NEWS COPY
By Emma Elsworthy
Brits are burning a whopping 51,428 calories a year – in the garden.
The study of 2,000 adults found the average green-fingered enthusiast spends 35 minutes a week weeding – which equates to 632 calories burned a month.
And while mowing the lawn might be considered more of necessary task than a workout, adults are shedding 5.7 calories a minute pacing up and down the garden.
And with Brits mowing for more than half an hour each week, that adds up to a whopping 10,400 calories melted each year.
In addition to shedding pounds, 78 per cent of gardeners admit that the act of pottering around in the garden reduces their stress levels.
As a result of the findings, a Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Gardening of 30 minutes, has been developed by TV gardening expert David Domoney in partnership with Argos, inspired by the government five-a-day guidelines we use for fruit and vegetables.
Gardening expert David Domoney said: “Most people enjoy working in their garden because it gives them a mental boost.
Digging, tilling and planting can be extremely therapeutic, and gives people a chance to think whilst working outside, which is enjoyable in its own right.
But we were surprised to see just how much physical exertion it takes to do certain garden tasks, particularly things like pushing a lawnmower or digging.
That’s why I’ve partnered with Argos to encourage the public to get their 30 minutes a day and weed their way to greater wellbeing”
In fact, during under half an hour’s digging a week, the average Brit burns through 594 calories – enough to work off more than two Big Macs.
And even raking leaves for quarter of an hour a week works up enough of a sweat to burn 63 calories, adding up to 3,276 over a year.
The study also found that Brits who get out into their gardens do so 10 times per month on average.
And the majority have at least a small garden to take care of, with 42 per cent of respondents describing their back yard as large.
In total, gardening enthusiasts spend 4.5 hours a week outside in their gardens, compared to just 18 minutes by those who don’t do any gardening.
The research also showed that those who actively work in their gardens find it a much better place to de-stress than those who don’t.
Avid gardeners spend three hours per week in their outdoor space simply relaxing and letting stress melt away, and those who don’t garden spend just 30 minutes doing the same.
The wellness benefits of gardening also extend to the bedroom, with an incredible eight in 10 respondents claiming they have better-than-usual sleep after doing work in the garden.
And 60 per cent believe gardening also makes a noticeable difference to their physical fitness and strength.
Those who garden also partake in far more physical activity than those who don’t – spending almost 11 hours a week working out compared to six hours for people less green-fingered.
While adults who don’t spend any time at all gardening claim to feel more stressed than those who do.
Argos Head of Garden Innovation, Jo Blackman said: “Our research reveals that gardening is a fantastic way to improve both your physical and mental wellbeing with the green fingered amongst us reporting lower stress levels and more physical activity.
"That’s why we’ve partnered with garden expert David Domoney to provide people with some easy tips on how to get their recommended 30 minutes a day.”
Visit Argos’s gardening Hub https://www.argos.co.uk/features/garden-inspiration for David Domoney’s tips plus inspiration and advice whatever your outdoor project.
GREEN POWER – HOW MANY CALORIES A WEEK OF GARDENING TASKS BURN:
35 minutes of weeding – 158 calories
35 minutes of mowing the lawn – 200 calories
29 minutes of potting plants – 131 calories
27 minutes of digging – 137 calories
17 minutes of raking – 63 calories
79 minutes of other garden work – 300 calories
TOTAL: 989 calories per week, over 52 weeks – 51,428 calories
ENDS
