Gardening 'can improve fitness'
16:27 17th January 2011
Cultivating plants in a garden or greenhouse is a great way to improve fitness and wellbeing, an expert has revealed.
In an article for the Norwich Evening News, Emma Harrowing described gardening as having numerous health benefits.
She highlighted the findings of a study in the Environmental Health Journal which revealed 30 minutes of working in an outside space can help people recover from heart disease and strokes and may mean fewer trips to the doctor.
Ms Harrowing also cited a recent report from the Royal Horticultural Society which showed gardening can boosts children's happiness.
Asked for her opinion on why gardening is good for health, Pensthorpe Nature Reserve and Gardens head gardener Imogen Checketts told the writer that working outdoors is peaceful and gives people time to think.
"Health and happiness is one of the greatest benefits and most gardeners I know are cheerful souls and cup-half-full people," she commented.
A recent survey by BioMed Central's Environmental Health journal stated over 60s who grow their own vegetables are generally healthier than those who do not.
