Spring Flower Sunday

When you are unwell or you have a house warming isn’t it nice when someone brings you flowers or a pot plant to care for. Why is that? What is it about the fresh flowers that changes the way we feel, or how we see the world that day? Is it the smell or the vibrant colours; is the fact that we have brought a little piece of outside, inside?

In a notice I received today they are collecting flowers to deliver to people who are shut in, and this got me thinking about the benefits nature may have on our health. Is it beneficial to dig round in the garden, or tend to plants inside?

As we build more buildings in smaller and smaller spaces we take away any natural environment that was there. We are faced with brick walls and long busy roads omitting fumes that pollute our atmosphere. We are working longer hours in air conditioned buildings and racing home to our air conditioned homes. We no longer (and I am generalising here) keep gardens that produce enough produce to feed our families; instead we race to a big supermarkets where all the produce is in perfect condition.

How is this good for our health?

Animals, humans and the natural environment do not exist as independent entities, we are all interconnected. Have you ever been upset or frustrated and gone for a walk outside and you are suddenly aware of the smell of the autumn leaves or the beauty of the flowers in your neighbours’ garden and without realising it your heart rate has slowed, you have become calmer and your breathing has regulated, THAT’S NATURE. How powerful is that!

So why not try bringing some outdoors in, have a pot plant in your office (and not the plastic kind), go on a nature walk, stop and smell the roses or open a window (if you can) and let some fresh air in. If none of this is possible have a calendar or poster of trees, flowers or open spaces where you can see it in times of stress and let nature take its course.


Reference
Maller, C., Townsend, M., Pryor, A., Brown, P., & St Leger, L. (2005). Healthy nature health people: ‘contact with nature’ as an upstream health promotion intervention for populations. Health Promotion International, 21,(1), (45-53)