Gardening is a great way to relax between lessons and Sixth Form students are welcome to join our Sixth Form Mentor, Linda Dixon, pictured here with Brooke M, in the Common Room garden.

There’s always something to do from watering, pruning and weeding to planting seeds and bulbs, and participants all reap the benefits of getting outside in the fresh air and improving their mental and physical wellbeing.

Studies show that a positive association with gardening gives a wide range of health outcomes, such as reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, stress, mood disturbance, and BMI, as well as increases in quality of life, sense of community and cognitive function. Of course there are physical benefits too including an increase in flexibility and muscle strength, and a reduction in the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.