At Little Muddy Boots we often talk about the benefits of gardening for children but today we’re sharing our top five reasons why gardening is good for you too.
We know that being in nature can help to reduce stress and anxiety in children, aid with bonding and be great exercise, but did you know adults can reap a lot of the same benefits?
Gardens have long been viewed of as our own personal havens. They are spaces to relax, play and eat in. While planning a garden may seem daunting, taking small steps to create and maintain your outside space could positively impact your life in ways you may not have realised.
If you can’t tell a pair of secateurs from a lopper, don’t despair. Even carrying out simple tasks in the garden could help you to feel better. Here are five reasons why gardening is good for you.
1. It increases wellbeing
In 2021, the RHS released date that showed those who garden every day have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t do any gardening at all. Its survey of more than 6,000 respondents highlighted a significant association between gardening more frequently and improvements in wellbeing and perceived stress.
We know that when we go for a hike, spend time at the beach or stroll through a forest, we feel better. It’s been proven time and again to be a scientific fact that being in nature increases our sense of wellbeing.
2. It’s good exercise
Gardening is great for our bodies, as well as our minds. It can help to build strength and increase flexibility. It also burns calories (approximately 250-500 per hour!). All that digging, planting, raking and clearing is a wonderful way to increase your weekly aerobic exercise quota and get those endorphins flowing.
3. It develops our personal skillset
Gardening is a skill anyone can learn. We all have the ability to be “green fingered”. It’s a fantastic hobby to take up as you can never know enough. Plant names, soil types, natural insect repellents, growing food throughout the seasons – there is always more to learn. Trust us!
4. It aids vitamin D exposure
Around 1 in 6 adults in the UK have below optimal levels of vitamin D. As a nation, many of us could benefit from spending more time in nature (whilst being safe in the sun, of course). Gardening can help to get us outside, increasing our exposure to fresh air and vitamin D. Healthy vitamin D levels are important for our bone health, immune system function, nervous system and more. Tending to the garden could help to give you a boost.
5. It can be done all year round
There are jobs to be done in the garden all year round. While some hobbies may be limited due to the weather or season, gardening has no such restrictions. Don’t be put off by cold weather. While there are of course an abundance of flowers, fruits and vegetables that can be grown over the summer period, there are flowers that bloom and food that grows over winter too.
Veggies such as carrots, leeks, kale and beetroot can all be harvested throughout the colder months. And there are bulbs and seeds of all varieties that require planting and sowing all-year round. In fact, the more seasonal variation you bring to your garden through the plants you select, the more your outside space will thrive and become a haven for wildlife (and yourself) all year long.
These are our top five reasons why gardening is good for you. Why don’t you give it a try and see how you feel?
