A new report from the National Garden Scheme emphasises the vital role that gardens and outdoor spaces played – and continue to play – in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the nation during lockdown. Bringing together feedback from garden owners, viewers of their unique Virtual Garden Visits that aired throughout lockdown, and an online survey conducted in August, the National Garden Scheme report confirms that the power of gardens to do good has never been more important.
Supporting World Mental Health Day we look at how gardens can contribute to mental health for all
Jan Rogers shares her story of her tough lockdown experience and how gardening helped her – and her community – through
Garden owner Dave Darwent talks about the power of opening his garden to his mental wellbeing.
Garden owner Amanda Cooper talks about the sanctuary of her garden during lockdown.
Gardens and Health Week is being led by gardening broadcaster and National Garden Scheme Ambassador, Rachel de Thame. In her introduction to the week, filmed in her garden, Rachel speaks about the crucial role her garden played during 2018 and 2019 when she was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for breast cancer.
“My garden became a lifeline, it was a place of escape… but above all it offered me a sense of promise for the future, that glimmer of optimism kept me going through treatment.”
Award-winning landscape designer Dan Pearson leads us through the gardens he has designed for Maggie’s, creating places for recuperation and support.
Head gardener, Jacqui Martin-Lof, invites us in to the wonderful space designed by Joe Swift at the Stoke Mandeville spinal injuries centre
Garden owner Karen Mann tells of the important support she received from her local hospice and how her garden is helping her live with the loss of her son
For over 40 years a village in Buckinghamshire has been opening its gardens for the National Garden Scheme not only raising funds for our beneficiaries but providing wonderful health benefits for all involved.
Inspired by her daughter’s writing and images of the places she had visited, Amanda Goode has created a garden as a testament to her daughter’s life
Garden owner and National Garden Scheme volunteer Alison Jordan has created a garden in Staffordshire that helps her live more peacefully with Parkinson’s.
Alan Clement has survived family tragedy and life-threatening spinal injuries but it his Derbyshire garden that brings him – and his many visitors – a sense of restfulness and wellbeing.
A two acre site in Surrey is providing a lifeline to hundreds of people, young and old, through the provision of social and therapeutic horticulture.
Mercy Morris invites us to share her love of houseplants, looking at the role they can play to our health and wellbeing and which are easiest to keep
Two generations of GPs find solace in sharing their beautiful Gloucestershire garden.
Daily fresh air is invaluable right now. The benefits of trees and woods on our mental and physical health are seemingly limitless – time spent in woodland is never wasted – and could even give you more than just a spring in your step.
Whether you have a garden of your own or simply want to be transported to one you can enjoy a specially scripted guided garden meditation with Landscape Architect, Yoga Teacher & Mindfulness Coach, Lise Jolly.
As part of our Gardens and Health programme we offer free garden visits for the service users linked to our beneficiary charities. Offering a few hours respite in a beautiful garden with a cup of tea, a piece of cake and good company really can help lift the spirits.
For Christine Lane, who lives with Parkinson’s, opening her garden for the National Garden Scheme is helping her focus on what she can do, rather than the things she can’t. The result is a beautiful sanctuary that makes Christine – and the people who visit – feel better.
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