You may have green fingers, or you may have never gardened in your life. Whatever your experience, you can keep learning through gardening, helping improve your health .
A person waters their raised bed with a hose
Continuous learning can help us improve our mental health and wellbeing. It is one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, developed by the New Economics Foundation.
The report suggests we all try something new, rediscover old interests or take a course. Learning new skills can build confidence, as well as being fun.
I’ve learnt to use a lawn mower, how to do composting and how to use a jet washer to clean the paths … doing the physical jobs takes all the anger away. I like it and it makes me feel happier.
Carly, Thrive client gardener
Gardening is a constant voyage of discovery. Gardeners will tell you – there is no such thing as a mistake, just another opportunity to learn! Horticulture is a huge, broad subject. There are many areas to explore, offering something for everyone.
Some of the many ways you can learn through gardening include:
- Growing new plants and getting to know what they need to thrive
- Learning to identify plants or wildlife you see around you
- Growing food produce and learning to use this in your cooking
- Improving your technique. This could be for weeding, watering , pruning or mowing the lawn
- Creating garden-based craft projects, such as a homemade bird feeder
If you wanted to learn as part of a group, you could join a local gardening club or community garden. The RHS has a list of community gardening groups on its website. Gardeners are almost always happy to share advice and wisdom, successes and missteps!
I've learnt a lot of life skills, I'm gaining a lot of confidence. I'm trying not to be lacking in myself and do my best in things.
Rebecca, Thrive client gardener
Are you already inspired to start learning?
You could sign up to our free online course, 'Cultivating Wellbeing'. It includes ideas and advice on using gardens and nature to improve physical and mental health.
Cultivating Wellbeing online course
Find out more
Thrive client gardener and blogger Carly surrounded by plants
Carly is a Thrive client gardener who has been on a journey of learning and personal development. From this, she has gained a horticultural qualification and a lot more besides.
As part of Carly’s journey, she has been visiting Thrive in Reading once a week. Here, she is supported by horticultural therapists and volunteers. At Thrive, Carly has learnt a lot about gardening. This includes how to use the tools that help get the job done.
“I’ve learnt to use a lawn mower, how to do composting and how to use a jet washer to clean the paths,” says Carly. “I enjoy doing more physical jobs outdoors like using a wheelbarrow to move bark chippings.”
I’ve learnt how to grow things like potatoes, carrots and different flowers, annual and perennial. The plot is going well and I’m starting to put new stuff in it now.
Carly, Thrive client gardener
Feeling calmer
Time in the garden has given emotional as well as learning benefits. “I used to be really angry and hit things and hit people,” recalls Carly. “When I heard about Thrive, I thought ‘This sounds something new’ but I didn’t realise I would enjoy it as much as I do.”
“Being here, doing the physical jobs takes all the anger away. I like it and it makes me feel happier.”
Research shows how gardening and nature-based activities can increase our skills. With this, comes a sense of personal achievement. For Carly, her small plot is of source of great reward. “I’ve learnt how to grow things like potatoes, carrots and different flowers, annual and perennial,” she says. “The plot is going well and I’m starting to put new stuff in it now.”
Carly has now taken a City & Guilds Level One Diploma in Work-based Horticulture. The course combined a mixture of practical assignments and written work. With support from Thrive, Carly passed her assessments. She is rightly proud of her achievement.
Carly in the garden
Skills for life
Gardening can bring physical, emotional, social, and learning benefits. These can positively impact in other areas of life. For example, gardening tasks can help improve dexterity and coordination. For Carly, this helped her be able to tie her own shoelaces. This was a small but significant step towards more independent living.
Carly has also used the fruit and vegetables grown from seed to produce meals. She has created these in the kitchen at Thrive Reading. This has included soup, crumbles and some very delicious beetroot and chocolate brownies!
Gardening has also provided a valuable confidence boost. “I have made loads of friends and find it easier to talk to people here as I’m more confident now,” says Carly. With this new-found confidence, she has become an ambassador for Thrive. She has taken part in radio interviews and public speaking engagements.
The learning opportunity from the garden has not ended for Carly. The next challenge? “I think I’d like to learn how to use a strimmer.”
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