Celebrating National Gardening Week and the benefits of gardening

This year’s National Gardening Week takes place between 1st-7th May and it’s a special week as this year, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are asking keen gardeners to create a ‘Coronation Container’ to celebrate the reign of the new King.

King Charles’ love of gardening is well documented and avid gardeners are being asked to run with their imaginations, creating displays with whatever space is available to them. If you wanted to feature the King’s favourite flower in your display – it’s delphinium!

You may be new to gardening, but it has many well known benefits, particularly in terms of providing gentle exercise in later life. Did you know about some of these?

Staying physically active

Gardening is a great activity for people of all ages, but it’s particularly beneficial for the elderly. It’s a low-impact activity that can help improve strength, flexibility and balance resulting in fewer falls. It can also reduce blood pressure which reduces the risk of strokes and heart disease.

Whether it’s digging in the soil, planting seeds, or pruning plants, gardening provides a gentle workout that can help keep you healthy and active.

Reducing stress and anxiety

It’s not just the physical benefits, gardening is proven to have a positive impact on mental health too. Studies show that spending time in nature can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and increase feelings of happiness and well-being.

Those struggling with depression or loneliness may find that gardening can be a powerful tool for improving mental health and emotional well-being.

You don’t need a big garden

A common misconception about gardening is that you need a garden! But actually you can garden anywhere, regardless of the size of your living space. Whether you have a large open space, a small balcony or some window boxes – you can garden. If you struggle with mobility, window boxes and raised flower beds are great options.

If mobility isn’t an issue and you don’t have as much space as you’d like, why not try and find an allotment near you where you can grow your own veg or nurture seeds!

Brings people together

Gardening is a great way to meet new people and that can be particularly helpful if you’re new to gardening. Local gardening clubs and community gardens are great places to connect with other gardeners and learn new skills.

If you want to brush up on your knowledge, there are plenty of online resources available, including gardening blogs and forums, where you can get advice and support from experienced gardeners.

It can help with dementia

Gardening also benefits those living with dementia. It enables socialising and connecting with others as well as stimulating the senses and triggering memories. These factors can ease the symptoms of dementia and help to promote well-being.

Gardening can provide opportunities to not only stay active in later life, but also enhance mental well-being and combat loneliness. At Ardtully, we encourage our residents to join us outdoors and try their hand at gardening.

So, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or you’re just getting started, now is the perfect time to get outside and start planting!