Tales from Titchmarsh

To enjoy the full benefits that gardening can have on our mental health, maybe it's time to be a bit more self-indulgent

- Alan

How about a little 'me' time?

I know, it smacks of selfishness whenever we dare to undertake something purely for our own pleasure, but as gardeners I think we've earned our moments of self-indulgence. After all, just about every activity that any responsible gardener undertakes out there on that plot of ground - apart from growing food - is carried out for the benefit of nature, wildlife, the greening of the Earth and the good of the planet. It’s a noble intention. But just for a little while, let's assume that your care for all other forms of life on your tiny patch of the planet is a given and you can take time to indulge yourself. What is it that gives you pleasure on a purely personal level? Of course, you might find it's impossible to separate the two things - the pleasure comes from the good you're doing and also the beautiful picture you're creating.

The thing is, the two need not be mutually exclusive.