Simple ways of bringing green into your daily life
For many our gardens have been a saving grace of the pandemic, offering precious respite from time spent indoors.
Aside from the simple joy of nurturing and growing, there are the added benefits they provide for our health and well-being.
With so many more people rediscovering the uplifting power of plants and gardening over the last year, the Royal Horticultural Society wanted to inspire everyone to keep growing and enjoying green spaces.
And so it was that as the UK has come to appreciate its gardens and green spaces more than ever, the RHS encouraged the nation to celebrate their feel-good power for its recent National Gardening Week.
This year, the world’s leading gardening charity encouraged everyone to ‘Get Your Dose of Vitamin G’ by taking a few minutes each day to connect with nature.
And the good news is that you don’t need your own garden to reap the rewards of a daily date with Mother Nature.
“Vitamin G is ‘green’, and research has shown that getting a daily dose improves our sense of personal wellbeing,” said RHS director of science, Professor Alistair Griffiths.
“Aim to bring green into your daily life as much as possible for maximum benefits. There are dozens of ways to connect with nature, and you don’t even need to have your own garden to get your vitamin G.”
Gardeners have long touted the health benefits of their hobby, but a raft of new research by the RHS and others has shown the tangible difference that plants and gardens can make to our mental and physical health.
An RHS study in collaboration with the University of Sheffield published last year showed that adding plants to a paved front garden could reduce stress levels as much as eight weekly mindfulness sessions. Meanwhile, recent Harvard research showed that 30 minutes of gardening can burn as many calories as
playing badminton or practising
yoga.
Looking for inspiration? Here are some easy ways to get a dose of vitamin G:
Take a mindful moment in your garden or local green space: pause for a minute to appreciate the new green leaves, listen for birdsong or enjoy the scents of spring blooms to refresh your mind and senses.
Bring the outside in: if you’re working from home, add a green, leafy houseplant to your desk or near your work area – studies show this can reduce stress, increase productivity and attention span and improve reaction speed.
Pep up your plate: have a go at growing some quick herbs, salad leaves, or micro greens on a windowsill, which can be ready to harvest in just a few weeks to
add a burst of green goodness and homegrown flavour to your meals.
Plant up a container to make you smile: choose a combination of colourful or scented flowers, tactile grasses and lush foliage to create a cheerful spring display to greet you whenever you leave or return home.
Green up your every day: think about how you can connect with nature in your day-to-day activities – could you walk or cycle through the park on the way to the shops, have lunch al fresco or do a workout in the garden?
To find out more visit www.rhs.org.uk/nationalgardeningweek. The RHS well-being hub, which is full of useful information, is at www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ health-and-wellbeing.