'I love gardening – it's a great escape for me'

Head coach Hope Powell says that time spent in her garden helps her escape from the stresses of football management.

Hope was speaking at the start of National Gardening Week (April 26-May 2) after paying a visit to the National Trust garden at Nymans in Handcross.

There she met head gardener Joe Whelan and was given a tour of the extensive estate, as well as some planting tips for her own garden at home.

“I love gardening, it's a great escape for me – a place where I can relax and not worry about football too much,” said Hope.

“My favourite job is probably cutting the grass, but I love planting, moving things around and feeling the soil in my fingers.”

Nymans is set in 275 acres and was one of the first gardens to be bequeathed to the National Trust in 1953. It is open all year round and attracts thousands of visitors.

Head Gardener Joe Whelan said: “It was great to have Hope here at Nymans and to have a chat about both her garden at home and the garden here at Nymans. She's obviously a gardening enthusiast and we're looking forward to seeing her again soon.”

Nymans is situated three miles from the People’s Pension Stadium, where Albion play home games in the WSL, and Hope’s visit was the first of several initiatives Albion have planned with Nymans, ahead of the expected return of fans to women’s matches next season.