Who remembers playing out as a child? [raises hand] 

We would be outside for hours climbing trees, making daisy chain headbands, building dens, playing stuck in the mud with a group of friends. For us adults , gardening might be the adult version of playing out! 

Now many of us are saying the same thing to our children "Go outside, get some fresh air" Yet how often are we getting outside ourselves? We still need the time outside just as much as children do. We still need the movement, fresh air, and a break from screens, chores and endless washing up (It's still there when you get back, I've checked) 

One of the things we do seem to feel is that we don't have the time. We already have a million tasks to complete (again, washing up) how can we possibly go and sit in the garden or keep a vegetable patch? The thing is, tasks are never complete, the to do list only gets longer, but by spending a bit of time outdoors it does give you a bit of an escape, a mental break, time to reset, be in the present, and often that can give us the energy we need to tick off those jobs. 

You don't need a large space or spend hours to enjoy the benefits of gardening, below are a few ideas that you could use to create a place you can sit and have your morning brew or enjoy with family of all ages of an evening. 

Ideas for low maintenance gardening

Perennials in pots - Choose plants that return every year, giving colour with less re-planting. Things like Hosta, Heuchera and Brunnera are great for colourful foilage, ornamental grasses such as Stipa, Sesleria or Festuca are good for movement and texture, Salvia, phlox, Aster and Helenuim for colour. 

Wildflowers in the lawn - let parts of the grass grow longer and add wildflower seed to reduce mowing while helping bees and butterflies. Have you spotted the wildflower mixes on verges and carparks around Whitehaven? They always look lovely.

Evergreen shrubs - provide all year-round structure and colour without very much attention. 

Gravel or bark/woodchip areas - replace high maintenance patches of lawn with  attractive low-care surfaces like decorative gravel, bark or woodchip. 

Raised beds - Easier to manage, easier to weed and better on the back! Also taller raised beds can act as a wind shield for cooler nights. The best product to fill these is our commix which is a mixture of compost and topsoil.

Mulching borders - mulching helps retain moisture and keeps weeds down. Our decorative bark is good for this purpose. 

Drought tolerant plants - Helps keep back on watering in the Summer months.

Large statement pots - Easier to maintain than lots of smaller pots.

Self seeding flowers - These will come back every year with little effort.

Climbers on fences or walls - These add greenery without taking up much space.

Simple seating area - A simple seating area with colourful outdoor cushions can be inviting for a cuppa. 

A good idea would be to use 60% evergreen structure, 30% flowering perennials and 10% seasonal interest. That way the garden looks nice all year round. Also, visit the garden centre at different times of year and then you know what is in Season.

How does gardening help our mental wellbeing? 

I'm not a mental health/wellbeing expert, but it is widely recognised that spending time in nature can support relaxation and reduce everyday stress. Gardens are suitable for all ages and below are some benefits that everyone in the family can enjoy. 

Get that vitamin D - Spending time in natural light boosts vitamin D levels. We don't get much sun here in the UK but even on overcast days enough UV radiation can pierce through to start vitamin D production. 

Gentle movement - Pottering in the garden watering plants, doing a bit of weeding, walking round the garden with a toddler finding bugs, or sitting potting on seedlings, the gentle moving around improves physical health and releases endorphins to boost your mood.

Can calm the nervous system - Gardening may reduce stress and support relaxation, which can be linked to lower cortisol levels for some people. 

Purpose and connection - Caring for plants gives a sense of purpose and achievement, gardening together with children or elderly relatives or in a community garden can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

Over the coming months we will be exploring the many ways people of all ages use their gardens - from play and family time to quiet moments of rest, growing food, connecting with nature and creating spaces that simply make life feel better. 

I'll see you outside!