Page 28 - The Portugal News - Online Edition

28 The Portugal News · 21 Nov 2020 Gardening Section

Why gardening is great for body and mind

Garden designer Mark Lane’s life changed course 15 years ago, when a car crash left

him needing to use a wheelchair.

I know first-hand how (physically gardening), we plants that need deadhead-
gardening has improved are improving our brain ing or pruning.
my physical health and my health. I have noticed how Try out long-handled tools
mental wellbeing,” says my own cognitive recall in the shop before you buy,
Lane. “I am a strong ad- has improved since gar- he suggests. They’re ideal
vocate for the importance dening and doing garden for people who can’t bend
that gardening plays on design,” says Lane. down easily, or for those in
our busy everyday lives and Neurons in the brain wheelchairs. You may want
wellbeing.” are sparked, whatever to splash out on tools with
So how can more of us you’re doing garden-wise, interchangeable heads to
tune into the benefits of whether choosing seeds, save time and space.
horticulture? Lane reveals border planning or actively Also, go for lightweight
some of the wellbeing ben- planting. Relax your mind tools if you can – there
efits of gardening, along by creating a seating area, are some good aluminium
with some top tips for preferably in the shade, ones on the market, but be
getting started for those listening to birdsong. aware that some less heavy
living with disabilities or tools may not last as long
illness… You can grow your own as others. And consider
healing herb garden the handles: Some are
Sage contain flavonoids that help prevent cancer and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Benefits for the mind more ergonomic than oth-
and body Lane has his own herb ers, with moulded handles
e had to come change careers – and his gardening presenter, is an
garden area, aware of their which are more comforta-
to terms with passion for plants and the ambassador for various
It’s great for mindfulness. natural healing powers. ble to use.
his disability, outdoors led him to study disability charities with a
“When in a garden or gar- “Peppermint is great for Portable tables of differ-
H tackle severe garden and landscape slant on gardening, and is
dening, we are encouraged helping with bloating and ing heights are perfect for
depression and overcome design, based at home. now supporting Gardens
to live in the moment, be indigestion, dandelion is helping wheelchair-users
chronic pain and fatigue. Today, he runs his own & Health Week.
more mindful of ourselves packed with vitamins and and others with physical
Lane had previously garden design and land- “As a garden designer, and
and our surroundings. Our minerals and helps cleanse disabilities to plant and
had high-flying roles in scape practice, has a as someone who uses a
breathing slows down (un- the liver, and rosemary or sow. Look out for adjust-
publishing, but decided to thriving career as a TV wheelchair all the time,
less we are digging), our sage contain flavonoids able camping tables with
shoulders drop, and in no that help prevent cancer non-slip surfaces, which
time at all the activity of and reduce the risk of you can fold and put away
gardening has been used as heart attacks and strokes,” afterwards. Invest in a
a stress reliever and stress he says. scoop for getting compost
releaser,” says Lane. and gravel out of bags and
Even contact with buy smaller bags of com-
Gardening helps you soil could be a post for ease of handling.
keep fit health-booster If you haven’t any raised
beds which are the right
“Gardening is a great way “There’s a harmless height for you to plant,
to keep fit, using muscles bacteria, Mycobacterium consider planting in pots,
in our hands, arms, back, vaccae, normally found in using tables around you
stomach and legs, without dirt, which stimulates the to rest the pot on while
even knowing that we immune system and has you are doing it. And keep
are doing it – better than also been found to boost hedges at a height where
going to the gym, in my the production of seroto- you can easily trim them.
opinion,” Lane adds. nin, the feel-good brain
chemical,” says Lane. “Low Keep a wide path
And keeps your brain levels of serotonin are
healthy too associated with depression, “For wheelchair-users, the
so physical contact with best width for a domestic
“From the first moment soil may help elevate our path is 120cm. This allows
of thinking about what to mood.” space either side to control
do in the garden, wheth- the chair. For more am-
er it be passive (sitting Top tips for bulant people, a width of
and enjoying) or active gardeners with 120cm to 140cm is ideal,”
disabilities Lane adds.
“It also means that for
Use the right tools and kit people with, for example,
for the job. chronic arthritis, who
Using the right tools for may need the support of
the job will make garden- someone’s arm; this can
ing more manageable and be achieved because the
comfortable, Lane stresses. path is wide enough for
Grabbers can be used to two people to walk side-
hold plants. Long-handled by-side. And avoid gravel,
tools called ‘reacher grab- which feels unstable
bers’, with a claw at one underfoot.”
end, are perfect for picking PA/TPN
things up, and reaching for