JUST 1 HOUR UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW GARDENERS GROUP JUST 1 HOUR Welcome to Our Guide, JUST 1 HOUR
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JUST 1 HOUR UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW GARDENERS GROUP JUST 1 HOUR Welcome to our guide, JUST 1 HOUR. The idea behind this guide came from the University of Glasgow Gardeners group, a small community of staff who come together to share an interest in gardening, nature and the environment. Feedback from the group identified that staff appreciate the opportunity to meet others from different teams that they would not normally get a chance to meet. This has enabled new friendships to develop and bloom. This guide hopes to build on the connections made, sharing the ethos and community of the University of Glasgow Gardeners group by providing ideas and suggestions for things to do, once a week on your lunch break. It is ‘just 1 hour’ a week, we believe that it is really important for staff to take some time, away from desks, to connect with each other, the community and nature. THIS BOOKLET IS SPLIT INTO 3 SECTIONS: INTRODUCTION THINGS TO DO FINAL THOUGHTS THIS PROVIDES MORE DETAIL A SELECTION OF 52 THINGS REFLECTIONS ON THIS ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF TO DO ON YOUR LUNCH BOOKLET AND HOW YOU GLASGOW GARDENERS BREAK AT LITTLE OR NO CAN TAKE PART. GROUP AND HOW TO USE COST AND ALL WITHIN A THIS BOOKLET. 60 MINUTE TIMESLOT. AS THE UNIVERSITY’S MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPION, I AM DELIGHTED TO WELCOME THIS SHORT GUIDE, PRODUCED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW GARDENERS GROUP. THE GUIDE CONTAINS SOME EXCELLENT IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO AT LUNCHTIME WHILE WORKING ON THE GILMOREHILL CAMPUS. ALL OF US SHOULD TAKE ON BOARD THE ADVICE TO PACE OUR WORK AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST ON OR CLOSE TO CAMPUS; AND I HOPE THAT FURTHER GUIDES FOR COLLEAGUES AT GARSCUBE AND DUMFRIES WILL FOLLOW IN DUE COURSE. DAVID DUNCAN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND UNIVERSITY SECRETARY JUNE 2019 INTRODUCTION University of Glasgow Gardeners group is a relaxed group for University of Glasgow staff with an ethos of sharing knowledge, helping others to learn new things, enjoying nature and gardening. It was created to provide opportunities for staff to leave their desks for no more than an hour over lunch once or twice a month to find out more about biodiversity, the environment and how to cultivate and grow plants with or without a garden! This enables staff an opportunity to meet others across the University, make connections and take a break. We wanted to share the ideas and activities with the wider University community. This sparked the idea to create this booklet, a selection of 52 activities that you can dip into as and when you want to. A little bit more about why How to use this guide JUST 1 HOUR is so important The activities in this booklet are centred around Most of us feel the pressure of deadlines, busy nature, wellbeing, mindfulness and developing a kind schedules and needing to do more with less. This and supportive staff community. Some are individual can cause us to lose track of time and before you activities, some can be done together. You may know it lunch becomes a ‘sad desk lunch’. We choose to do all 52, you may choose to do just a few. sit at our desks, quickly eating something, often Even if you just picked up this booklet out of curiosity completing work between bites. However, did you and nothing appeals, we hope to encourage you know that we actually become less productive to get away from your desk once a week to do something different and break your routine. when we don’t take a break? Studies have shown that working through lunch can intensify fatigue- This guide is split into seasons; spring, summer, who hasn’t felt that ‘foggy head’ feeling after an 8 autumn and winter. We are at the mercy of the great hour ‘deskathon’? So, we are challenging you to Glasgow weather so have tried to organise activities say NO to a sad desk lunch once a week and help that may match what is happening outside, we are us grow a community of staff who come together, mindful that it can snow in April and be balmy in for just 1 hour a week to appreciate nature, staff late September, but we have aired on the side of wellbeing and time out. Why not grab a colleague caution! You can do the activities whenever you too, or even get the whole team to join in. want to though and if you enjoy a specific activity you can do it more than once. You may also have activities to add and share, we really encourage you to share your experiences #UofGJust1Hour #UofGGardeners JUST 1 HOUR ACTIVITIES SPRING (MARCH-MAY) It’s spring, the time when nature bursts into life. The weather is usually beginning to get better with the temperature creeping above the 10º mark (finally!!). 