Transcript
Sophie
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Sophie…
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Sophie…
Neil
And I'm Neil… What did you do at the weekend, Sophie?
And I'm Neil… What did you do at the weekend, Sophie?
Sophie
I did a spot of gardening.
I did a spot of gardening.
Neil
So, are you a keen gardener?
So, are you a keen gardener?
Sophie
Yes, I am, Neil. And gardening is the subject of today's show! Now why don't we start with a quiz question?
Neil
Good idea.
Good idea.
Sophie
What percentage of people in the UK said that gardening makes them happier, according to a survey conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society? Is it…
a) 22%
b) 52%
Or c) 82%?
What percentage of people in the UK said that gardening makes them happier, according to a survey conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society? Is it…
a) 22%
b) 52%
Or c) 82%?
Neil
Well, I'll guess: b) 52%.
Well, I'll guess: b) 52%.
Sophie
Well, we'll find out later on if you got it right or not. So, does gardening make you happy, Neil?
Well, we'll find out later on if you got it right or not. So, does gardening make you happy, Neil?
Neil
Well, I tried to grow some tomatoes once. And to be honest it made me rather anxious. All the leaves curled up… and then dropped off.
Well, I tried to grow some tomatoes once. And to be honest it made me rather anxious. All the leaves curled up… and then dropped off.
Sophie
Did you get any tomatoes?
Did you get any tomatoes?
Neil
No.
No.
Sophie
So you don't have green fingers, then? Why are you looking at your fingers, Neil? I wasn't asking whether you literally have green fingers! Having green fingers means a natural ability for growing plants. It's funny you should say gardening makes you anxious because other people find it calming and relaxing.
So you don't have green fingers, then? Why are you looking at your fingers, Neil? I wasn't asking whether you literally have green fingers! Having green fingers means a natural ability for growing plants. It's funny you should say gardening makes you anxious because other people find it calming and relaxing.
Neil
Do they? Do you?
Do they? Do you?
Sophie
Yes, I do. Being in the fresh air, in all weathers, communing with nature…
Yes, I do. Being in the fresh air, in all weathers, communing with nature…
Neil
Sounds very unpleasant!
Sounds very unpleasant!
Sophie
In all weathers means something you do in all types of weather – rain, snow, sunshine. And communing with nature means feeling close to nature, and being a part of it.
In all weathers means something you do in all types of weather – rain, snow, sunshine. And communing with nature means feeling close to nature, and being a part of it.
Neil
Well, when I tried communing with nature my hands got all scratched – I got stung by nasty creepy-crawlies – and I even got soil up my nose. I didn't enjoy it at all.
Well, when I tried communing with nature my hands got all scratched – I got stung by nasty creepy-crawlies – and I even got soil up my nose. I didn't enjoy it at all.
Sophie
Try wearing protective clothing next time – and maybe a nose plug too! A creepy-crawlyis a small insect, by the way.
Try wearing protective clothing next time – and maybe a nose plug too! A creepy-crawlyis a small insect, by the way.
Neil
So do you like getting your hands dirty, Sophie?
So do you like getting your hands dirty, Sophie?
Sophie
Yes, I love it. And it turns out there might be a good reason for this. Dr Christopher Lowry from the University of Colorado conducted an experiment to test whether soil gives us a natural high – meaning to make us happy without taking drugs. He injected a bacterium commonly found in soil into mice to see what effect this would have on them. Let's hear what he said in this BBC programme.
Yes, I love it. And it turns out there might be a good reason for this. Dr Christopher Lowry from the University of Colorado conducted an experiment to test whether soil gives us a natural high – meaning to make us happy without taking drugs. He injected a bacterium commonly found in soil into mice to see what effect this would have on them. Let's hear what he said in this BBC programme.
INSERT
Dr Christopher Lowry, neuroscientist, University of Colorado US and Helena Merriman, presenter
CL: Rodents like mice and rats are very good swimmers and it was found many years ago that if you treat animals with antidepressant drugs and then put the animals in just a beaker of water it would cause the animals to swim for longer periods of time.
