Hi there! My name is Alice and I’m a relatively new member of the Botanical Atelier team. I’ve had the great joy of working in the shop for the last few months and getting to know so many lovely faces, in between lockdowns of course. 

A little about me 

 Engaging with plants for mental wellbeing

There’s no doubt we are living in uncertain times. In one way or another, all of us are affected by this current global situation, and we’re all navigating through this pandemic with a range of coping strategies. Right now and more generally, cultivating a connection with plants can bring us back to the present moment, in times where the future seems unpredictable and uncertain.

I believe plants have incredible power to help us navigate change and teach us something about resilience. Whatever is going on in our world, they continue to grow, adapt and thrive. Plants surround us every day, from trees overhead and moss on rooves, to the food we eat, materials in the clothes we wear and the medicines we use. Becoming aware of the large role plants play in our lives can help us understand and feel connected to a constant in the world around us, when in many parts of our lives, we may not feel so connected.

When it comes to wellbeing, the positive connection between our mental health and nature is increasingly recognised. Since 2019, the NHS have been recommending fresh air and green space as part of social prescribing schemes, and many studies have shown that gardening, caring for houseplants, and even just being present in green spaces can improve our psychological and even physiological health.
 

Small things we can do right now

During this less-green season, to engage with plants for our mental health. When outside, even at this sometimes bleak time of year, there are glimpses of colour, growth and change if we take a moment to look. When out walking, I like to engage with plants by identifying them by their common or botanical name (great apps for this are Candide or PlantNet) which can be an interactive way of learning more about the plants around us. I also try to engage with them when I can - picking a seed head or leaf as I walk by and taking a closer look, thinking about how it’s formed, perhaps even taking it home and drawing it. These moments of identification and connection can be an act of mindful presence in the moment, as well as activating our creative minds when taking time to notice the shape of a branch, or the colour of fallen leaves.
 

Green Housemates 

Inside, as most of us are at the moment, many of us have green housemates that occupy our homes. When we’re not feeling our best, it can be easy to neglect or forget about our leafy companions, however, taking time to care for houseplants daily or weekly as manual work that has tangible results, can help us feel a sense of achievement, as our plants grow with us. 

Although our houseplants do grow less and generally need less water in the winter, try incorporating house plant care into your routine by misting tropical plants, rotating pots or removing dead leaves while making a cup of tea in the morning, or giving thirsty houseplants a shower on a Sunday night. It’s also about accepting that some may not thrive along the way too, and that’s okay - we don’t have to be perfect right now (or ever). In times where it’s hard to have control over things in the future, we can at least try to control how happy our plants are - whether they are fed and watered or have the right amount of light. Through cultivating compassion for them we can learn to have compassion for ourselves. 

Plants can Lift our Mood

The constantly changing nature of plants can lift our mood as we watch the seasons change, and see how, despite everything going on in our world, plants continue to grow and adapt to their environments. Trees in winter, bare of leaves, can remind us about the importance of rest, recharging and renewal. Maybe we have been trying to race along like normal and need a little reminder to take some time to recharge.

Plants will continue to grow around us and whatever the future brings, the seasons will change, and things will be different. Keep an eye out for the first signs already appearing - those emerging snowdrops (Galanthus) or Narsissus shoots that could be just around the corner, making their way out of the winter ground.