TV presenter
Nick Knowles
has stated that gardens are “vital” for health and wellbeing, urging their inclusion in the UK’s housing development strategies.
During her emotionally charged address at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Knowles highlighted the profound impact that gardens can have in aiding individuals who have experienced trauma or loss, ranging from the death of a child to injuries sustained by soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
He additionally mentioned that community gardens, public parks, and allotments “bring us closer” and provide individuals with shared experiences during an era where everything seemed to be pushing everyone apart in a divided world.
The BBC shows “DIY SOS: The Big Build” and its predecessor “DIY SOS” have renovated homes and gardens for individuals who experienced loss or trauma, as well as those impacted by disabilities. They’ve also converted run-down properties into livable spaces for homeless veterans and developed resources for various community groups and children.
Knwols, who has hosted both programs, mentioned that with housing construction being a top priority, it provided an opportunity to construct new residences featuring solar panels, heat pumps, and gardens aimed at benefiting the environment as well as individuals.
The
Government
has stated its intention to construct 1.5 million additional residences as part of its development strategy, and the
Royal Horticultural Society
(RHS), which annually hosts the Chelsea Flower Show at the Royal
Hospital
Chelsea, wants to see new homes built with garden spaces that benefit people and wildlife.
Knowles stated regarding the importance of gardens: ”
Gardens
Provide something that cannot be duplicated by any level of technological advancement. These elements hinder our pace, linking us to an age-old connection, one that is inherently human.
There’s enchantment in observing growth, in placing your hands in the soil and sensing, even momentarily, that you’re connected to something larger than yourself.
The straightforward activity of looking after or merely being present in the garden imparts patience and fosters attentiveness.
“He remarked that you cannot hasten a daffodil’s growth or compel a tree to mature faster,” adding with a jest that exhibitors at the Chelsea Flower Show seemed intent on making flowers bloom promptly for the exhibition.
There is substantial medical and scientific proof, which the brilliant folks at the RHS have advocated for many years, indicating that gardens aren’t merely an added luxury—they are crucial for physical health, national mental well-being, community cohesion, recovery from trauma, and even combating loneliness.
“He mentioned, ‘A garden not only enhances an area’s beauty but also cures it, frequently benefiting the individuals within as well.’”
He mentioned, ‘No matter if you’re cultivating a championship rose, a crop of carrots, or simply cherishing a weed in your garden, you’re enhancing the world—making it more beautiful, verdant, compassionate, and serene—in the most positive manner imaginable.’
As home construction remains prominent in people’s minds, this presents an opportunity to consider constructing new houses equipped with rooftop solar panels to decrease electricity usage, utilizing ground or air source heat pumps to lower fuel consumption, perhaps even incorporating gardens to benefit the environment and prevent us from turning into ‘neurovores,’ relying solely on our nervous systems for sustenance.
Although he recognized that incorporating eco-friendly technology upgrades and installing gardens might be costly during challenging economic periods, he maintained that these additions were simple to implement and inexpensive when constructing an extensive community of new residences. He further noted that builders observed such features increasingly appealed to potential buyers over time.
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