
Cwmbran man with Cerebral Palsy wants an ‘accessible garden'
39-year-old Cwmbran local William Spanswick has launched a GoFundMe to help achieve an 'accessible garden.'
William is a wheelchair user but despite this has an interest in gardening.
For the past 16 years he's lived in a Bron Afon council owned bungalow that doesn't have much of a garden space.
Now his GoFundMe titled 'William's accessible garden project' has blown up overnight.
So far £1,572 has been raised towards an accessible garden space.
William with mum Victoria Alison Watkins in his current gardening space (Image: Victoria Alison Watkins) Speaking about his current garden William said: 'My garden is sad and a bit miserable and sometimes I despair about it as I'm unable to get out.'
William revealed how touched he was by the donations received.
He said: 'feel a little overwhelmed excited to know that people are so kind and thoughtful and are willing to help me raise some money for my garden.
'I'm so excited that eventually I'll be able to access my garden when it's all done and be able to do my little bit of gardening myself.'
The untransformed garden space outside William's bungalow (Image: Victoria Alison Watkins) William's mum Victoria Alison Watkins 65 said: 'He's very happy where he is and he's got carers helping him a couple of times a day.'
Mammoth 24-hour relay raises £3,000 to help families with children in hospital
Musician devastated after collection of guitars and amps lost in house fire
Family farm in the Usk Valley turns to craft drinks
Speaking about the current state of the garden Victoria said: 'There's a big concrete patio and the rest is like a jungle. We've had two trees cut down for more sunshine.'
Victoria explained what William would like: 'He'd like to have some raised beds so he could grow beans and flower beds and he'd able to get around on the floor with his knees on the grass.
'It's for him to have a little bit more pleasure in life he can sit out there in the garden, but he can't really enjoy it now because it's concrete slab.'
Speaking about her son Victoria said: 'William's very inspirational. His physical disability has never held him back and he would love for help and support from his community.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Wales Online
20 hours ago
- Wales Online
Couple trying to convert WWII water tower into seven-bedroom home hit problems
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A couple trying to convert a World War Two water tower into a seven-bedroom home say they "can't afford" to leave the project incomplete as they set up a GoFundMe appeal Sean Davies, 55, and Mary Davies, 57, bought more than an acre of land at the disused RAF Hospital Nocton Hall site for £25,000 in 2018. They took on the huge conversion of the 1940s water tower in Lincolnshire in 2021, armed with a £350,000 budget and hopes of creating their dream home with seven-bedrooms and four-bathrooms. However, the couple, who have five children and five grandchildren, have hit several obstacles along the way. They were forced to temporarily live in a caravan while the site was uninhabitable and install their own utilities, such as sewage treatment and drinking water. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now (Image: Family handout/PA Real Life) Unexpected renovation costs pushed them well over budget, so the pair set up a GoFundMe page for support to finish the build as they estimate the total cost will be £500,000. They say they "can't afford" to leave the project incomplete as they would be left with "nothing", reports the Manchester Evening News. Fortunately, the couple predict that the work will now be completed by the end of summer, with only the renovations on the top three floors of the five-storey tower and the installation of a sprinkler system remaining. But following Sean's diagnosis with motor neurone disease (MND) in March 2023, an incurable condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system, they are eager to finish the project so he can enjoy the fruits of their labour before his condition worsens. Having previously lived in council properties, the couple were drawn to the RAF site by the abundance of space and privacy it offered, with more than an acre of land included in the sale. "When we arrive home, we go through the big military gates on the site and drive past all the derelict buildings," Sean said. "There's no street lighting, no public access, no neighbours - we're driving through history just to reach our home. He added: "When the site finally gets developed, the tower is very likely going to be the only bit which remains." Mary commented: "It's been part of the landscape for the locals since the 40s, it would have been a shame for that to have disappeared. "We're custodians to the water tower, I don't feel like we own it really and, one day, it will be passed onto someone else in the future when we've finished enjoying it." With strong connections to the site, Mary's father worked as a civilian electrician at the hospital and her significant other, Sean, was a patient there at the tender age of seven. Sean said they realised "it would be a fantastic build" if they decided to convert the tower, leading to their efforts to transform the 15m-tall structure into a seven-bedroom, four-bathroom residence. The main living spaces including the kitchen, lounge, office, gym, utility room, and a toilet are nestled in a modern glass extension, the bedrooms and bathrooms find their place within the tower itself. Mary explained the creation of the glass addition saying: "It was the only way we could get planning permission so it was a little more costly with the glass and