A greenhouse is an excellent place to relax and get away from it all, something which can be all the more important for people with mobility difficulties which make getting about awkward and tiring. Many people get into greenhouse gardening when they retire and want to be able to keep up the hobby as they gradually find themselves less mobile. In these situations, it’s important to find greenhouse designs which make access as easy as possible.

There are several things to consider when seeking out accessible greenhouse designs. First is the flooring. Although gravel floors are ideal for many types of greenhouse, they can be awkward for people who need sticks to balance and they can be more difficult to get up from – without sustaining further injury – if you should fall. Concrete floors are easier to cope with and are also ideal for wheelchair users. They can be laid so that there’s a smooth path extending through and out of your greenhouse to your home. Just remember that they don’t provide such good drainage as gravel, so you’ll have to take extra care to ensure your greenhouse doesn’t get too damp.

An accessible greenhouse needs to have an easy-open door or doors, a factor which is sometimes forgotten by well-meaning relatives choosing greenhouses for elderly and disabled relatives. It also needs to have plenty of space for moving around inside. For people who are unsteady on their feet, it’s a good idea to have well-secured, strong staging which can be used as a support. When choosing a greenhouse design for use with a wheelchair, make sure staging is at an accessible height – not just for the plants themselves, but also for the supplies they’ll need and for the tools required to work with them.

Greenhouse gardening is a highly adaptable hobby and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be accessible to everybody. Simply choosing the right greenhouse can make all the difference.