Swap the smartphone for salvias urges RHS

As part of its Greening Great Britain Campaign, the RHS is calling for the nation to drop their devices and pick up a space and get gardening now spring is here for health, wellbeing and for the environment.

A new Ipsos MORI study* has shown that a significant proportion of those surveyed (31%) will spend nine hours or more on their smartphones outside of work and school compared to gardening (4%) in a typical week in spring.

To get behind the Greening Great Britain Campaign and for their health and wellbeing the RHS want families and friends to get together, get gardening and then share their successes on social media with the hashtag #GreeningGreatBritain.

Sue Biggs, RHS Director General says: “We’re not saying ditch your smartphone or devices forever, we’re just suggesting that a bit less time scrolling and more time digging would do us all a world of good.  We hope people will help us get Greening Great Britain this spring as growing more plants is good for health, wildlife, air quality and creates beautiful places to enjoy.”

Nearly four in five (78%) of 11 to 18-year-old social media users who have seen pictures of flowers on their social media feed, said they feel positive when seeing them compared with 80% of 55-75 year-olds. Sue points out that going by these results, if you get gardening you are likely to feel healthy, productive and calm, plus if you share your beautiful pictures you will be making others feel positive too!

*Ipsos MORI Poll to 2,506 people aged between 11-75 in Great Britain.

Photo credit: Banner – a visitor taking a photo of tulips on a mobile phone at the RHS Great London Plant Fair 2014. strictly ©RHS, credit Bethany Clarke.