Gardening therapy

Getting your hands dirty is good for both body and mind, and it could also be the creative boost your soul craves.

- JO HARTLEY

No one can argue against the fact that being outside is good for the soul. A bracing walk, a lie in the sun or a dance in the rain helps us shake off the cobwebs and recharge from the inside out. And as we emerge from the pandemic darkness, we need this more than ever. Science agrees.

Multiple studies have shown the positive impact nature has on us. Simply being outside and breathing in the air can bring an enormous sense of well-being. Getting our hands dirty supercharges this even more.

A 2017 meta-analysis found that gardening boosts mental, physical and social wellbeing as well as cognitive function, with evidence showing that it could reduce the risk of dementia. Meanwhile, a UNSW report indicated that pottering in the garden could help relieve pandemic-related stress.

"Gardening gives us an excuse to get outside away from computer screens and enclosed office spaces, and immerse ourselves in nature," says Greener Spaces Better Places ambassador Toni Salter.

"Gardening is very much a care-giving role, so people experience an increased sense of responsibility and purpose when they do it. Watching plants grow can promote feelings of gratification and success which can improve our self-esteem." Indoor plants provide similar feel-good vibes. A Greener Spaces Better Places study of plant buyers found that 4 per cent say the pandemic has made them more aware of the importance of nature in their family's lives. The more plants we're surrounded by, the better.

And while looking after one house plant might give us a sense of fun and creativity, five plants in your space is said to improve mental wellbeing by 60 per cent. It's all about branching out.

Stop and smell the roses