Your first question about this book might be: What is the difference with a lockdown gardener and a regular gardener? In truth, time. When would the average person get so much time at home to spend in their garden? Not only have many of us got more time on our hands during lockdown or being furloughed, but many of us are also feeling the strain of being cooped up in our homes for extended periods of time. Many of you might have children and trying to give them some sort of normal routine during the day. We know how important mental wellbeing is today with our busy lives and pressures that come with that, so we do need a focus and what better way than taking advantage of that space right outside your doorstep. Gardening has a proven record that is great for your mental and physical health and can be rewarding in so many ways. You and your family could be growing your own fruit, vegetables and salad crop this year and even creating new features or wildlife havens that you could all be getting involved in to take your mind of the uncertain path ahead. With lockdown an uncertainty and the pressures of life being weighed upon so many families, gardening can be so much more for you than you think possible. Your garden could be that family retreat that can give you a much-needed break from the troubles beyond your control and relieve tensions that may be building inside your mind. You do not need a large garden because a modest size garden can yield just as much fun for you and your family. This book aims to give you some ideas, tips, and hints to get you started and much of what you can do is neither costly, and in many cases, free. Recycling old timber, you have stored away, or those piles of bricks you have been meaning to use could be creating those new features you have meaning to do, and with summer on the horizon, think about all those salads and herbs that could be right outside your doorstep in no time at all. If lockdown is extended, or worse, a third wave is upon us, then your garden could be that space you need to relieve tensions with a new barbeque area you and your family have built or a quiet contemplation area for those days that life is just too much which all adds to helping you stay mentally well.

The pandemic has given many of us time to reflect and think about our futures and one area that many of us would love to improve is the garden, so what is stopping you? Why not have that fun family area and get outside into your garden for some fresh air and begin planning a few projects. This book has ideas for a complete garden makeover to a modest new feature. There is even a month-by-month guide to give to a taste of what you could be doing throughout the years so it does not matter what time of the year when you have been put on furlough or asked to self-isolate because each month there is always something that can be done in your garden. Life will return to some sort of new-normal at some point in the future because we all know how tough life is right now for so many of us and we all need a little hope and a tension reliever to get us through these unprecedented times. Your garden can give you that sense of normality and hey, while you have the time, why not make the most of it. Stay safe and happy gardening.