Gardening and getting outdoors: Open SU’s Wellbeing Week competition

We are asking OU students to create a poster or collage that shows how gardening and/or getting outside helps your general wellbeing and mental health. 

This could be your daily walk, longer hikes in the wilderness, growing food on your windowsill or a full-blown allotment. You absolutely do not need to be an expert gardener to enter! 

Be creative with your entries, whether it be an image of a scrapbook page, a digital poster, a drawing or simply a photograph with a caption explaining what it means to you. 

Linda, Open SU staff member, in her garden. 

We are also looking forward to sharing your entries on our social media pages and online spaces to inspire other students to try these hobbies to find moments of calm between study sessions. 

A garden with a bird feeder and a greenhouse in the background.

1. Design a poster or collage (digital or physical) showing how gardening or getting outdoors improves your wellbeing and/or mental health. Explain how and why it benefits you. 
2. Email your entry to oustudents-projects@open.ac.uk
3. Deadline: Friday, 26 September
4. The winner will be chosen by some of our student volunteers in the Environment and Sustainability Working Group. 

The winning entry will receive a £50 Royal Horticultural Society voucher. Here, you can buy bulbs to plant this autumn, plus plants and tools. 

We are so excited to see your entries!