Gardening is seriously good for you – just don't get stressed about it
Regular gardening is associated with higher wellbeing scores and lower stress levels
The Chelsea Flower Show can seem intimidating to aspiring gardeners. However, this year, it is metaphorically letting its hair down by allowing gnomes to appear for only the second time in history.
What’s more, leaning into the theme, gnomes decorated by several celebrities are being auctioned in aid of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening which aims to persuade children of the health benefits and the joy to be had. It’s a message many of us should consider as, according to RHS research, a daily dose of gardening is associated with higher wellbeing scores and lower stress levels.
Asked if Chelsea had taken itself too seriously with its themes in recent years, TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, who has contributed a gnome, said: "It doesn't take itself seriously. It takes gardening seriously, which more people should do – seriously, in that it's important, but it's all about fun and improving everybody's wellbeing... being out in the garden, you feel better."
So if your herbaceous border isn’t quite ‘Chelsea standard’, don’t stress, just enjoy the buzzing of the bees while your new gnome looks on.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.