Could A Messier Garden Mean A Happier Mind?
Finnish researchers are investigating the health effects of rewilding, and a growing body of evidence suggests that letting nature back in could be good for our health.
There is a particular kind of satisfaction in a freshly mown lawn and a satisfyingly pruned flower bed. But as the wellness world becomes increasingly interested in the benefits of getting closer to nature, the idea of a perfect garden is starting to look a little outdated. Could leaving the grass to grow, allowing leaves to gather, and making space for wildlife be better for our wellbeing?
It is a question researchers in Finland are exploring. A 2026 study published in Microbiome investigated what happened when 36 people living in urban areas made their gardens more biodiverse. Twenty-one gardens were rewilded with additional plants, meadow flowers, deadwood, and microbe-rich soil, while 15 households continued tending their gardens as usual.
After three months, researchers found differences in the skin and cognitive function of people living with rewilded gardens, alongside changes in biological signals linked to inflammation. The diversity of skin microbes was maintained further into autumn among the rewilding group, when it would typically decline. The findings suggest that the biodiversity around our homes may influence the communities of microbes living on our bodies.
It is an intriguing development, particularly as scientists investigate the relationship between biodiversity, the microbiome, and immune function. The mental health case for spending time in nature, however, has its own growing evidence base. Research has linked access to green space and time outdoors with better psychological wellbeing, while activities such as gardening can offer movement, a break from screens and a sense of purpose. There is no single explanation for why nature can make us feel better, and the benefits are likely to vary between people. Still, having somewhere to step outside that feels alive, rather than another space to maintain, is an appealing prospect, to say the least
And you do not need to turn your garden into a forest to try it. Leave a patch of lawn unmown, plant a few native wildflowers, let fallen leaves decompose in a suitable corner or add a planter with a mix of species. If you do not have a garden, a window box, balcony or nearby green space can offer a way to bring more nature into your routine.
There is also something refreshing about the idea of a garden that does not need to be constantly improved. Rewilding asks us to reconsider the assumption that a good outdoor space is one that is immaculate, and sometimes a little imperfection can add to our lives, as opposed to take away from it.
