How does your garden make you feel? As gardeners, we know the huge benefits gardening has on our mental health and wellbeing. Here, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Wildlife Editor Kate Bradbury, talks to Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP, TV doctor and devoted gardener, about the wonderful ways gardens and gardening can heal us.
Whether we notice our blood pressure lowering or not, we all have those moments when the strains of the day, including anger and stress, melt away after an hour or two, digging the soil, sowing seeds, or even weeding. In fact, the moment Amir returns from a shift at the surgery, he heads straight into the garden. Gardening is so good for us, that doctors are now prescribing it to some patients as part of their journey to feeling better.
From encouraging frogs, hedgehogs and wildlife into the garden, to the physiological changes going on inside of us when we’re outdoors nurturing our plants, listen now as Kate and Amir dive into all things feel-good gardening.
Catch up on the first three series of the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast:
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Find out more
- Dr Amir Khan is supporting Samaritans for Mental Health Awareness Week. Anyone can contact Samaritans, free, 24/7 on 116 123, jo@samaritans.org or samaritans.org
- Find Dr Amir on Instagram
- Six essential features of a wildlife garden
- How to make a wildlife pond
- 10 ways to help hedgehogs
- Gardening for wellbeing – with JJ Chalmers
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