Gardening for health and happiness

Whether they’re in a garden, a self-watering planter on the high street or on a table indoors, plants and flowers have the power to lift our mood and make us feel happier. However, as every keen gardener and Britain in Bloom volunteer knows, the ability of flora and fauna to enhance our lives goes far beyond providing an attractive backdrop to our day to day activities. 

Hope through gardening 

Recently the celebrity gardener Rachel de Thame spoke about how gardening has helped her through the process of receiving a diagnosis of and being treated for breast cancer, saying, “Plants inspire me with their intrepid determination to survive wherever they find themselves. Through the Paclitaxel chemotherapy drug, which is derived from Taxus brevifolia, or Pacific yew, plants are curing me. And by filling my world with beauty, they uplift my spirits and remind me how lucky I am.”

De Thame also highlighted the fact that the cancer charity Maggie’s Centres recommends gardening groups to improve mental and physical wellbeing for cancer patients. In addition, research by Macmillan Cancer Support reported that three quarters of gardeners with cancer said that continuing with gardening during and after treatment helped them cope with feelings of sadness and depression. 

Gardening for good health 

As well as providing gentle exercise and stress relief for those suffering from a serious physical illness, gardening can help alleviate the symptoms of many mental health conditions including anxiety and depression. Indeed, Gardener’s World presenter Monty Don, who has talked publicly about his mental health issues over the years, has spoken about how gardening has boosted his overall wellbeing saying: “It doesn’t matter what the weather is like, if it’s a howling gale or rain, being outside in the light and in the air is intrinsically very good for your health, particularly if you are moving around.” He goes on to say: “It’s really good to spur you on if you’re feeling down, will calm you down if you are feeling agitated and make you feel rested and balanced if your mind is jumbled up and all over the place – it’s a really good leveller for the mind.”

Gardening for fun and friendship 

Amberol supplies many Britain in Bloom groups across the country with a variety of self-watering planters, hanging baskets, window boxes and barrier baskets. Every year, through the work we do with Britain in Bloom, we see the friendships that are formed amongst In Bloom groups and the wider community bonds that are created as a result of public gardening projects. And of course, even people who have no involvement at all with Britain in Bloom benefit from the beautiful floral displays that are created all over the country each year. 

Self-watering planters for all spaces 

Amberol’s unique Aquafeed™ system consists of a series of capillary action wicks designed to suck water up from a sub soil water reservoir onto a dispersal mat. This technology means that plants don’t need to be watered so often. Not only that, they cannot be overwatered due to the overflow holes just above the dispersal matting. This saves time, money and precious resources. 

For more information for on Amberol’s planting solutions for public spaces please call us on 01773 830 930 or email sales@amberol.co.uk.