“I didn’t know you could massage soil!”
This half-term, participants of Ourplace – a drop-in group for children and young people in our Inner London Centre – have been out in our Garden. The group is for young people to improve emotional, social and mental wellbeing.
Young participants who have recently begun attending OurPlace have each been given a pot with plants to design and plant up. Over the summer they will be responsible for their own mini garden, and so far they’ve shown great enthusiasm for the project.
As one participant exclaimed: “I didn’t know you could massage soil!”
The reason behind this garden project is that gardening and being outdoors have proven benefits on mental health and wellbeing.
“It’s great to see young people take an interest in the environment” says Hannah, Child and Family Support Service Manager for Inner London.
There are many recorded benefits of gardening on mental health and wellbeing, including:
- Growing plants gives us responsibility.
- Gardening connects us with nature.
- Plants don’t judge.
- Gardening is great exercise.
- Gardening is therapeutic.
- It encourages us to live in the moment.
- It’s a good way to vent anger and frustration.
- Gardening puts you in control.
As well as the mental health benefits for participants, the added bonus is that our Inner London Centre garden benefits from a mini makeover too!
To learn more about groups offered at our Inner London Centre, click here.
