Body, soul and soil - grab a jacket, get outside!

When the days get shorter and the temperature drops it’s all too easy to embrace the indoors - a cosy corner, a hot drink and a seed catalogue is all very tempting… but in fact it’s time to pull on a jacket and hat and head outside so you can reap the benefits - for your garden and for your health.

Research shows that spending time in the garden is good for our mental and physical wellbeing, because we’re exercising our bodies and enjoying the benefits of being surrounded by nature. 

Getting outside when the sun is shining and warming your back is a no-brainer; in winter, it’s a case of mind over matter - and perhaps investing in some warm outerwear.  To paraphrase the comedian Billy Connolly: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing, so get yourself some cosy kit, and get into the garden!

Winter gardening is made much easier, and more enjoyable, with the appropriate gear - a pair of thermal gardening gloves are invaluable and make it possible to do many tasks which would otherwise be impossible with frozen fingers.  Likewise, a woolly hat and a pair of sturdy, warm boots means it’s a much more comfortable experience.

When the frost really starts to nip, reassure yourself that little and often can still make a big difference.  Even just spending half an hour weeding or ten minutes clipping a hedge can improve the look of your plot and the health of your plants.  Do a few small jobs once or twice a week to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors, plus you will also start next spring ahead of the game.