Here’s why gardening is so great for everyone:
It helps to keep you fit – regular gardening, like any exercise, can help prevent type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and other illnesses associated with ageing
It can help reduce the likelihood of falls – bending, stretching etc are great for mobility, balance and spatial awareness
It helps with anxiety and low mood
Studies show it can help ward off stress and stress-related illnesses
It’s something you can do with others – or enjoy alone
Spending time in nature has been shown to have a positive effect on memory
Planning and nurturing a garden grows a sense of optimism and purpose and makes you look ahead
You get a sense of wellbeing when you transform a natural space
It provides the opportunity to learn something new, which is good for wellbeing
It’s good for all the senses – which is stimulating for the brain
It can give your day or week a sense of routine
Connecting with wildlife in your garden is a joyful experience
Gardening into the future
If you’re a keen gardener, keep going. There are jobs you can do now that will help you to carrying on gardening and enable you to keep enjoying your garden well into the future.
Here are some tips:
Plant a variety of shrubs, herbs, plants and flowers that bring colour, scent, texture and interest.
Think about adding plants and features that attract wildlife to your garden e.g. purple flowers to attract bees and insect hotels and small log piles in a corner to encourage other insects.
Bird feeders will bring feathered friends to your garden. Add a bird bath for the hotter months.
Add raised beds to make plants easier to access in coming years.
Consider adding a small water feature like a fountain – they’re great for your senses like sight and sound, and might trigger memories from the past – they’re also relaxing and create a sense of peace.
Avoid planting anything toxic or spiky that could harm you.
No garden, no problem
If you don’t have access to a garden, you can still enjoy the benefits that gardening brings. Window boxes, potted plants outside your door or on a balcony all need thought and attention, including watering, feeding and pruning. Indoor gardening can still bring joy – why not try growing your own herbs on a window sill from seed, creating interesting pots to make features for shelves and bathrooms, or experimenting with potted succulents.
It's also worth asking friends or family if you can help out with their gardening jobs, or perhaps offer to lend a hand on an allotment or join a gardening club or social club with access to gardens. Pruning, weeding and painting garden furniture are all easy ways to get involved: you don’t need any specialist gardening knowledge to get the benefits of gardening.
You can also see if charities in your area need volunteers to help manage gardens and outdoor areas, such as local hospices or the National Trust. Also try your local Green Gym – an organisation that puts together volunteer groups to help manage outdoor spaces, nationwide.
Find gardening clubs and garden-based activities in your area here