Television legend Monty Don admitted that December represents a “low time of year” for him as he grapples with a condition affecting approximately two million Britons.
The Gardeners’ World presenter has been candid about his battle with seasonal affective disorder, which affects roughly three in 100 people across the UK.
The beloved broadcaster revealed that undertaking some gardening work in his renowned Longmeadow garden during the period between Christmas and New Year typically helps ease his symptoms.
Speaking to Gardeners’ World magazine, Monty explained: “December can be a low time of year for me psychologically, as I am prone to seasonal affective disorder, but my spirits always rise when we get to Boxing Day.
“Even if it’s filthy weather, I always do some gardening – I go to the potting shed and sow some tomatoes, chillies and onions. It gives me the sense that we are working towards spring,” reports Gloucestershire Live.
“If the weather allows, I will start pruning the apples. It takes me about a week to prune the orchard, and I really enjoy it in dry, cold weather.
“I’m very happy doing that job in the quiet week between Christmas and New Year.”
The NHS defines seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a form of depression that emerges and recedes following a seasonal pattern.
SAD is occasionally referred to as “winter depression” as the symptoms become more noticeable and severe throughout the winter months. Certain individuals with SAD may experience symptoms during summer whilst feeling improved during winter.
Signs of the condition encompass but are not restricted to a continuous low mood, irritability, feelings of hopelessness, guilt and worthlessness, craving carbohydrates and putting on weight, and struggling to concentrate.
The precise cause of SAD remains not fully comprehended, though it’s frequently connected to diminished exposure to sunlight during the briefer autumn and winter months.
The NHS recommends consulting your GP if symptoms continue and you’re finding it hard to manage.
This follows Monty’s admission that a “disaster” at his cherished Longmeadow provided him with a “really important lesson”. He recalled a “pretty big disaster” that struck his celebrated Herefordshire garden.
The presenter described how the garden was hit by box blight, a fast-spreading fungal disease that attacks the leaves and stems of box plants.
While Monty insists he doesn’t think it was his fault as “everything had a box hedge”, it did teach the esteemed presenter how to “avoid disasters”.
Speaking on the BBC Gardeners’ World podcast, he said: “I don’t try and grow anything that doesn’t want to be there. I think that’s really important.
“Sarah and I always say, we don’t want anything in our garden that doesn’t want to be in our garden.”
Catch Gardeners’ World’s Winter Specials tonight (Friday, December 5) from 9pm to 10pm on BBC Two.
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