Prioritising our mental and physical health is more important than ever, and now is the perfect time to think about taking advantage of your outdoor space. No matter how big or small your exterior landscape is, whether it’s a balcony or paved patio, a small lawn or acres of land, there are some really simple changes that can be made to help you lead a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Barratt Developments, one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders, explores how you can make the most of your outdoor living space.
Bringing the inside, out
Open those windows. Fold back your french doors. It’s time to let the fresh air in and take a step out. Not only is fresh air good for your lungs, but it’s clinically proven to make you happier too; more oxygen means increased serotonin levels[1], which makes you feel happy.
Introducing some outdoor furniture into your garden space means that you no longer have to entertain guests indoors. Whether you’re opting for a simple wooden table and chair set, or investing in a luxurious wicker sofa, your outdoor space could be your new hub for the summer months.
Dining al fresco
Speaking of hosting guests, what better way to entertain friends and family than with a garden dinner party? Stonebake pizza ovens are a huge trend of recent years and are great for casual dining with groups. Or perhaps BBQs are more your thing? BBQs are perfect for social gatherings and are really flexible, as they can be easily stored away in the winter months.
Green fingers
Gardening has endless benefits. It’s a great pastime, it has a wealth of health benefits, and is immensely versatile, meaning that anyone can do it, no matter how much limited outdoor space you may have. There are many trees widely available for smaller gardens, in all shapes and sizes, both evergreen and seasonal. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) recommends creating a shrubbery in your garden; shrubs are beautiful to look at and make a fantastic home for wildlife. Shrubs such as Berberis and Hawthorn have nectar-rich flowers which are fantastic for insects in the springtime, and grow berries in the autumn which will naturally attract local birds to your outdoor space[2].
Wildlife Friends
It’s reported that one in ten UK species are at risk of extinction, and over half of UK wildlife is in decline[3]. With this in mind, it is essential to help wherever possible. And you can start with your own personal outdoor space.
Adding homes such as bird boxes, hedgehog highways and bee hotels ensures that your local wildlife have somewhere to thrive in, even making small changes like adding the right kind of flowers to your flower pots can really make a difference. Arable flowers, such as poppy and cornflower, offer a beautiful splash of colour to your garden, but provide that all-important pollen for the bees and butterflies.
Here at Barratt Homes, we have an ongoing partnership with RSPB, to ensure that we are implementing best practice on the types of plants and shrubs used on our developments across the nation, understanding the ideal times in the year to survey local species and how to make good use of natural features on new build developments. What’s more, we’re introducing Wildlife Friendly Gardens into all of our new show home gardens, to show our commitment to encourage customers and local communities to transform their own gardens, by giving nature a home.
By adopting just a few small changes to your garden, you can accomodate for local wildlife of all shapes and sizes. And your outdoor space will look good too.
[1] https://www.kent-teach.com/Blog/post/2017/04/25/6-benefits-of-getting-fresh-air.aspx
[2] RSPB: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/plants-for-wildlife/shrubs-for-gardens/?channel=paidsearch&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt6aHouWm6AIViLHtCh0m8wl4EAAYASAAEgJ0EvD_BwE
[3] RSPB: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/ipcc-land-report/