GARDENING BRINGS WELLBEING RELEAF TO PUBLIC

Gardening continues to bring wellbeing releaf to the public

By Matt Ross

Garden Releaf was established by Garden Centres of Australia (GCA) in 2014 to help people understand the many benefits of gardening and plantlife for our health and wellbeing. Now in its seventh year, Garden Releaf has gone from strength to strength; exposing thousands of Australians to gardening and raising over $330,000 for Beyond Blue in the process.

GCA Manager, Leigh Siebler, was eager to establish a program to promote gardening to the public. In 2014 he organised an industry event and heard Boyd Douglas Davies, Founder of Garden Re-Leaf in the UK speak passionately about the success of the program. Boyd was happy for GCA to offer the Program to an Australian audience, and Garden Releaf was born.

The GCA Board looked at a number of charities to align with and felt that Beyond Blue offered a good synergy; they had already communicated the benefits of gardening for mental wellbeing and their Chairman was Jeff Kennett, a man Leigh knew to be a keen gardener himself. He went on to be a strong advocate for Garden Releaf.

And he’s not alone. Garden Releaf has assembled an impressive roster of advocates, from Johanna Griggs and Graham Ross to Jane Edmanson and Linda Ross. Their latest recruit horticultural therapist, Steven Wells, an exponent of the healing powers of plants and gardens, seems like the perfect fit.

Given the year we’ve just experienced, Garden Releaf has never been more needed. The public have instinctively gravitated towards gardening and plantlife throughout the pandemic; instinctively understanding it has so much to offer in times of crisis.

Since Garden Releaf’s launch in 2014, Leigh also believes some of the taboos around mental health have reduced and people are more comfortable to discuss it; the Program itself is playing its part in helping to break down the barriers.

“For me personally, gardening provides the perfect antidote to the busy, technology focused world we all live in. I know when it’s time to step away from the computer, get outside and spend time in the garden. I love it.” He’s also aware that more and more retail garden centres are understanding the marketability of plants as a form of therapeutic care.

“It’s hard to think of an industry that has more to gain through educating the public about the many proven health benefits of gardening.”

And if the plants don’t make you smile, the party atmosphere of Garden Releaf surely will. Whether it’s the sea of blue wigs, the fun activities created by the garden centres or the throngs of gardeners flocking to their local retailer to get involved.

You can see how this year’s Garden Releaf, which took place on 21 March, went by following @gardenreleafaustralia on Facebook, if you’re a retailer and you’d like to take part in the 2022 Garden Releaf registrations will open in October 2021.