Quick summary: A recent survey revealing that 88% of Britons associate garden care with enjoyable activities highlights the significant role that tending green spaces plays in reducing stress and increasing life satisfaction. By engaging in mindful outdoor activities like growing plants and interacting with wildlife, individuals can achieve measurable improvements in their mood and overall psychological resilience. These findings suggest that public policy and healthcare practice should increasingly promote gardening as an accessible, everyday form of preventative care to enhance community well being and support long term mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Week, running from 11th–17th May 2026, comes at a timely moment for many in the UK following a challenging winter. With growing recognition of nature’s role in supporting mental health, gardening is emerging as a simple yet effective way to improve mood and reduce stress.
Research supports this. Studies show that gardening can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression while increasing life satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Regular time in the garden is associated with lower stress levels and improved physical activity, benefits that align closely with public health recommendations for preventative well-being. Experts also highlight how accessible green spaces contribute to better outcomes across age groups, offering opportunities for mindfulness, physical movement, and connection with nature.
A nation of garden lovers
A YouGov survey commissioned by garden machinery brand STIGA reveals just how deeply gardening is embedded in British culture. Of those surveyed, 88% associate garden care with enjoyable activities, viewing it not merely as a duty but as an opportunity to tend their greenery and carve out quality time. Favourite activities include
- Looking after flowering plants (68%)
- Interacting with wildlife (64%)
- Planning which plants grow and where to place them (61%)
- Harvesting fruits and vegetables (57%)
Many respondents also linked time outdoors to reduced stress and improved mood, reflecting strong recognition of gardening’s psychological benefits.
Tools that make it easier
STIGA, founded in Sweden in 1934 by Stig Hjelmquist in Tranås, has built a reputation for innovation in garden machinery while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. The company offers battery-powered mowers, lightweight pruners, and robot mowers designed to make garden maintenance quieter, more eco-friendly, and accessible to a wider audience.
The brand’s stated mission goes beyond manufacturing equipment. “From the very beginning, the STIGA mission has gone beyond tools. It is about sparking joy outdoors, boosting well-being, and making a real difference, one garden at a time.”
By removing barriers to garden maintenance, STIGA aims to help more people experience the mental health benefits of time outdoors, whether they are tending a small urban plot or a larger family garden.
Small steps, meaningful results
As Mental Health Awareness Week encourages practical actions for good mental health, the message is clear: small steps outdoors can yield meaningful improvements in how people feel. Fresh air, physical movement, and contact with nature offer what researchers describe as accessible, everyday support for mental wellbeing. For many in the UK, the garden may be the most convenient place to find it.