In this two-minute read, we look at why doing a spot of gardening is good for your health and potentially your wealth.

Alongside home baking, videoconferencing, and hair clippers the popularity of the Great British outdoors has rocketed since the lockdown began.

Garden centres have reopened across the country following social distancing advice and are doing a roaring trade.

And we have also reopened, following the Government’s announcement on Tuesday. We’ll be strictly following the COvid-19 safety guidelines as we start going about our work again.

But many people are still furloughed, home-schooling or working from home.

And with all that lockdown time on our hands many of us across Barnsley have discovered we’ve got green fingers and have taken to gardening to stave off the boredom, get outside and work up a sweat.

And it’s a wise move for your health and home.

Here’s why.

1) Getting down and dirty in the garden burns calories galore. (This can be offset against the home baking delights).

2) Spending more time outdoors means you’ll be getting more vitamin D thanks to the sun’s rays. (Wear sunscreen and a hat when the weather dictates).

3) Gardening has been shown across several medical tests to reduce stress and anxiety and encourages a sense of well being and calmness (which we all need a bit of now).

4) Growing and nurturing plants and vegetables has been reported as having the power to make people happier. It’s believed this is because gardeners reconnect with nature.

5) A well-kept garden is one of the most popular things we at NestledIn Estate Agents see on prospective buyers’ wish lists.

6) Having a great outdoors by way of an easy on the eye and relaxing garden can add thousands to the value of your home. Because it helps viewers imagine living, relaxing, and enjoying the space.

If you don’t have a garden but would like to try the pastime Google ‘allotments near me’ and see what’s available.

Or if you live in an apartment, you can always start a ‘window garden.’ Pop your plant pots on a windowsill that gets direct sunlight and away you go, with a little of research of course.

We’d love to see the lockdown handiwork you’ve been doing in your garden. Please share your photos with us and tell us what’s your favourite thing in your garden.

Thanks for reading, stay safe, stay sensible, and we’ll get through this together.