This week (11th-17th April) is National Gardening Week– an initiative set up by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 2011 to celebrate all things related to gardening. This year’s theme explores the different ways that gardens and gardening can enhance our wellbeing. To mark the occasion, the RHS has undertaken a survey of UK gardeners which reveals the positive effects gardening has on our health and fitness.
The survey of more than 2,000 British adults reveals that 80% of UK gardeners say gardening helps to keep them fit, and that digging, weeding and mowing the lawn are the top three activities that give the best workout. Not only is gardening good exercise, gardeners also felt it was great for toning their bodies, with 70% saying it helped to tone their forearms and 50% saying that it toned their thighs.
From a personal perspective I have to agree that gardening is one of my main forms of exercise – particularly during the spring and summer months. A few hours in the garden, clearing out a bed or planting vegetables is both exhausting and rewarding in equal measure. As well as being good for physical health, gardening has also been proven to help with mental wellbeing, and a few hours in the garden will always help me to relax and refocus.
I hope everyone uses National Gardening Week as an opportunity to get outdoors and do some gardening. That can be anything from planting a new perennial, hanging a window box, digging a pond for wildlife or pulling up some rhubarb to make a jam or compote. To help get you inspired, I wanted to share this Crafty Garden Ideas booklet from the Sainsbury’s Bank blog, Money Matters. It’s full of fun ideas for children and adults which should encourage everyone to get outside and get physically and mentally fit this spring. My favourite is building a bird feeder from a bottle – it’s simple and the birds will love it!
To find out more about events taking place across the country this week, visit the National Gardening Week website. Have fun and happy gardening!