What is Garden Day?
Garden Day is a nationwide community benefit project, taking place on Sunday 12 May 2019 which celebrates the joy and benefits that gardens bring to us all year round.
Garden Day is a nationwide community benefit project, taking place on Sunday 12 May 2019 which celebrates the joy and benefits that gardens bring to us all year round.
| Why did I get involved with Garden Day? Firstly, I love my garden. Being outdoors is such an essential part of my life and if I wasn’t a singer I would have loved to have been a florist. When I was asked to become one of the inaugural Garden Day ambassadors, firstly I was so honoured they asked but they also taught me about the medical benefits of being outside in nature and how it's essential for our well-being. Only last year, the Royal Horticultural Society teamed up with the NHS to produce research to show the positive impact that gardens can have on our mental health. For me personally, I struggle with my mental health and finding inexpensive, easy ways to help maintain a healthy mind is key. Also, I think that living in London - we can often forget that there are so many beautiful outdoor spaces and take the greenery for granted! My personal favourites are Chiswick House and Richmond Park - so put your phone down and get outside.. |  |
How can you get involved?
The great thing about the Garden Day initiative is that everyone can get involved, even if you are in a busy city - get down to your local park and enjoy being outside. Other ideas could include making a teacake, making a flower crown (check out my floral crown above), have some friends over for a BBQ, plant some plants or just enjoy a simple glass of wine in your garden.
The great thing about the Garden Day initiative is that everyone can get involved, even if you are in a busy city - get down to your local park and enjoy being outside. Other ideas could include making a teacake, making a flower crown (check out my floral crown above), have some friends over for a BBQ, plant some plants or just enjoy a simple glass of wine in your garden.
What am I doing?
As you know, I love food and from a young age I have always been curious about growing my own fruit & vegetables. It's easier than you might think and it's important to me to try and be environmentally aware - I try to avoid waste and lots of processed food. Growing your own vegetables is super easy - there are so many websites you can even order organic seeds or fully grown veg from! I love it because you know exactly what you are putting in your food and it also cuts down on rubbish which is great for the environment. I love to use the vegetables I have grown and while I don't have a big garden it's perfect for growing herbs... and they are perfect for making this salad - my favourite summer dish:-
As you know, I love food and from a young age I have always been curious about growing my own fruit & vegetables. It's easier than you might think and it's important to me to try and be environmentally aware - I try to avoid waste and lots of processed food. Growing your own vegetables is super easy - there are so many websites you can even order organic seeds or fully grown veg from! I love it because you know exactly what you are putting in your food and it also cuts down on rubbish which is great for the environment. I love to use the vegetables I have grown and while I don't have a big garden it's perfect for growing herbs... and they are perfect for making this salad - my favourite summer dish:-
| Summer Salad Ingredients - For 4 Parsley – Handful -Grow your own Mint - Handful - Grow your own Baby Romaine Lettuce - Grow your own Scallions - Bunch Cucumbers -1 Tomatoes - Grow your own Sweetcorn - A small can Halloumi Dressing ½ Lemon Juice 3 tbsp Pomegranate Molasses Salt – to taste 3 tsp Sumac 200ml Olive Oil 100 mlWhite Wine Vinger |  |
Method
- I make the dressing separately and mix it at the very end so the salad is not soggy
- Chop the parsley and mint
- Chop the lettuce, scallions, tomatoes
- Chop the cucumber in half and scoop the soft middle out before chopping it up to the same size as everything else
- Add sweetcorn
- Grill the Halloumi (till it’s a little golden) and then chop
- Mix everything together
When inviting friends over I always make Mary Berry’s Lemon Drizzle cake which is super easy. However, instead of just using plain sugar I use my home-made lavender-infused sugar. This couldn't be easier to make yourself - just put caster sugar with some of the lavender cut from the garden, mix it together and leave for a week or longer. Table decorations don't have to be expensive either, I always was & reuse old jam-jars and go to the local market and buy 1 bouquet that I can split up to make several smaller arrangements.
All that’s left to do is to hope for a little sunshine on the 12th of May!
Happy Garden Day
xxx
All that’s left to do is to hope for a little sunshine on the 12th of May!
Happy Garden Day
xxx
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