Gardens And Health Week 2018
“We might think we are nurturing a garden, but of course, it is our garden that is nurturing us”
Jenny Uglow
I have had the pleasure of knowing Clare for several years through her work with Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire. I also know about one of her many talents…It is no secret at work that Clare has extremely green fingers – many people have expressed how amazing Clare’s garden is.
In fact its Blooming amazing!
In 2017 Clare’s back garden won gold in Kenilworth and bloom and the front garden won bronze.
Self Care Chat
On a recent Community Organiser training course, with Stephanie from Act Build Change, we talked about how important it was to look after ourselves to avoid the dreaded burnout and what we used in our own self-care toolkit. Clare was my partner I watched as her eyes lit up as she spoke about her garden.
What the National Garden’s Scheme have to say about Clare’s garden
A gravel front garden with a Mediterranean ‘feel’. A wide backed garden of mature trees, shrubs and many flowering herbaceous perinnials. Lots of varity of colour and texture.
A message from Clare
It is no secret that I love my garden and never tire of being in it. Not resting usually I have to say. I am intimate with it. I know its needs and I have to see to them! But when the evening comes and especially on a work day there’s no better place to rest.
Cultivating Community
I am a member of the National Garden Scheme and every year open my garden to the public. This year I am opening again on August 18 hosting a trip for the Feel Good Ambassadors and Self Care Socialities!
Why?
Because the National Garden Scheme isn’t just about opening gardens and raising money for charity – we also care about the other ways gardens improve lives.
For the nationwide campaign, Gardens and Health Week (18th-24th August 2018), we are doing some research into the impact of gardens on mental wellbeing.
The power of gardens on health and wellbeing
During that week we want to start a conversation about whether visiting a National Garden Scheme garden can help people feel less stressed or if gardening does lift your mood – hopefully illustrating the many ways gardens are great.
Join in the Feel Good Self Care magic!
If you would like to join the Feel Good Ambassadors we have a Facebook group – a closed space where we can support each other no matter what life has to throw at us. The Ambassadors have helped to generate ideas and turn them into realities. Check out the event page to see some of the events and meetups they have been involved with.
If you would like to get involved with Coventry’s latest health and wellbeing movement; the Self Care Social check out the Facebook page.
Further reading about gardens and wellbeing
The National Gardens Scheme commissioned The King’s Fund to write an independent report on the benefits of gardens and gardening on health. you can read the report here.
Read about why playing in the dirt is good for you, in this article by James Wong for the Guardian.
Find out why front gardens are an endangered species, and why University of Sheffield PhD student, Lauriane Suyin Chalmin-Pui wanted to research the health benefits flowering front gardens can have.
Doctors urged to offer more gardening courses and fewer pills
Over to you…
We would love to hear your thoughts on spending time in the garden impacts your health and wellbeing. Drop us a comment below…
Read about our visit to Clares garden: Open the garden gate to wellbeing
