British Garden Centres' guide to beat the January blues with the power of gardening
From tending houseplants by a cosy windowsill to braving the garden for a quick tidy-up, plants offer immediate relief for mind and body. Science backs it up, and we have some great ideas to help your health and wellbeing.
Recent findings from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Value of Gardens Report (2025) paint a compelling picture, with 85% of UK adults who garden reporting significant mental health improvements, while 80% see gains in physical wellbeing. For those over 60, daily gardening slashes dementia risk by 36%, thanks to the blend of light exercise, fresh air, and mindful focus. Add in stress-busting hormone regulation and calorie burn from digging or pruning, and it’s clear why gardens are more than pretty spaces, and gardening is called the Natural Health Service. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has also revealed that just 30 minutes of gardening elevates mood and self-esteem. Regular green time delivers even bigger wins with wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than non-gardeners, with notable drops in depression and fatigue.
Why gardening is like medicine
The HTA’s report highlights how UK gardens pump £38 billion into the economy and support 722,000 jobs, but their true value shines in personal health. Physical tasks build strength and vitamin D exposure, even on the darker days. Creatively arranging pots or sowing seeds sparks joy akin to art therapy. And that mindful immersion, like weeding without distraction, mirrors meditation, dialling down cortisol and easing anxiety.
Gardens also strengthen social ties and a sense of belonging, whether it is chatting over the fence to your neighbour or a passer by, swapping seeds on an allotment or joining a local gardening club. These shared moments help tackle loneliness and give people a reason to step outside, even when the weather is gloomy. In winter, noticing the first bulbs pushing through or buds beginning to show on trees and bushes offers a powerful reminder that change is coming, bringing comfort and hope at a time of year many find challenging.
Create cosy indoor escapes
Bring the garden indoors to escape the January chill and beat the blues. Start small to build momentum and cluster houseplants like peace lilies, snake plants or ferns into a sunny corner to craft a lush green oasis. Their presence alone slashes stress and purifies the air, and sharpens focus and sleep.
Or why not sow fragrant herbs such as basil, parsley or chives straight into pots on your kitchen windowsill. Snip them fresh for meals while inhaling those uplifting aromas. You could also revive your houseplant collection by repotting leggy specimens with nutrient-rich compost and trimming dead leaves; this simple refresh ritual echoes personal renewal. For a dose of propagation magic, snip stems from ivy or pothos and root them in water. Watching new tendrils emerge is a perfect antidote to winter blues. Indoor gardening fits any lifestyle, needing just a saucer and sunlight for low-effort therapy that turns drab spaces into vibrant sanctuaries to make you smile.
Outdoor gardening to chase the shadows away
When a burst of energy strikes, head outside for gardening rewards amplified by crisp air. Gentle winter maintenance in your garden, like sweeping leaves, lightly pruning roses, or organising tools, delivers just enough motion to trigger endorphins to beat the blues.
Nurture wildlife by scattering seeds or hanging feeders; these bonds with birds fight isolation and bring daily delight to our outdoor space. Splash instant colour in your borders or containers with hellebores, cyclamen or winter pansies to brighten your mood. Or why not dream big for spring by sketching borders, visiting your local garden centre? This forward-planning shifts January from drudgery to eager anticipation, fuelling optimism one idea at a time on how you can transform your garden into an oasis come the summer.
Mini/Junior and Youth Rugby is back at Trafford MV for yet another year in 2026
by WIlf Dooley
New players are welcome in all our rugby age groups from three years of age upwards all the way through to senior teenage teams.
Trafford MV has a long established and well managed youth rugby set up catering for both girls and boys in a safe and friendly environment. Safeguarding officers are in place and first aiders are in attendance for the benefit of our young players.
Whether your children have picked up a rugby ball before or not we are very keen for them to give rugby a try at Trafford MV Rugby Club in Sale at M33 6LR.
It doesn't matter if your child goes to a rugby playing school or a non rugby school - we have teams of dedicated coaches willing to introduce people to the game and see them grow to being a capable rugby player.
If you require further information on playing rugby at Trafford MV Rugby Club then please contact: wilfdooley@virginmedia.com and your enquiry will be progressed.
We look forward to seeing many new young faces at Trafford MV in 2026.
Smartphone Free Childhood Campaign
by the Smartphone Free Childhood Charity
Momentum has started to grow. Party leaders are speaking out in favour of an Australia-style age limit on social media. And the Children’s Welfare in Schools Bill is back in the House of Commons. This is a real window for change.
Why this matters
Social media platforms are designed to maximise attention, not to support healthy childhood development. The evidence of harm is now clear: rising anxiety, sleep disruption, exposure to inappropriate content, and intense social pressure on children at ever-younger ages.
Families and schools are trying to respond — but they are being asked to hold the line against powerful, algorithm-driven systems.
Clear age boundaries would make a big difference.
Parents are already acting
Across the UK, parents and carers are acting together. Over 167,000 have signed the Smartphone Free Childhood Parent Pact, and more than 400,000 people are now part of local Smartphone Free Childhood communities.
This is a broad, parent-led movement. But MPs don’t feel momentum through headlines alone. They feel it when constituents write. You do not need to have signed the Parent Pact to take part. You don't have to be a parent. Anyone can write.
Why now?
Because conversations and amendments are happening right now.
If MPs don’t hear from the public at this moment, they will underestimate the strength of feeling.
Timing matters.
Email your MP now through our easy to use form:
https://smartphonefreechildhood.eaction.org.uk/raise-the-age
Macclesfield Lantern Festival
by Macclesfield Town Council
Saturday 24 Jan 2026, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
On Saturday 24 January join us in banishing the dark and welcoming back the light!
We’ll be meeting at the Silk Museum from 4:30pm ready to set off for the Lantern Parade at 5pm. This year the parade will finish in Market Place where you’ll be able to enjoy the fire show from Chris Marley, walkabout entertainment, hot drinks and more.
Lantern workshops will take place on the day hosted by Macclesfield Community ArtSpace and the Silk Museum. Both workshops are free but the Silk Museum will need you to book your space in advance here.
Want to make your own lantern at home to bring along to the parade? Check out a few ‘how-to’ ideas here: Lantern-how-to