How Gardening Benefits Health and Wellbeing
Home gardens are a haven for wildlife. Birds, insects and small mammals enjoy a varied landscape, thriving everywhere from rockery such as pebbles and slate, through to the wild dandelions that push up through the ground in early spring. But your garden doesn’t just reward the flora and fauna – it also benefits you.
Research has shown that people with access to a garden undergo significantly less stress per year, with those choosing to pick up a trowel rather than heading to their local gym experiencing the restorative powers of horticulture. We’ve put together a handy guide for exploring the benefits of gardening and why you should opt for getting your fingers green.
Mental wellbeing
Gardening can be an excellent mood-lifter, helping those battling with anxiety, depression and the stress of day-to-day living. The sun’s healthy dose of vitamin D coupled with fresh air dusts off the cobwebs, whilst the satisfaction of nurturing life in your outdoor space can bring a sensation of productivity and fulfilment.
An opportunity to be creative
We often redecorate our indoor spaces to complement our personality and the opportunities to get creative in the garden are also endless. Why not try planting some flowers in your favourite colour or painting a fence or shed to add a splash of pigment to your external retreat?
A shared activity
A problem shared is a problem halved, so if you’re struggling to decide the best design or plants for your garden, we suggest tackling it with family or friends.
You could even join online gardening groups and community allotment programmes to bolster up your knowledge of all things landscaping. You’ll also pick up some new skills along the way, which can be a big boost for mental wellbeing.
Supporting the local ecosystem
Butterflies, bees, hedgehogs, frogs, newts and other creepy-crawlies can often be found in our gardens. To help these local creatures, why not create a wild corner to encourage pollination or build a hedgehog shelter out of wood and other natural materials? The knowledge that you’re helping these critters to flourish is a rewarding way to spend your free time.
If you have limited outdoor space available, you can also try transforming balconies, windows and corners of rooms into small natural habitats.
Go green
Getting out into the garden as much as possible comes with a wide variety of benefits. From improving your physical health and mental wellbeing, to supporting local biodiversity and improving the appearance of your neighbourhood, it’s always time well spent.
Need more advice?
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