The sun’s out, there’s greenery as far as the eye can see, and everyone’s itching to throw open the windows and head outside. It’s the busiest time of year for gardening – getting balconies, patios and outdoor spaces looking perfect, ready for entertaining and relaxing.
But not only is being green-fingered good for our gardens, there’s overwhelming evidence showing that it’s good for us, too – improving mental and physical health, helping us cope when times get tough, and even boosting our chances of living longer.
As a hobby, gardening is definitely having a moment. ‘During lockdown, a staggering seven million Brits took up gardening, with studies finding two-thirds of them saying it helped to reduce their stress levels,’ reveals Caroline Paus, from Thrive.org.uk, a national charity using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health. ‘That legacy has lived on. More and more people are waking up to the idea that putting your hands in the soil can be life-changing.’
The most obvious benefit is to your physical health – as
