Sowing Success

Plants for Wellbeing

Research provides overwhelming proof that ‘Near-Nature’ is vital for our health. Simply being in a planted environment reduces heart rate, induces production of stress-busting hormones, and restores tired minds. Getting creative in your garden and nurturing plants unlocks even more healing power. As Dr Alistair Griffiths, Director of Science and Collections at the RHS explains: “Our attention is attracted to the myriad colours, shapes and patterns of plants… (which) has a huge effect on our emotions.” https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/health-and-wellbeing
For example, fractals are very common in plants, from ferns to cacti to flowers. These simple but repeating patterns and shapes are very pleasing to humans as they’re easy for our brains to process. A vast array of other similarly positive effects combine to form what Edward Wilson termed ‘Biophilia’: the inborn affinity of human beings for the natural world. We unconsciously seek out these experiences, and our Wellbeing can literally be measurably improved by such interactions.

So- sit, relax, ‘Be’; or potter, be creative, nurture: Gardens are good for you!

Last of the summer flowers prepped for making potpourri

Entirely expected but no less worrying... and all the more important that horticulture therapy is valued and prioritised in the coming months and years

Mixed bunch of flowers to cheer us up...

Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature (IWUN) | Findings Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature (IWUN) aim to find out more about how Sheffield’s natural environment can improve the health & wellbeing of city residents

💚

Therapeutic Gardening - Room to Heal Room to Heal began in a garden. Born out of the wish of five refugees desperate for some green space in which to feel free. The Garden - a short film Room

https://learningoutsidetheclassroomblog.org/2019/06/11/how-to-deliver-food-growing-programmes-in-schools-and-make-them-sustainable/

How to deliver food growing programmes in schools…and make them sustainable. Blog post written by: Mike Edmondstone, Schools Communications Officer for the Edible Playgrounds programme from charity Trees for Cities. At the risk of hubris, I think it’s safe to say most reade…

Glad that there are so many articles at the moment about outdoor play!

Mr Bloom: Here and There - Why should children play outside? Outdoor play gets kids fitter and healthier as well as making them think!

This conference sounds interesting - and it's free! It's in Leicester in June.

A free one-day conference this event focuses on the importance of conservation within school grounds. Funded by the Erasmus project, this event focuses on the importance of conservation within school grounds and is free to attend. Situated in Leicester City Hall on the 13th of June, it will feature national and international key note speakers on the conservation of wildlife.

Love the interview at the end of this article 💚

Green therapy: how gardening is helping to fight depression A growing movement is promoting the role gardening can play in patient recovery and rehabilitation

Lovely personal account of how caring for plants can be therapeutic
"Something deeply and profoundly dark was creeping into a life that was supposed to be meaningful. So what do you do when you feel so bound to that kind of darkness? When you’re insolvent and lost and alone? You walk into Home Depot and purchase your first plant. Ithica, I called her. I had no idea what kind of flower she was, or what I was supposed to do with her, but I knew I needed to surround myself with something that brought the light back into my world. And oh, she brought such light!"

I Watered My Plants Today - Issuu “If you’ve never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.” – Robert Brault