A Garden for Well Being
Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Our love of natural landscapes and gardening has given us a deep insight into the positive impact that being outdoors has on our mental wellbeing and sense of purpose.
It’s no surprise that there is a growing trend among our clients for utilising their gardens as a haven for relaxation and respite with more and more people leaning towards creating a ‘sanctuary’ in the garden.
Key considerations when thinking about creating your own sanctuary garden are exploring how you can feed and nurture your senses and create pockets of intrigue with intimate spaces to sit and reflect.
Soothing sounds
A water feature is a great way to provide soothing sounds as well as providing a stimulating focal point, it can also be a source of water for birds and other wildlife.
The introduction of movement in the planting with grasses and trees that rustle in the wind as well as scented plants and climbers all aid in lifting one’s mood and focusing the mind.
Planting
Think about adding tactile textures in your planting which can distract you from everyday niggles and worries and connect you to nature through your sense of touch – plants such as Lambs Ear (Stachys byzantia) or Artemesia ‘Silver Mound’.
Fragrance and scent are essential in a garden designed to benefit your health, from beautiful fragrant roses (we like David Austins ‘Scepter’d Isle), to climbers such as Trachelospermum jasminoides and herbs such as Chamomile or Thyme.
Often we find that our clients will happily reduce the lawn in favour of more planting creating a great opportunity for increasing the seasonal interest in the garden and adding depth and surprises with hidden corners for a secluded seating area surrounded by nature.
Relaxing areas
Other key considerations are furniture and placement, incorporating areas that are both beautiful and purposeful. So if you want to relax and read the paper in the morning sun, establish where the sunny spot is and create a welcoming space for your seating that is surrounded by nature.
Remember that you don’t need to see everything in the garden at first glance, encourage exploration of the space by giving tempting glimpses of what may be beyond.
Lastly welcome nature into your garden, provide nesting space for birds with trees and leafy shrubs. Leave plant debris on the bed (chopped up) as a mulch and potential home / food source for insects.
Use herbaceous plants with a long flowering season that will encourage insects to your garden, which in turn encourages birds and mammals to join them!
Get in Touch
For advice on creating a wellbeing garden call us to chat about what you can achieve!
Email hello@inspiredearthdesign.co.uk
Jude 07917 208655
Emily 07799 292573