92% of Brits believe that spending time in the garden benefits their mental health
92% of Brits believe that spending time in their garden positively impacts their mental health. The figures were revealed in a new survey published today by lawncare experts, Greensleeves.
The survey, which includes over 4,900 respondents from across the UK, emphasised the benefits of getting your fingers green this year and supports the increasing evidence that exposure to plants, green spaces and gardening is beneficial to mental and physical health.
"Throughout the ages, gardens have been essential to our daily lives. Our green spaces aren't only a place to grow plants and vegetables; they are also areas for people to relax, focus and connect with nature and each other," explained David Truby, the Managing Director of Greensleeves.
"Due to the pandemic, the past two years will have been incredibly stressful for the majority of people, and with stress comes mental health issues. In fact, the mental health charity Mind revealed almost one-third of adults and over one-third of young people reported their mental health had worsened over the previous year. So, the results from this survey highlight the role getting into the garden, or green space, can play in tackling the UK's increasing mental health problem," said David.
Interestingly, the survey revealed the people getting the most out of being in the garden were those aged between 45 and 54, with 98% saying their mental health benefitted. This was closely followed by people aged between 25 and 35, with 97% saying their mental health benefitted, and the least affected age group were between 18 and 24 with only 50% reporting any improvement.
"Over the past two years, we have seen a 25% surge in the demand for our lawn care services as many people were spending more time in their outdoor spaces and using their green spaces to boost their mood. Luckily for us, although we couldn't all sit down and have a cup of tea in the garden with our customers, we still managed to operate within government restrictions. So, we really have seen first-hand the benefits of having a nice outdoor space and the huge effect it has had on people during this period," said David.
There are several mental health benefits attached to getting out in the garden. Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content, and it can also boost your self-esteem and improve your attention span – two things that help you combat feelings of depression and anxiety. Things like weeding, digging, and raking are also great exercise, and if you garden with others at a community garden or other group settings, it can encourage friendships to form.
If you are interested in finding out more about our lawn care services, please get in touch with your nearest Greensleeves provider here: www.greensleeves-uk.com