the timber frame, but at the end of it we're going to have a seven-bedroom property," They also had to install their own utilities in the once uninhabited space, such as sewage treatment, filtration for drinking water and a heating tank. The tower itself is "not a huge space" width-wise, Mary said, but thanks to its height it has the potential for five floors, with two currently functioning as bedrooms and a bathroom, leaving three left to complete. "We're experiencing now what it's like to sleep in the tower," Mary revealed. "It's the perfect place for a restful sleep, it's absolutely brilliant, and it's a miracle we've been able to do this." To complete the renovation fully, the couple need to finish the tower's conversion, fit a sprinkler system, and round off any plastering, painting and decorating. (Image: Family handout/PA Real Life) After Sean was diagnosed with MND in March 2023 during the renovations, they are keen to finish the conversion by summer's end for him to "enjoy" their efforts before his condition deteriorates. Sean shared his experience with an experimental treatment drug called Tofersen, which he credits with helping manage his symptoms, such as weakness and muscle reduction, for around a year. "It's given us hope for a better future," Mary stated optimistically. Facing unexpected costs that stretched their budget, the couple set up a GoFundMe page, estimating the total spend on the conversion at about £500,000. "We're really grateful to everyone who has donated," said Mary, acknowledging the support they received. "You don't set up a GoFundMe page without a lot of thought and we're just trying to relieve some of the stress on us. "Once you start a project like this, you've got to finish it - you can't afford to not finish it because then you've got nothing."


Evening Standard
a day ago
- Evening Standard
Harry and Meghan ‘at heart of King's funeral plans' amid hopes of royal reconciliation
She reports that the Sussexes are 'enveloped in the King's funeral plans at the highest level,' with arrangements for Harry to walk alongside his brother William, by then King, in the funeral procession. Harry and Meghan are also set to be invited to participate in the King's lying in state at Westminster Hall, holding vigil with other senior royals.


Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Prince William could 'snub' King Charles' offer due to 'unfair' Kate issue
Prince William was handed the keys to his father King Charles' most beloved royal property - but a former palace insider has revealed why he and Kate Middleton may never move in. Prince William is reportedly hesitant to take up residence in a cherished Royal estate bequeathed to him by his father, according to an ex-royal staff member. Upon his ascension to the throne in September 2022, King Charles unveiled a raft of changes to the Royal pecking order, including significant roles for his son. He publicly declared about Prince William: "He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall, which I have undertaken for more than five decades. "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given." Part of Prince William's inheritance from his father was the stewardship of Highgrove House and Garden in Gloucestershire, a dwelling much loved by Charles and Queen Camilla. The bucolic home, once shared by Charles, his former wife, the late Princess Diana, and their young sons William and Harry, automatically became Prince William's in 2022, reports the Mirror. However, it seems unlikely that William will choose Highgrove as his future home, according to Charles' former gardener Jack Stooks, who looked after the gardens at the estate for over two decades before retiring last year. Stooks noted that the Prince's Foundation currently rents the garden from the Duchy of Cornwall, preserving it for future generations. Jack disclosed insights into Royal gardening strategies before Charles ascended the throne, remarking: "Before he became King, I think the idea was that they needed to make sure that the garden was actually protected,". Explaining the rationale, Jack suggested it revolved around Prince William's potential choices for a residence: "So I think he thought that William probably wouldn't move into Highgrove once he became King, so the idea was, 'Let's protect it somehow,' so it was given over to the Prince's Foundation. So the Prince's Foundation now rents the garden from the Duchy of Cornwall." Pondering the unique situation concerning Royal estates, Jack found it rather peculiar: "The King rents his house from William, and William rents two of his houses from the King, so yeah, it's quite odd, isn't it? To think that he's on their property, and the other ones are on the other property." Regarding reasons why Highgrove might not be William's choice, Jack speculated on the desire for independence: "I think that William's obviously got his own family now, so he's got his own family unit and they've been brought up at Anmer Hall, and also now at the Adelaide Cottage. "Highgrove was very much his mum and dad's home – where they were brought up – so it's like a family home that mum and dad lived in." Jack remarked that the Princess of Wales would be unfairly burdened by comparisons to Princess Diana if they moved into Highgrove, saying: "That's like her having to step into Diana's shoes." He added: "She's so often compared to Diana in the press, which I think is unfair because, yes, I know she's the Princess of Wales, and I know that Diana was the Princess of Wales, but they're very separate people. "They're both individual women that, you know, absolutely adore their children." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.