Celebrating National Gardening Week
You don’t need a private outdoor space to reap the many benefits of gardening.
Organised by the RHS each year, National Gardening Week helps to raise awareness of the mental and physical benefits of gardening. Not everyone has their own private garden in Hammersmith, but most people can access a balcony, window-box or shared green space and just two hours in nature a week can improve wellbeing.
Our two almshouses – John Betts House and Sycamore House – both have large shared gardens. They’re managed by a team of three gardeners – India, Lucy and Victoria (known as V). The gardens are much loved by the people who live here.
As one resident, Ann, shares, “The garden is wonderful and I have a gorgeous tree just outside my front door, which gives me huge pleasure. It’s a marvellous setup really – a wonderful oasis in the middle of a busy city.”
As well as the shared gardens, a few residents at Sycamore House have their own gardens. We also have four allotment beds at John Betts House and five large planters specifically for residents, most of which are used for growing vegetables. Many of the residents also keep flowerpots outside their front doors.
The benefits of gardening
Numerous studies have shown that gardening can be hugely beneficial for both physical and mental wellbeing. It’s a great way to keep fit and active, and can help to reduce sleep problems, stress, anxiety and depression. India says, “There’s a lot of evidence that being able to enjoy green space can help certain health conditions and increase life expectancy. I definitely believe having nature in our lives is good for wellbeing, even if you’re just walking through it, sitting outside or seeing it from your window. And the fact that residents know they can be involved in the space and take part in activities is so good for them.”
V adds, “Residents who don’t get involved in gardening still enjoy being able to see the garden and sit out in it. There’s a lot of research now showing that even just being able to see the colour green can have a positive benefit on mental wellbeing.”
Gardening for older people
Gardening can be particularly beneficial for older people, as it can help to maintain fitness levels, dexterity and independence. According to the gardening charity Thrive, “Time in nature has been shown to improve emotional state, physical health, verbal expression and memory.”
V shares, “Residents will often talk to me about a memory they have of a garden or outdoor space that they had growing up. Sometimes, there will be a particular plant that a relative loved, and so they want to put one in their pot or plant it somewhere in the garden to remind them of that person.”
Gardening together
When people garden together, as is often the case at Hammersmith United Charities, it brings added social benefits. Our residents support the gardeners with a number of jobs, including watering pots and clearing leaves.
We also hold gardening workshops for residents most months. V explains, “We had a seed sowing workshop in March, and are planning a hanging basket workshop for May.”
Get involved
- The focus of this year’s National Gardening Week is new gardeners. Whether you have a balcony, a shared garden or just fancy growing some house plants, you’ll find lots of beginner guides to help you get started at rhs.org.uk/get-involved/national-gardening-week
- There are several community gardens dotted around Hammersmith, most of which are run by Hammersmith Community Gardens Association (HCGA) . The charity is always keen to hear from people who have time to help out. You don’t need any experience of gardening to take part.
- Some GPs are now able to prescribe gardening instead of, or alongside, medication to ease stress, anxiety and depression. Patients are referred to a community gardening scheme, where they take part in a range of activities, from sowing seeds to pulling up weeds. Ask your GP for more information.
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