Gardening For Health

Our Health Writer, Colleen Shannon, explains why a bit of digging is good for body and soul.

WHEN this time of year comes around, at my house we get serious about the allotment again.

I’ll admit I’m pretty lazy about putting my wellies on and actually heading down to the plot. But it’s always worth the effort, because gardening is one of the best health tonics I know.

This is more than an opinion: researchers have been studying the link between health and gardening for some time.

Gardening can help with depression, anxiety and stress. It can be a cure for isolation by making you feel like part of a community and giving you an extra sense of purpose. Gardening may even sharpen your thinking.

There are also potential benefits for physical fitness (which you have to weigh against problems like back strain). In some research studies, gardeners were more physically active than nongardeners, and they had a healthier weight. They also had better balance and were less likely to suffer a fall.

This is all good news for the nation’s health, as some 27 million people enjoy this popular pastime.

To learn more about Britain’s gardeners, and how to join their ranks, I asked Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

He told me about some research which has shown how much people value gardening and its health benefits.

In one survey by the RHS, one in three people said that health benefits were an important reason for their gardening activities. Nine in ten said being in a garden helped them to destress and relax, and that a beautiful garden was a real mood booster.

A new study is under way now, to find out how front gardens influence our health and wellbeing. It’s part of the RHS Greening Grey Britain campaign, which aims to transform 6,000 grey spaces, such as paved-over front gardens, into living planted places.

If you want to take up gardening, joining this challenge is a lovely way to start enjoying the health benefits while also helping your community.

Or you could join one of the Britain in Bloom groups that are lifting spirits across the UK by creating vibrant floral displays. Some 300,000 people are involved, and all are welcome to participate.

There are hundreds of other options, from simply growing a houseplant on your window-sill, to taking on an allotment or joining a local club.

You’ll find information about these activities on the RHS website at www.rhs.org.uk There’s also a list of gardens to visit, membership information, and all kinds of gardening tips.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, gardeners at every level need inspiration and there are some splendid opportunities just around the corner. National Gardening Week runs from April 30 to May 6, and you’ll find local events, talks, and activities to get everyone involved in gardening.

You can learn more at www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk.

There’s something for everyone, so take advantage of the season and make the most of nature’s health boost. n