Gardener, BBC Gardeners' World presenter and gardening writer Monty Don! Gardening, mental health, wellbeing, connection, a way of being.

My post content

https://www.montydon.com/talks-events/an-evening-with-monty-don-in-aid-of-mental-health-charity-mind

Depression and seasonal affective disorder :

https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/504161/gardeners-world-monty-don-near-death-experience/?viewas=amp

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/22921442/monty-don-depression-battle-branded-unhealable/amp/

"...The benefits of nature are all about the physical connection with the rhythm of the natural world."

He continued: “Some of that rhythm is bleak – winter is cold. And yet even if inside you are bleak and grey and cold, if you believe that spring will blossom inside you, as well as outside in the garden, that’s powerful. So that’s how it works for me.”

https://www.montydon.com/tips-and-advice/february-2024

IDEA, aided by my mum Sally Freestone: To DM Monty Don when I have formulated what I am doing/discussed and planned with the gardeners and ask him to contribute (hopefully he replies!), specifically in relation to managing one’s wellbeing… especially in the dark, sombre months of the year! This is a common reason why people join groups such as these, for connection to nature and each other to boost wellbeing.

The interactive element could be a planned live Zoom interview between him and the gardeners, asking questions and facilitated by me, which anyone else could watch and dip into or play on demand after!!!

I'd work on the questions with the gardeners to make it specifically about the healing and wellbeing aspects of being in nature and gardening. Gardening alone and gardening with others.

And could play, in the Zoom, some video of the growing and making work done with the gardeners.

But...have to wait a bit until know more of what I'm doing with the bobs before I reach out. He might just bite though, as it’s probably important to him. Could stream on a YouTube channel created for the project...link with the group's socials, to increase people coming! And have snippets of video of the work and planting and conversations there as I go....with permission!

My task:

To watch Monty Don/Listen this evening!

To read the garden bench essays

To read the almanac

To record the species sewed and understand the links with the seasons

To watch the Secret Garden again

To compile all my photography of benches over the years

To make natural instruments (next week when Mary-Clare brings in some buck wheat husks...)...forage for local materials that will make a sound to contribute to the piece/soundscape