Mindful Gardening for Everyone

At Naidex this year, we were thrilled to make new connections with a wide range of businesses, supporting those with disabilities. One such business owner is Eliza Nicholas, who founded Rocket Garden Design. We were able to have a quick chat before her inspiring talk about our range of garden tools and how we both work to increase accessibility into nature. Today, Eliza is our guest writer and explains the beginnings of her business and how connection with nature through gardening can be transformative.

Early Inspiration

Gardens have always felt like home to me. I grew up surrounded by plants, and later when working in central London as a young adult I grew vegetables in my tiny urban garden as a way to unwind and reconnect with nature. 

The connection between plants and wellbeing has always been important to me. In launching Rocket Garden Design, my goal has been to create beautiful outdoor spaces while helping others enjoy their benefits. 

Design Projects

I design gardens of all sizes across the UK and further afield. Every client has a unique brief and every space holds an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better. 

Projects have included landscaping for peaceful yoga retreats, creating sensory spaces to support mindfulness and designing accessible gardens for families with physical disabilities. 

I consider all aspects when designing a space. The overall layout and features are based on the client’s requirements and how they’ll use the space. The style is very personal, adapted to individual aesthetic preference as well as house style and the location conditions. When designing a planting scheme, we consider what will grow and thrive in the conditions, as well as colour, texture and year-round interest. Thinking about appealing to all senses is crucial – aside from visual interest, I incorporate scented plants, sounds of trickling water and birdsong, texture under foot, and even plants that can be eaten such as herbs, edible flowers and vegetables. 

I believe these elements combined with bespoke design for each client work together to create a transformative space and a full sensory experience for everyone that spends time in it. 

Wellbeing Workshops

It’s fantastic to see science now supporting the link between nature and wellbeing, and many charities also championing the connection. Mental health charity Mind advocates the benefits of time in nature, and horticulture therapy initiative Thrive states that gardening can have a positive impact on mental health, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving focus, concentration and self-esteem, while helping you feel more peaceful and content. 

A large part of my business is now hosting gardening workshops – encouraging people to have a go, get their hands dirty and experience the benefits. Rocket offers workshops on a wide range of topics, including Vegetable Growing, Mindful Planting, Wildlife Gardens, Balcony Plants and much more! 

Many workshops are hosted in city-centre offices, with large organisations increasingly keen to help employees take time away from screens and unwind while learning a new skill. Even growing a tomato plant on a balcony or planting up a window box in a city apartment can be enough to provide a different perspective, create a feeling of calm and renewed purpose. 

Accessible Gardening

It’s important that nature or gardening of some kind feels accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy it. Active Hands products open up these opportunities to those with specific physical limitations or requirements. I’ve been excited to see the innovative products that help more people become gardeners or continue their plant passion, enabling everyone to experience the benefits of plants. 

Eliza Nicholas, award winning garden designer and founder of Rocket Garden Design.

Active Hands’ Gardening Range

Whether you are already a keen gardener, or have been inspired to get started, we have everything needed to support gardeners with reduced hand function. For those with reduced grip, painful joints or tremors, our range of tools can make gardening more accessible, enjoyable and efficient.

Our Garden Tool Pack contains a trowel, cultivator and garden fork. All three feature right-angled, chunky handles. These are easier to hold and reduce wrist strain and joint pain. They also come with an optional arm cuff if you require further support. For those with very reduced grip, you can pair these tools with our Lite aid.

If you already have gardening tools that are well-loved, why not use our Add-on Handles? These simple solutions pop on to existing tools, creating right-angled handles for a more comfortable and secure grip.

If you’ve got some branches or small shrubs that need taking back, our Pocket Chainsaw [edit: sorry, this is no longer available] can be really helpful. With looped handles and teeth that enable you to cut in both directions, simply pull the handles alternately to saw through those pesky branches.

Whatever your needs, and whatever size garden you have, getting outdoors and watching your hard work bloom can be very rewarding. Set yourself up for success with the right tools – and why not look out for a workshop from the amazing Rocket Garden Design to kickstart your skills!

Jo Smith