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Gardening or just getting out and about in nature can have a hugely positive effect when dealing with grief
Last autumn we invited Yours readers to plant daffodil bulbs in memory of someone they love who has died, to support Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal. As the cheery, bright yellow flowers now come into bloom they can provide a real boost of joy and serve as wonderful visual reminders of the ones we’ve lost.
But it’s not just the sight of these flowers that can help lift our mood – the very act of gardening itself is a proven way to help cope with grief.
Jane Murray, Bereavement Manager at the end-of-life charity, explains that there are many therapeutic benefits to gardening, from lowering your stress levels to boosting your wellbeing by getting you moving. “As you have to focus on the task at hand, gardening allows you to be ‘in the moment’ and this can help you deal with the emotions associated with grief. The natural daylight and physical activity involved in gardening can also make a huge difference to your mood”.
And don’t just take our word for it. Marie Curie volunteers and families who have used the vital service share their positive experiences…
Joanne Afon volunteers at Marie Curie hospice in Bradford. Joanne says, “Gardening brings me a lot of joy, it’s very therapeutic, and it keeps me active.
I love volunteering at the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford because I’ve met so many different p
