Would you like to learn how to design or improve your garden with the aim that your outside space helps enhance your wellbeing as much as possible? I'm super excited to launch our new upcoming Wellbeing Garden Design workshop! The 1.5hr session will cover: - Exploring what you need in your garden, both physically and … Continue reading Wellbeing Garden Design Workshop
Every day is World Mental Health Day to me, remembering my own journey and now helping to support others daily through my therapeutic gardening programmes. In these current times, more people than ever are feeling the effects of mental ill health. If you are noticing moments or long periods of anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts, … Continue reading World Mental Health Day – Check in and grow!
I loved recently writing this special blog for Collins4Parents, the education publishers, within HarperCollins. So much so that I thought, I would share it here too, especially as it's Mental Health Awareness Week. Helping kids find mindfulness at home through gardening Finding mindfulness can be tricky right now, even more so when the term ‘mindfulness’ … Continue reading Five ways that gardening can be good for children’s mental wellbeing.
Fancy some foraging and cooking right now? How about making delicious sweetcorn and wild garlic mustard fritters?! There is so much wild garlic mustard growing right now, especially in shady woodlands and along hedgerows. As you can see below, it grows along the hedgerow of the canal towpath alongside two other delicious edibles, nettles and … Continue reading Forage and cook: Wild Garlic Mustard and Sweetcorn Fritters
Nearly everyone I know loves cherry tomatoes, especially when they are homegrown and eaten straight off the vine midway through a morning on the plot or in the garden. Are you the same? The first cherry tomatoes of the season always feel and taste particularly special to me, so I need to get sowing asap. … Continue reading Sweet Cherry Tomatoes – Sow, Grow and Eat
Around three children in every primary school class has a mental health struggle. This statistic then increases in secondary school. This week (3 - 9th Feb) is Place2Be's #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek, a time to build understanding and help raise awareness of the importance of children and young people’s mental health. 1 in 8 children and young people have a … Continue reading Children’s Mental Health Week – Thoughts, Facts and Tips!
Well didn't that come round quick, or is it just me? How do you feel about Autumn? Sad due to fewer daylight hours and less edibles growing? Or excited for cosy jumpers, hot drinks and kicking your feet in crisp fallen leaves? Let me know! I personally love Autumn - I don't burn within 10 … Continue reading Hello Autumn!
Oh hey there.... I feel like it's been a while, that's probably cause it has been. You may have seen that it's been a little bit busy in my life, all for good reason though....now isn't that a change in itself. It's amazing the difference that can happen when you have a happy mind and … Continue reading Journey to the Towpath
What's body image got to do with gardening, allotments and growing your own? Quite a lot in my view! Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week 2019 takes place this week, Monday 13 to Sunday 19 May 2019. The theme for 2019 is Body Image – how we think and feel about … Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Week – Body Image
I feel like since I found out my Nanny B had roughly 6 months left to live at the beginning of the year, I have definitely bought more plants than ever. Maybe this is just coincidence or it's the time of year, but I do feel like it is my way coping amongst a time … Continue reading Bringing new life to sad times
We tend to have a love-hate relationship with beetroot – but this underrated veg has become a must-have at No.27. Okay, so your chopping board might resemble a horror movie after you’ve prepared one – and yes, I have gone to work with those indelible pink stains on my fingertips and maybe up my arms … Continue reading Bring on the Boston beets!
Every day evidence is mounting as to how truly wonderful gardening and growing your own produce can be for your physical and mental health.A recent study conducted by Bakker Spalding has found that 88% of people find that mental wellbeing is a key benefit for spending time in the garden. Government is finally beginning to … Continue reading Growing for Wellbeing – Case Study – Alice
Nearly everyone I know loves tomatoes, especially when they are homegrown and eaten straight off the vine midway through an afternoon of weeding or pruning on the plot. Are you the same? The first cherry tomatoes of the season always feel and taste like bon-bons from the corner shop to me – but this particular … Continue reading Sweet Cherry Tomatoes – Sow, Grow and Eat
Please give a very warm welcome to the newest members of the Life at No.27 family! I'm beyond delighted to share that under their Empathy brand, PlantWorks UK is the first company to provide direct funding to support the Life at No.27 non-profit organisation! The team of incredible scientists behind the Empathy logo are the … Continue reading NEW SPONSORS: EMPATHY!
Winter brought a sense of calm and completeness to the allotment, but Spring is nearly here. I can feel the excitement brewing. These quieter few months on the plot have given me time to recharge the batteries, focus on the non-profit organisation and allow me to find new hobbies, such as knitting and hitting the … Continue reading Winter – Cool, Calm and not so Collected
