RHS Feel Good garden Chelsea 2018
Gardening for health It’s good for you in all kinds of ways!
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egular gardeners need no convincing that it’s good for the mind and body, but results of recent research mean that in some areas of the UK, a doctor’s visit can result in a prescription to go gardening. ‘Social prescribing’ – the term for non-medical treatments – is being used increasingly by the NHS to tackle conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress and loneliness. Concentrating on a physical task gives the mind a break, while reconnecting with nature helps us relax and de-stress. And research at the University of Exeter Medical School has shown
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that the natural environment plays a significant role in reducing the risks of conditions including stroke, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and asthma - read the University’s blog at www.beyondgreenspace.net Just two hours a week in nature is the minimum needed to make a difference, and with 24 million gardens in the UK, the solution to poor health can be literally outside our back doors. For anyone without or unable to access their own garden, there’s an increasing number of community gardens and projects where anyone can become involved, as well as gardens for residents and visitors of hospitals and hospices. Growing some of your own fruit, veg or herbs is doubly beneficial to health as you’ll have some delicious healthy produce too. No space is too small - a tub, window box, hanging basket or ‘living wall’ container can produce an excellent harvest. Do grow what you like (sounds obvious, but so many people grow radishes because they’re easy and never eat them!). If you’ve never grown anything before, start with easy crops from seed like salad leaves, loose-leaf lettuce, bush French beans, Swiss Chard, and watercress - this is dead easy – buy a supermarket bag, root a few stems in water, then plant out. After the frosts, buy ready-grown plants of bush or trailing tomatoes. Don’t forget fresh herbs too – just a few sprigs can transform a dish.n
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