During the past year people have come to appreciate gardens and green spaces more than ever. The mental health benefits of spending more time outdoors with nature are huge, so for this year’s National Gardening Week Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, is urging constituents to get outdoors and celebrate the positive power of plants and gardens.

This year’s theme is ‘Get Your Dose of Vitamin G’, with research showing that getting a daily dose of ‘green’ improves our sense of personal wellbeing.  The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are highlighting the scientific links between gardening and well-being, as well as sharing tips and advice to help you get your daily dose of Vitamin G this National Gardening Week.

Head to the RHS website for inspiration on activities in the garden, such as ideas of flowers and vegetables to plant this time of year, weeding advice and information on what wildlife you may be able to spot in the garden: https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/national-gardening-week/

Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, said:

“National Gardening Week is a really great campaign to promote the importance of our outdoor spaces, be they gardens, parks or allotments. Gardening has so many benefits for mental health that it’s a really worthwhile activity to improve personal wellbeing.

“If you’re new to gardening but are interested in getting involved, do take a look at the RHS website for a range of fantastic activities to have a go at this bank holiday weekend, and it’s a great activity for kids to get involved with too.

“The pandemic has made the need to preserve and enrich our outdoor spaces abundantly clear, so let’s celebrate the joy of gardening this National Gardening Week.”