Gardeners’ World viewers get emotional over widow’s grounds as Monty Don speaks about grief

GARDENERS' World viewers were left unusually emotional tonight after being told the heart breaking story behind a widow's garden.

Amanda gave the production team a tour around her grounds in Coventry before opening up about the reason why she decided to plant a tropical paradise.

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She shared that her husband Guy died of bowel cancer at the young age of 43.

The pair used to love gardening together, and she decided to replace his trees with colourful plants after he passed as a way to process the pain.

She added: "It's hard to describe grief without using a swear word which I'm sure I'm not allowed to use. It's always there.

"Thank God for my garden. I come out here and I can smile because the colour just makes me smile. Even when I'm having a really horrible day it just lifts me.

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"Guy will always be in this space because it was his design. The bones of the garden will always be Guy - but the planting is now mine."

Heartbroken viewers flocked to social media to share how Amanda's story affected them.

One person wrote: "Emotional for her when she said she apologised for taking out his trees. Her garden will sustain her."

Another added: "Aw, I can empathise with what this lady has gone through. Awful when you lose your partner and gardening chum."

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A third shared: "Emotional watching Gardeners' World this evening."

A viewer praised her, saying: "This lady is so brave. She has a beautiful garden and I hope at least, it brings her some small comfort."

"The healing nature of a garden is enduring," one fan agreed. "A place to heal yourself & forget your travails. Such a sad but brave story about love and loss.

"The comfort in being in a place where your loved one has touched the stones and pavers you walk on everyday."

BBC show host Monty Don took a moment to talk about how turning to gardening can help those experiencing grief after hearing Amanda's story.

He said: "Over the years when people have talked to me about terrible personal loss and the subsequent grief, a recurring theme has been that gardening hasn't healed. You can't stop that grief.

"But it does give you hope, and it enables people to cope better and enrich their own lives. That's a very powerful thing."