G is for . . .
Today's entry has been kindly written by Chris Groves, Head Gardener at Overbeck’s Garden, Salcombe.
Britain is a nation of gardeners. A staggering 27 million people garden reguarly and it is estimated that an extra 3 million more people took up gardening during 2020 due to the pandemic. So why is it so popular? There are so many reasons that it's hard to know where to begin! Maybe it’s getting close to nature, creating a space to relax, the exercise or the rewarding feeling of growing and nurturing plants? Whatever the reason may be, all gardeners will agree is that it benefits their wellbeing. If you’re not quite sure if it’s for you, or you’d like to but you don’t have outdoor space, here’s some ways you can get involved.
Visit a garden
If you don’t have a garden then visiting one can give you all the pleasure without any of the work! This may sound like cheating, but gardens are there to be enjoyed so make the most of them! If you are lucky enough to have a garden but feel unsure of what to do with it or want you want it to look like, then one of the best ways to get inspired is to visit other gardens. Lucky for us, Devon has some of the best gardens in the country so there's no shortage of places to go. The National Trust looks after some inspirational and diverse gardens and you’ll quickly get a feel for the things you like; it may be the tropical planting at Overbeck’s Garden or the or the Rill Garden at Coleton Fishacre. Look a little closer at the details, what do you like about it; the colours of the flowers? The textures of the leaves? The running water? These are the details you can take away as ideas for your garden.
To find your inspiration go to; www.nationaltrust.org.uk/devon
Over 3,500 private gardens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are opened under The National Garden Scheme. Quite often you won’t have to travel too far to find one and sometimes you’ll find places close to where you live that you never knew were there! If you do find one close by it’s a great way to see plants that might grow well grow in your garden and the owners often have lots of handy tips. Oh, yes and the homemade tea and cakes available are often a highlight! All the money raised goes nursing and health charities, winner, winner!
Volunteering
Many gardens open to the public look as good as they do thanks to the help of volunteers, so if you don’t have a garden you may be able to get your fix of gardening through volunteering. Often working alongside professional gardeners this is a great opportunity to learn or improve gardening skills. Working with other volunteers can be a great social experience too. Getting in touch with gardens near you about volunteering opportunities is often the best way to start.
It’s not just gardens, you can help look after green spaces in cities, towns and villages too though community gardening. ‘Britain in Bloom’ is a nationwide gardening competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) that aims to improve the places we live through community gardeners. Not only does this benefit your own wellbeing but it also benefits the community too, creating a healthier environment that everyone can take pride in.
Head to the RHS website to find out how to get involved.
House plants
Adding houseplants to your home can make it feel calm and relaxing. But if you’re worried about killing it, fear not as there’s lots of help on hand. Buying your houseplants from a garden centre, nursery or florist has the benefit of getting advice from the growers themselves, making sure you find the right plant for the room or place you want to grow it. Download the Candide gardening app to find garden centres and nurseries near you, it also has lots of great gardening advice including how to look after houseplants. Once you’ve got the hang of keeping your plants happy you can have a go at more ambitious projects such as terrariums. Check out James Wong’s Instagram account, @botanygeek , to discover the possibilities!
Gardening Workshops
Sometimes being shown how to do something and giving it a go is the best way of learning. If sounds like you then practical gardening workshops may be for you. The Royal Horticultural Society has five gardens in England and lucky for us one of them is in Devon, RHS Rosemoor. There are a wide range of workshops on offer, from ‘Beginners’ Gardening Basics’ to more specialist workshops such as ‘Shrub Pruning’, ‘Apple Pruning’ and ‘Success with Seeds and Cuttings’. You’ll be learning from the professionals, giving you the experience and skills to tackle your garden at home like a pro!
To view and book RHS workshops and courses visit here
