Monty Don reveals health battle that affects millions – and how he overcomes it with simple exercise

TV GARDENING guru Monty Don has revealed his health battle with a condition that affects millions - and how he is tackling it with a simple exercise.

The Gardeners World star suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which means for a quarter of the year, a person experiences low mood, a lack of energy and feelings of dispair.

It can affect anyone at any time of the year but it afflicts Monty between November and mid-February.

Monty finds that using a light box and taking antidepressants has helped but he really finds it best to get as much natural light as possible to combats his blues.

He said: “For me, and I think for most people, experiencing weather, rain, wind, sun, cold, whatever it is, is very helpful and restorative.

"Go out and get thoroughly drenched or cold and come inside and warm up.

“Or feel the wind on your face or the sunshine on your face. Listen to the birds, notice the sound of the wind in the tree or kick your feet through leaves, that engagement is very beneficial.”

Taking regular holidays also helps as he revealed On The Travel Diaries podcast, he regularly flocks to sunnier climes: “In the past 20 years I’ve done a lot of travelling in winter so I get my hit of winter sun.

"In the winter I’ve been to South Africa four times, I’ve been to India three or four times, I've been to Japan, Australia, I’ve been to the southern hemisphere and I get sun, that sort of recharges the batteries.

“A few weeks of that has a profound effect. If you can afford it or organise it that really makes a difference."

Monty has also suffered with other ailments due to his gardening activities such as weak knees and finds that exercising keeps him fighting fit.

Gardeners World is a BBC 2 favourite which aired from 2003 to 2008, and made a return in 2011.

The TV star began his career on (then) Granada's This Morning and has presented Real Gardens, Fork to Fork and Lost Gardens and Around the World in 80 Gardens.

On Gardeners World he is famous for saying: "It's been a pretty miserable winter, but there's a feeling of spring in the air..."

Even thought the winter months are upon us, the advice for combatting seasonal blues and SAD may help viewers with their own health troubles.

Gardeners World is available to stream on BBCiPlayer while Monty Don's Italian and French Gardens is available on Netflix.