HM: After injecting the mice with the bacterium Dr Lowry placed them in a cup of water.
CL: These mice that had been injected with bacterium swam during a 6-minute test for a longer period of time than animals that just got a placebo.
Dr Christopher Lowry, neuroscientist, University of Colorado US and Helena Merriman, presenter
CL: Rodents like mice and rats are very good swimmers and it was found many years ago that if you treat animals with antidepressant drugs and then put the animals in just a beaker of water it would cause the animals to swim for longer periods of time.
HM: After injecting the mice with the bacterium Dr Lowry placed them in a cup of water.
CL: These mice that had been injected with bacterium swam during a 6-minute test for a longer period of time than animals that just got a placebo.
Sophie
So the bacterium had a similar effect on the mice as an antidepressant drug might. When we dig in soil we ingest – or absorb – the bacterium through our lungs or cuts in our skin. A placebo, by the way, is a substance with no physical effects that is used when testing a drug. So here one group of mice were injected with the bacterium and another group were injected with the placebo. And since the mice seemed happier when treated with soil bacteria, there's a good chance we would too.
So the bacterium had a similar effect on the mice as an antidepressant drug might. When we dig in soil we ingest – or absorb – the bacterium through our lungs or cuts in our skin. A placebo, by the way, is a substance with no physical effects that is used when testing a drug. So here one group of mice were injected with the bacterium and another group were injected with the placebo. And since the mice seemed happier when treated with soil bacteria, there's a good chance we would too.
Neil
Let's move on and hear about how gardening can be therapeutic – or used to try and treat addiction. Here's Scot Stephenson, a recovering alcoholic, who is learning to garden to help cure him.
Let's move on and hear about how gardening can be therapeutic – or used to try and treat addiction. Here's Scot Stephenson, a recovering alcoholic, who is learning to garden to help cure him.
INSERT
Scot Stephenson, recovering alcoholic
I left school early or should I say I got expelled... came here, I got my NVQ level 2 which is my first qualification and enjoyed it ever since.
Scot Stephenson, recovering alcoholic
I left school early or should I say I got expelled... came here, I got my NVQ level 2 which is my first qualification and enjoyed it ever since.
Neil
So Scot Stephenson was expelled from school – he was forced to leave – with no qualifications. But with the help of a support group he now has an NVQ – that's a National Vocational Qualification here in Britain – in gardening.
So Scot Stephenson was expelled from school – he was forced to leave – with no qualifications. But with the help of a support group he now has an NVQ – that's a National Vocational Qualification here in Britain – in gardening.
Sophie
That's right. At a centre in the UK, recovering alcoholics have been given the opportunity to plant, grow, and even sell their produce. These addicts are literally breaking their addiction by breaking the soil.
That's right. At a centre in the UK, recovering alcoholics have been given the opportunity to plant, grow, and even sell their produce. These addicts are literally breaking their addiction by breaking the soil.
Neil
Nicely phrased, Sophie!
Nicely phrased, Sophie!
Sophie
Thank you! Now, are you ready, Neil, for the answer to today's quiz question?
Thank you! Now, are you ready, Neil, for the answer to today's quiz question?
Neil
I am.
I am.
Sophie
I asked: What percentage of people in the UK said that gardening makes them happier, according to a survey conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society? Is it… a) 22%, b) 52% or c) 82%?
I asked: What percentage of people in the UK said that gardening makes them happier, according to a survey conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society? Is it… a) 22%, b) 52% or c) 82%?
Neil
I guessed b) 52%. I'm wrong, aren't I?
I guessed b) 52%. I'm wrong, aren't I?
Sophie
Oh, you are Neil, I'm sorry. The percentage of people who really enjoy gardening is much higher. You should have chosen option c). A survey from the Royal Horticultural Society has shown that Brits truly are a nation of gardeners with 82% saying it makes them feel happier. The results also revealed that 70% said that given the choice, they would prefer to spend their working day in the garden with just 9% opting for an office and 21% undecided.