Body, soul and soil - water for wellbeing

It’s not just green spaces which can improve our mental health and wellbeing - blue spaces are proven to have similar beneficial effects.  Being close to water, with its calming sounds, fascinating reflections and living inhabitants - insects, birds and plants - helps us feel close to nature and improves our mood.  We can seek out large bodies of water, including oceans, rivers and lakes to enjoy these benefits, but they’re also easily achievable in a garden of any size.

Moving water, in the form of a stream or a rill is ideal, as the movement and sound can be a soothing presence in the garden, as well as a design feature.  Alternatively, a pond is a very worthwhile addition to any outdoor space.  It could be anything from an ambitious swimming pond to a simple bowl of water placed on a balcony or patio - choose whatever suits your space and available resources.

It’s also true that having a water feature in your garden is one of the best things you can do to make it more nature-friendly - it can quite literally bring it to life.  Water attracts frogs and toads, and is home to many different insects and invertebrates.  Even a small container pond can make a big difference to the ecosystem of your garden: it offers a place for birds to bathe, hedgehogs to drink and bats to feed - and the more of these pest controllers you can bring in, the less of an issue you’ll have with slugs, snails and aphids.

There’s also the enjoyable challenge of growing new things.  Creating a pond offers the chance to learn new skills and to experience different growing conditions, tending to plants which thrive in water or boggy areas.

If your garden is missing a ‘blue space’ then consider making it a creative project for your garden in 2026.