From 26 April to 2 May, The Royal Horticultural Society are encouraging everyone to ‘Get Your Dose of Vitamin G’ – that’s vitamin ‘green’- by taking a few minutes each day to connect with nature.
Over the last year, we’ve come to rely on our gardens and green spaces more than ever. Many of us have rediscovered the importance of connecting with nature for our mental and physical wellbeing. For National Gardening Week in 2021, we are being asked to celebrate the feel-good power of plants and gardens, highlighting the scientific links between gardening and wellbeing and sharing easy tips to get your daily dose of Vitamin G.
“Vitamin G is ‘green’, and research has shown that getting a daily dose improves our sense of personal wellbeing,” explains RHS Director of Science, Professor Alistair Griffiths.
“Aim to bring green into your daily life as much as possible for maximum benefits. There are dozens of ways to connect with nature, and you don’t even need to have your own garden to get your Vitamin G.”RHS Director of Science, Professor Alistair Griffiths.
Local Andover gardener Michael Parkers tells us, “In the last year gardening has become more popular than ever, The health and well-being benefits of gardening and the feel-good factor of being in the garden working on your flower beds/ veg plot or simply sitting and and enjoying the sunshine in your garden. For those unfortunate ones that have no garden we hope to soon start on Andover’s first community garden project. You can read more about that project here
Allotments in Andover
Andover Town Council owns and manages 500 allotment plots on 7 sites. Plots are rented from Andover Town Council. There is a bit of a wait to get a plot in Andover at the moment, due to high demand. If you’d like to go on the waiting list for an Allotment in Andover, click here
Gardening support in Andover
Gardening services play a key role for many at Enham Trust, supporting disabled people to live, work and enjoy life As part of #NationalGardeningWeek, we can help them continue their great gardening services by:
1. Donating gardening items to their Amazon Wishlist 
http://ow.ly/b2Wx50EtcdJ
2. Donating any spare plants, seeds, compost, gardening tools, etc.
3. Volunteering for the gardening service once restrictions lift
Local Gardens to visit
Houghton Lodge, Stockbridge, SO20 6LQ
Open 7 days a week 10am -5pm. Tickets need to be booked in advance. Book here
Hiller Gardens, Jermyns Lane,Ampfield,Romsey,SO51 0QA
Open daily from 10am, tickets need to be booked in advance, here
Cllr Phil North enjoyed a visit here at the weekend with his family and posted on his Facebook page, “A great day out with the family in the south of the borough, visiting Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum and Gardens in Ampfield. Considering it’s a predominantly outside attraction with lots of space, it’s a perfect place to visit as we continue to recover from coronavirus. If you’re travelling from Andover, then Romsey town centre or Stockbridge High Street are also great places to stop off at on the way home.”
Mottisfont, near Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0LP
Open 10am -5pm. Tickets are released every Friday for the following week for people to book and visit. Click here to book
#NationalGardeningWeek
