September - Let's get social!

Let's get social! Follow us on social media by clicking here!

Simply pottering around your plot, nurturing plants and being lost in the moment can be very relaxing, providing time for mindful contemplation. But gardening doesn’t have to be a lonely or solitary affair, with great benefit derived from bringing people together to talk gardening, sharing their gardening experiences and the crops and flowers they grow.

Togetherness has great value for our mental wellbeing, relieving boredom and providing opportunities to interact with others. Joining a gardening club and enjoying talks and events at your local garden centre bring like-minded gardeners together. They’re a place to share gardening ideas and experiences as well as learn valuable skills and discover exciting new plants.

More community gardens are popping-up around the country too, providing opportunities for people to garden together and share produce, improving their levels of activity, physical, mental and social health. For many this leads to improving diet and consumption of fruit and vegetables, helping with weight loss, decreasing stress, raising mood and levels of energy, plus benefits for integration and independence, local communities and the economy. With so much to gain it’s no wonder health professionals recommend gardening for therapy and rehabilitation, with measurable reductions to local healthcare resources and budgets as a result.

Many groups also run shows that bring people together to celebrate growing and creative achievements. They may run outings to beautiful gardens and events where you can enjoy a day out in great company, making new gardening friends. Interacting with others has valuable social and community value, combatting loneliness, and improving health and wellbeing.

Plants provide a great opportunity to engage with others to share your love of gardening. Many gardening adventures have started with a single plant, sparking a journey of discovery and lifelong passion for gardening. And there’s nothing better than learning about new plants from someone who has grown them, sharing their hands-on knowledge to give you confidence to nurture them to. Flourishing plants create lasting friendships, plus an outlet for creativity and expression.

And when ‘grow your own’ endeavours result in bumper harvests why not share these with friends, neighbours or charitable groups in your area, along with your favourite recipe ideas for them to try.

Whether you’re swapping seeds, seedlings and spare plants, passing on problem solving advice, growing and gardening with others, or gifting beautiful plants to friends, by sharing our love of gardening we’ll all be growing together.