Page 6 - IFV October Issue 2025

Estate News

Save the Date – Annual
Family Fun Day
Circle Saturday, 29 November
for a day of laughter, games, and 29
community spirit at our Annual
Family Fun Day. Bring the
whole family for a celebration to
remember!

Community Notices
• Cleaning up after pets: Please carry bags on walks and
keep our Estate healthy and pleasant for all.
• Dogs on leash: For safety, all dogs must be leashed
outside your stand. This protects residents, pets, and
wildlife.

Celebrate Garden Day – Sunday, 12 October
Mark Garden Day by tying a bright yellow ribbon to a tree or
pole outside your stand. Between 15:00 and 18:00, welcome
neighbours to browse your garden and share in the joy of
spring colour.

The Health Benefits of Gardening
Gardening as Mindfulness
Why does a blooming garden spark instant happiness? It’s not
only the colour or fragrance — it’s the presence it demands.
Gardening is mindfulness in motion. Pulling weeds, planting
bulbs, or pruning roses forces us to slow down, focus on one
task, and notice the details around us: the soil under our nails, from fresh air and exercise, but from the nutrition they harvest.
the sound of birds nearby, the rhythm of breath as we bend A tomato picked and eaten still warm from the sun does more
and stretch. than nourish the body; it uplifts the spirit.
Psychologists have long linked time in nature with reduced
anxiety and improved mood. Studies show gardeners report Fitness in Disguise
lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and higher life Forget the treadmill — your garden is a full-body workout
satisfaction than non-gardeners. In short, tending to plants waiting just outside your door. Digging strengthens arms and
helps us tend to ourselves. A quiet half-hour in the garden can shoulders, carrying compost works your core, and kneeling to
be as restorative as meditation or yoga — without the need plant seedlings challenges balance and flexibility. Even gentle
for a mat. activities, such as watering or raking, elevate the heart rate
and improve circulation.
Nutrition & Radiance Unlike gym routines, gardening never feels repetitive. Each
There’s truth in the saying “you are what you eat,” and if what session is purposeful: today you might prune, tomorrow you
you eat comes from your own garden, your body thanks you plant, next week you harvest. That sense of progress keeps
twice over. Fresh produce isn’t just tastier; it’s packed with motivation high while your body reaps the benefits. Regular
antioxidants and vitamins that often degrade during long gardening has been linked to reduced risk of heart disease and
journeys to supermarket shelves. type 2 diabetes — proof that fitness doesn’t have to come with
Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, and pumpkin a membership card.
are rich in beta-carotene and lycopene — compounds that
support healthy vision, strengthen immunity, and protect skin Ageing Gracefully
against sun damage. Many gardeners notice a “glow” not just As we age, fine motor skills and hand strength naturally

4 • October 2025 • The Villager