Is gardening good for your physical, mental and social wellbeing? From all that I have read, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Now, when I am talking about gardening, you do not have to have a garden to get all the benefits that gardening can bring. A small patio, terrace balcony, window box or sill, is all you need to enjoy these benefits. Also, you can create your own healing garden indoors, with research showing that it improves your concentration level, elevates your mood, and lower stress and blood pressure.

Now research has demonstrated a potentially powerful and positive impact, that simply being around plants, can have on both our mental and physical health. From a survey I have seen, gardening was the most popular lockdown activity, after watching TV in the UK. More people took up gardening than cookery and reading.

I have also read about a Norwegian University study into the effects of gardening on depression. The study is called ‘Therapeutic Horticulture in Clinical Depression: A Prospective Study. In a nutshell it showed that there was a clinically relevant improvement in symptoms in 70% of the patients, with 10% on average drop in what is known as ‘The Beck Depression Index’ Now to put this into context, a fall of this magnitude is very significant, to take someone from Borderline Clinical Depression to well within the normal range is impressive. You can see why doctors around the world are now formally prescribing gardening as a very cost-effective way of treating depression.

Gardening is unique in combining exercise, time outdoors, mindfulness and nurturing. I know my garden has been a great solace to me over the past months, but as I have revealed before, you do not need a garden to gain the benefits of gardening. Just think how lovely your living/dining room will be, as a result of you gardening indoors. So, you will be able to enjoy the great outdoors without even the need to leave the great indoors!

If you have a moment, look up an enzyme called ‘Telomerase’ and this may explain why gardeners are so spry and good looking….