10/10/2025
Book Review – The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-Smith
One of my favourite books, I have a hard copy but I also enjoy listening to the Audio version.
The Well Gardened Mind explores how gardening has always been more than a hobby; it’s something deeply rooted in our human story.
Sue Stuart-Smith, a psychiatrist and gardener herself, looks back through history, from early 'healing gardens' in monasteries and hospitals, to modern-day allotments and community plots, showing how people have always turned to the soil for comfort and connection.
What really stands out is how she links simple, everyday gardening, things like sowing seeds, watering, and w**ding, with genuine mental and emotional benefits.
She explains that gardening slows the mind, gives a sense of rhythm and achievement, and quietly restores confidence when life feels overwhelming.
It’s not about perfection, it’s about participation. Getting your hands in the soil, watching life return, and realising that growth takes time.
I love that she brings science together with personal stories, showing how even a small garden, or a few pots on a balcony, can boost mood, focus, and resilience.
In many ways, this book reminds us that gardening connects us not only with nature but with something ancient in ourselves — the need to nurture and be nurtured.
So if you’ve ever found peace in your garden after a busy week, you’ll relate to every page of this book.