1. Walk around University grounds: Gilmorehill 5. Visit the University café: There are lots of is a beautiful campus. Our team of university local ‘institutions’, cafes, shops and restaurants that gardeners and grounds staff do a fantastic job have been part of the West End for many decades. keeping our gardens looking fantastic. Why not take One such institution is University Café, celebrating an hour to walk through University grounds, visit its 100th birthday in 2018. A much-loved café that the Wildflower gardens (16), the lush green Cloister recently faced the threat closure, so why not have lawns or many of the other pockets of wildlife a retro ice cream and visit the University café on wonder on our campus. your lunch break? The University Café, 87 Byres Rd, Glasgow G11 5HN 2. Cloisters for lunch: How many times have you thought, I must get some air at lunch and then 6. Public Lectures & University events: don’t? The Cloisters is a fantastic spot on a bright University hosts a range of events and lectures spring day to eat lunch al fresco whilst taking an throughout the year. Some of them are organised opportunity to pause, people watch and catch up during lunch hours (between 12-2pm). The University with colleagues. website, events section provides more details about upcoming events. A chance to lunch and learn, 3. Weekly mile: Walking is a great way to improve perhaps meeting new colleagues too! your general physical and mental health. Walking in nature can also reduce stress and get the feel-good 7. Kelvingrove Art Gallery: The Kelvingrove is a hormones released to give you a midday boost. fantastic gallery, within walking distance. There are Can you walk a mile on your lunch break? Perhaps often visiting exhibitions organised that are worth a a walk through the Kelvingrove or Botanics? Or even look. Add some culture to your lunch, taking time a wander through the local community to take in the out to visit the Art Gallery. Kelvingrove Art Gallery, atmosphere. Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AG 4. Get active: Did the weekly mile inspire you? 8. Plan your garden/window box: Spring is a Would you like to improve your health and wellbeing? great time to start thinking about the gardening you Why not get active by committing to 30 minutes - need to do. If you don’t have a garden, perhaps you 1 hour of exercise every week? This could be a could start a small window box or plants within your walk or perhaps a gentle run around the local park. home. You could even consider joining the University gym and take part in some of the organised classes with some colleagues. University of Glasgow Gym, Stevenson Building, Glasgow G12 8LT 1 7 2 9. Help out at one of the University gardens: At this time of year The University gardens are coming back to life. The Community Garden and Wildflower Gardens often have organised sessions where staff and students can help out with weeding and planting. Check out University Biodiversity web pages for more information. 10. Walk in Kelvingrove Park: The park in spring is very pretty, beautiful blossoms and the park comes alive with the return of warmer days. A walk in nature can reduce stress and improve memory, so put on some comfy shoes and go for a walk around the park. 11. National Library of Scotland: A short walk from campus you can visit the ‘discovery centre’, located with the Kelvin Hall. An interactive exhibition that documents Scottish life, past and present. There is also a café located in the Kelvin Hall so you could treat yourself to some lunch too. National Library of Scotland, 1445 Argyle St, SPRING GARDENING TASKS Glasgow G3 8AW INDOOR SEED PLANTING, SOW VEGETABLES THAT CAN SURVIVE THE COLD, SOW SEEDLINGS, 12. Be thankful: Taking time out to reflect and PRUNE BUSHES AND FRUIT TREES, FERTILISE appreciate things (even the small things) can help PLANTS AND LAWNS, DEADHEAD PLANTS AS put things into perspective and promote general REQUIRED, PLANT HERBS, REPOT PLANTS THAT wellbeing. Gratitude on a sunny day for those around us who help and support us can help us NEED MORE SPACE FOR GROWTH. experience positive emotions. Why not thank someone today. JUST 1 HOUR ACTIVITIES SUMMER (JUNE-AUGUST) Summer is here and this hopefully brings some better (drier??) weather. There’s plenty happening on campus and in the local community so it is a great time of year to go outside and explore a little. 13. Visit to the Botanics: A stunning botanical 14. Visit the Community Garden: The University garden, just 15 minutes walk from Gilmorehill. The has a community of students and staff who maintain garden includes several glasshouses, including and develop green space on campus.