An individual's health and wellbeing is likely to be improved if they set some time aside to get to work with the garden tools, it has been suggested.
A report launched by secretary of state Caroline Spellman details some of the benefits of planting.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) helped to compile the report and it has been suggested some of the findings are applied to education to ensure younger generations are able to reap the benefits of garden work.
Indeed, it was found that 73 per cent of respondents felt that imparting knowledge regarding nutrition can be a motivating factor to growing food.
An estimated 68 per cent assert that this will encourage a healthier lifestyle and 33 per cent indicated it would improve willingness to exercise.
This is consistent with the findings of a report from HortTechnology – drawn from research conducted by workers at the Department of Horticultural Therapy at the Catholic University of Daegu in South Korea.
Participants in this project were encouraged to maintain plants with cordless secateurs and significant improvements in the usual deviation from normal interval heart rate variation measurements were identified.
Other benefits that children – more specifically – are said to gain include a greater degree of concentration, motivation and overall behaviour.
This made the youngsters less disruptive in class and was reflected in academic achievements – indicating more kids could be encouraged to use push mowers in school.
"Growing and gardening teaches skills that are transferable to a child's academic needs and I hope all the schools take on board the findings of this report – we'd be thrilled to work with them," commented strategic development manager for the RHS Clare Custance.
"This is a very exciting report that expands on the research we carried out two years ago into the benefits of growing plants and food," she continued.
