Plants are amazing for supporting and improving our wellbeing. Help to share their benefits with your community by growing Calendula officinalis
What is Grow Well?
Grow Well is a new RHS Communities initiative designed to highlight and share the wellbeing benefits and positive power of plants. You’ve probably found that connecting with nature and getting your hands muddy is a great way to clear your mind – and there’s a reason for that.
It is increasingly acknowledged that growing and caring for plants supports better physical, social and mental health. Research has shown that gardening can reduce depression and anxiety1, and last year we found that those who garden every day have wellbeing scores of 6.6% higher2 than people who don’t do any gardening at all.
Spread the floral sunshine
The RHS Communities team are inviting you to join growers across the UK as they sow, grow and share Calendula officinalis, also known as pot marigolds.
Small but mighty, the common pot marigold has been used medicinally throughout history thanks to the flower’s anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, as one of the oldest of all cultivated flowers, its bright and beautiful blooms have been celebrated worldwide throughout history.
With this in mind, we’re encouraging communities to help us spread the floral sunshine as part of Grow Well in 2022 – you can be as creative as you like.
Applications to receive an RHS Grow Well pack are now closed, but you can still get involved.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be adding digital resources to our RHS Campaign for School Gardening website that you can download and use with your group.
All you need to do is purchase your own Calendula officinalis seeds from your local garden centre.
Get sowing with your community
We’ll be asking everyone to sow their seeds during the first week of May, however, we know this may not be the best time for you, so you can be flexible to suit your group and schedule.
Anyone is welcome to sign up to Grow Well, including Britain in Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood groups. Communities have demonstrated the fantastic wellbeing properties plants have to offer and we hope to help you share them far and wide.
Share your Grow Well stories
We’d love to see how you’re making new connections through gardening and reaching out beyond the ‘garden gate’ to those who might not usually take part. Share your plans and events with us via email at [email protected] to let us know what you’re getting up to.
1 Buck D. (2016) Gardens and health: Implications for policy and practice. The King’s Fund
2 Chalmain-Pui LS, Griffiths, A, Roe J, Heaton T, Cameron C. (2021)Why garden? Attitudes and the perceived health benefits of home gardening. Cities, 112(2):103118
More ideas and inspiration...
- Community gardening: Learn more about the many ways you can get involved in gardening in your community
- Useful resources: Already started something? Dig into our tools to support and grow your community gardening project
- Health and wellbeing: Discover how gardens and plants can boost your mental and physical health
