Wildflowers and wellness: Planting the seed for better mental health

As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week (13th-19th May), expert wildflower gardening company, Seedball is encouraging people to spend time outside enjoying nature – an activity which has been proven to enhance and improve mental health and wellbeing. 

In fact, a study of 20,000 people led by the European Centre for Environment & Human Health found that those who spent less than 20 minutes each day amongst nature were substantially more likely to report good health and improved mental well-being compared to those that didn’t.  

You don’t need to venture far to reap the benefits and beauty of nature! By growing your own wildflowers in the garden, you can enjoy vibrant bursts of colour and floral fragrance, creating a wonderful sensory experience on your doorstep. Alongside this, you will also be supporting the local wildlife that depend on the delicious nectar and insects that wildflowers attract. Not only will this contribute to your own mental wellbeing, but it will also be making a difference to biodiversity around you.  

With this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week on moving more for our mental health, incorporating mindful but physical activities like gardening and growing flowers, can help us support our mind and our bodies, while providing vital food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife. 

Dr Emily Lambert from Seedball said: “The power that nature and the outdoors has on our mental health is incredible. Even short bursts of time in the garden, whether that’s gardening or just observing the nature around you can do wonders for us physically and psychologically. One of the reasons we founded Seedball was to encourage more people to spend time outdoors, creating their own paradise for pollinators and wildflower wonderlands at home.” 

“We’ve even removed the stress of choosing what flowers to grow, with a wide selection of seed ball tins, boxes, and grab bags to suit your growing needs and gardening goals! Whether that’s to encourage wildlife like hedgehogs, birds and bumblebees, or to achieve a sea of luscious colour like beautiful blues with our cornflower mix, or the radiant reds of poppies. 

“The best thing is that you don’t need to be an experienced gardener to create your own wildflower patch – anyone and everyone can get involved in the wildflower revolution!” 

Alongside spending time outdoors, research shows that people with hobbies or projects to focus on are less likely to suffer from stress, low moods and depression. Regularly taking part in activities like gardening or growing wildflowers gets you out and about and can make you feel happier, fulfilled and more relaxed. 

Emily said: “Having a project with a goal – like, for example, encouraging more bees and butterflies into your garden, can give a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. At Seedball we’ve helped make this easy with expertly crafted seed ball products, designed to appeal to different species, such as the Bee Mix and Butterfly Mix which contains an array of seeds that these pollinators can’t resist! 

“Of course, it’s not a magic wand, but so many of our customers have told us that creating their own wildflower meadows in their gardens – and then enjoying all the benefits that come with that – has genuinely boosted their mood levels, wellness and overall positivity!” 

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 13th to 19th May 2024 and this year’s focus is on movement and moving more for our mental health. For more information, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/.  

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Editors notes

Seedball was founded by two conservation scientists wanting to boost biodiversity and help wildlife.

Seedball Ltd is an innovative organisation on a mission to help increase the abundance of British wildflowers and the wildlife that depends upon them.

Owned by Project Maya – a non-profit enterprise - Seedball manufactures wildflower seed balls using a unique innovation of wildflower seeds mixed with clay, peat-free compost and chilli powder to naturally protect seeds from predators. Its products are sold in over 500 stores in the UK, including Kew Gardens, The Woodland Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, as well as online retailers such as Crocus and Marie Curie. Each year, Seedball also donates products to hundreds of schools and community groups to help support their nature projects.