As you know, gardening has always played a big part in my life. I view the garden as a safe place - somewhere to find myself and clear my mind. But can it be somewhere to keep fit too? Over the past few years I've begun to wonder whether, like me, many people may not realise that our gardens can help to keep us fit and maybe even add a few years to our lives? I would say I've taken my own physical health for granted over the years. Don't get me wrong, I've always gardened, landscaped and played a lot of football, then when that finished I started running and now go to the gym - but it's only when I was doing these things that I considered myself to be exercising. Gardening as a form of exercise never crossed my mind.
Of course when I ran my landscape team I used to lark about with the lads - seeing who could lift the most turfs in a barrow, how quick we could climb a tree or how long it would take to move 20 tonnes of sand. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but it used to help the days pass! It was only during these times that I could feel myself really breathing hard. But, even then, I don't think I realised the garden could provide a good workout and play a major part in keeping me fit and active.
Hidden strength
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Gardeners World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2023 edition of Gardeners World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
We love June
We're cruising towards midsummer: this is a month full of love and abundance. Wherever you look there will be something in your garden that lifts the spirits and makes you glad to be alive. We have colour to cheer us, we have leaves that still have the bounce and freshness of small puppies, we have the first berries fattening up, there are birds frantically parenting very demanding broods of chicks, the bees are all over the place, it's prime barbecue and picnic season, and we have lawns as lush and green as billiard tables. What a month to fall in love.
Your wildlife month
The female will usually lay one clutch of up to eight eggs
An edible garden in pots
Join Lucy Bellamy in creating an edible container garden for all seasons, as she harvests what's ripe now and starts later-season crops
Garden craft with kids
Fill the summer holidays with fun nature makes for kids, including botanical printed t-shirts, seed sowing in upcycled food containers and a hanging home for beneficial insects. Jaime Johnson and family show you how
Secrets of a COLOURFUL GARDEN
Using a colour theme is an easy way to give any garden a strong, unified character - Nick Bailey shows you how
Indoor plants, outdoor treats
Break the rules and give your house plants a summer holiday, with Michael Perry's mixed pot display ideas
YOUR PRUNING MONTH
The first few weeks of summer are a good time to get spring-flowering plants in shape. Follow Frances' guide for best results
Gardening for wellbeing
As the pressures of modern living bear down, our outside spaces can provide soothing respite for our minds and bodies, says Arit Anderson
Your greenhouse guide to A fruitful summer
Get the best from your greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops this summer, with these tried and trusted growing tips from Adam Frost
Stars of the show
Agapanthus is the perfect midsummer plant, flowering with spectacular blooms from June onwards and, as Monty explains, it loves to grow in a pot
