We can’t believe that it’s been a whole year since the National Garden Scheme last held their annual Gardens and Health Week and this May the initiative is perhaps more important than ever.
Gardens and Health Week is all about championing gardens as places of solace, recuperation and relaxation throughout the year, every year. The campaign, running from Friday 8th May to Saturday 16th May, will raise awareness of the physical and mental health benefits of gardens and gardening. The focus will be on the role of outdoor spaces in creating a positive path to health, which in light of the current crisis has rarely been a more relevant or important message.
National Garden Scheme ambassador and acclaimed broadcaster, Rachel De Thame, is officially launching the campaign on Friday with a moving and uplifting video introducing why the week is so important.
She shares how her own garden was crucial during 2018 and 2019, when she was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for breast cancer, as well as illustrating how the week will help to support NHS staff and patients across the UK.
This year, the week will be focussed around various virtual visits to gardens that specifically relate to the Gardens and Health theme. Many belong to people and charities who generously open their gardens on behalf of the National Garden Scheme, whilst some have also received funding from the organisation. Horatio’s Garden Stoke Mandeville will be featuring as part of the series and we are very excited for you to join us on the tour!
As steadfast supporters of Gardens and Health Week and all that it stands for, we will be sharing lots of our own content in support of the initiative too. There will be plenty of Grow to Give encouragement to help everyone feel the benefits of growing your own, whilst we will also be joining the National Garden Scheme in celebrating International Nurses Day on Tuesday 12th May. It’s just our little way of saying thank you to all those wonderful people who are on the front line today and every day.
You’ll be able to see more and join in with Gardens and Health Week by simply following the National Garden Scheme and Horatio’s Garden on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
We’re looking forward to exploring lots of gardens and stories with all of you next week.
