Nursery helps to ‘releaf’ mental health symptoms
One-day event held at weekend
NO MATTER what has Marie McEwan feeling grumpy or down, a bit of time in the garden always makes things feel a bit better.
That’s part of the reason Marie, husband Ashley and the rest of the team at The Springs Garden World, were so quick to throw their support behind Garden Releaf, a fundraising initiative for Beyond Blue run by Garden Centres of Australia.
Whether it’s digging some soil, planting some veggies or flowers or pruning back some untidy shrubs, she said the chance to focus on something other than your problems, coupled with the sense of satisfaction that comes of a job well done, made gardening one of the most valuable and readilyavailable mental health tools around.
While Garden Releaf is a one-day event, The Springs makes an annual weekend of it, offering discounts, children’s activities, demonstrations, workshops and a multi-draw raffle that residents can enter into up until Easter.
Mrs McEwan said this year was The Springs’ fifth year running Garden Releaf and plenty of people turned out to learn more, buy raffle tickets and support the cause.
Mrs McEwan said every cent raised would go straight to Beyond Blue to help the national fight against depression and mental illness.
The event was held on the weekend.