Gardens for health and wellbeing

It’s National Gardening Week! The Royal Horticultural Society takes this week to celebrate the wonders of our gardens, and this year is no exception. After the year that we’ve all just been through, what better topic to choose than ‘gardens for health and wellbeing’.

I don’t know about you, but here at Rob Hardy & Co, we have all enjoyed spending a lot of time in our own gardens, getting some fresh air and exercise and taking our mind off the lockdown. Our local parks and gardens have also been busier than ever, as more and more of us have ventured out for those socially distanced walks with friends and family. So, let’s take a moment to celebrate the role that our gardens can play. We’ve pulled together some amazing facts about the benefits of gardens and some tips for how you can improve your own health and wellbeing by making the most of your outdoor space.

Vitamin G – ‘Vitamin Green’

Did you know that the human eye can see more shades of green than any other colour? There is such a wide variety of greens that we can use in our gardens and yet there is a tendency to consider this beautiful palette as merely a backdrop, allowing the bold floral accents to take centre stage. But green is such a powerful colour in itself. Think about how it makes you feel. Green is naturally associated with feeling calm and secure. It conjures up a sense of growth and rejuvenation.

In Japan they have long practised an activity called Shinrin-yoko, or forest bathing. This entails simply spending time in the woods, experiencing the peaceful environment, and looking deeply at the colours, the rays of light coming through the branches, hearing the wind in the leaves and appreciating the scent of the soil underfoot. The experience can be so transformative that there are even recommendations for GPs in this country to prescribe forest bathing as a restorative exercise.

At one with nature

When we spend time in our gardens, we can literally become one with nature. Studies show that when we get our hands dirty whilst gardening, we absorb a beneficial bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae through our skin. That may well get you reaching for your gardening gloves, but scientists are finding that this bacterium can stimulate serotonin in our bodies. This ‘happy hormone’ induces relaxation and a sense of wellbeing.  

The green gym

Living through the pandemic has meant that many of us haven’t been able to get to our local gyms. Doing simple jobs around the garden can burn a surprising number of calories and be a workout in itself. It also builds manual dexterity, aids balance and can improve muscle tone. A gentle Sunday afternoon tidying the garden could well prove to be our most challenging workout this week.

Here are a few other suggestions of things that you could be doing to increase your health and wellbeing in your gardens this week:

1.       Why not trying waking up bright and early to listen to the dawn chorus? Birdsong sounds its sweetest first thing in the morning and has been shown to improve mood and encourage relaxation.

2.       You could plan a socially distanced activity with your neighbours. Work together to tackle those large tasks in your gardens, or just spend some time sharing ideas and advice. You can also try taking cuttings of each other’s plants and grow them in your own garden.

3.       Try out the practice of Japanese Shinrin-yoko or forest bathing. Leave any gadgets at home and just take a stroll through the woods.

4.       Many of our local parks offer volunteering opportunities. Why not tag along to one of their sessions, perhaps learn something new and meet some new friends?

5.       Garden centres are open again so why not go for a trip to pick up some veg seeds or plug plants? Many are really easy to grow and don’t need much space either. Lettuces can grow really well in between shrubs and herbaceous plants, or you could try growing some herbs on a windowsill.

6.       Many of us have great cameras on our mobile phones.  Why not get down on your hands and knees and become a budding photographer? Try taking some close-up shots of the flowers and wildlife in your garden to help you be mindful of the wonders all around you.

If you have any other suggestions, or would like to chat with one of the team about your garden design project, please drop us a line or give us a call.