Health, wellbeing and Bankside’s green spaces

May is Mental Health Awareness month.

To kick it off, Dan Lea, our Urban Gardener, has shared a personal reflection on how we could all benefit from taking a moment to notice the nature in our cities – and use it to pause and connect with one another…

Access to nature and green spaces is integral to the work we do at Better Bankside but its impact on our health and wellbeing can be difficult to define.

As the urban gardener for Better Bankside, I often find myself amongst the hustle and bustle of the morning commute, watching workers flood their offices, heads deep in thought with a flat white in hand. I wonder if their journey was brightened by the newly emerging purple alliums stretching into the sky on Union Street, or the slow unfurling of shade-loving ferns on Keppel Row.

We all know the benefits of being close to nature, from birdsong reducing anxiety to tree canopy cover providing much-needed shade during warmer weather but can it be quantified? How can we prove the impact of hearing birdsong or stopping to look at a flower?

I was recently invited to talk at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for the annual London Gardeners Network, a gathering of professional gardeners, connecting ideas, challenges and stories to share knowledge and advocate for greater access to nature in our cities and beyond.

In my presentation I grappled with observations I have made as a full-time gardener in Bankside. As I journey around pruning, planting or watering I am often reminded of the importance of having a regular presence in such a busy urban environment and how this enables better connections, conversations and community.

A big portion of my day is often having simple, meaningful conversations (mostly around plants or bees) and it brings joy to just stop and talk while the city seems to be running all around. The science behind this proves that connections are integral to our physical and mental health, combatting loneliness, depression and social anxiety.

So how can we quantify a simple good morning or a natter about how dry the soil is? I’m not so sure, but I know my mental health feels brighter when outside, surrounded by bees, rustling leaves and conversations about the weather.