* Provide retractable hanging baskets that can be pulled up and down so they are within easy reach.

* Use containers with wheels, which can be moved around easily to catch the sunlight.

* Keep paths smooth, non-slip, accessible and level, plus free of debris.

* Have a handy water supply and place plants together according to their water needs.

* Have an equipment storage area or shed nearby.

* Provide shade for working in the garden in summer (maybe a market or beach umbrella would be suitable) and remember to use hats, sunscreen and other sun protection, PLUS a bottle of drinking water (to help prevent dehydration whilst working in the garden on hot or warm days).

Place garden seats or chairs in various area's around the garden, for resting when needed.

# IT IS ALSO WISE TO HAVE YOUR MOBILE TELEPHONE IN YOUR POCKET IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES.