Pine can be essential addition to the mental health tool box

Fiann Ó Nualláin discovers a source of natural aromatherapy in the garden that’s available all year round

I am a fan of pine trees. I think they look great, I know not everybody will agree and some think conifers are old fashioned in a garden setting. Sure they are prone to being in and out of trend but what never goes out of fashion is their productiveness. And boy are they a real boon to have around.

Okay — when you come to taking up the challenge of growing your own food and useful plants — be it on an allotment or in the backyard veg patch or even a balcony or tiny patio — it is all about maximizing yield from your space. So you tend to be precious about what you grow and throwing a tree into the mix for many is just reckless or indulgent. That is far from the case with pines — especially as they come in all shapes and sizes and are easily accommodated into whatever space you have.