Things To Do: March 2008
Gardening is good for you
It’s not just plants that benefit from gardening – you do, too! We’ve been digging up a few interesting facts…
Power of sunlight
With the clocks going forward it provides an extra hour of sunlight, which should encourage you to get up, get out and get gardening. Sunlight helps the body to make vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and may slow the progression of osteoporosis. Positive powers of sunlight also work on the mind.
Physical fitness
To reap the benefits of gardening, you have to do more than just potter about. The most energetic activities in terms of calories used are digging and shoveling. If you spend 30 minutes on either of these activities, you could burn up between 200 and 360 calories. Mowing the lawn is also a high-calorie burner.
Staying mentally alert
“Gardening takes you on a unique journey of discovery. It gives you an opportunity to exercise your mind and your hands and there’s always something new to learn from your garden. Learning new skills is a sure-fire way to keep the brain alert,” says BUPA’s Dr Sally Cubbin.
Reducing stress levels
Researchers have found that just walking through a beautiful garden, lowers peoples’ stress levels. The garden is thought to have the same effects on the mind as art therapy. But it isn’t just doing some gardening that reduces the stress. Soaking up the colours, sounds and smells of your garden and taking time to appreciate the peace and tranquillity if offers will also help to remove tension.
Building self-esteem
A survey carried out by MIND found 50% of people believed that physical exercise, including gardening, was one of the best activities to boost their mental health.
Bringing people together
For many people gardening can provide a new and interesting hobby to discuss with new or old friends and family.