Evidence and Research

Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) has been shown to be an effective intervention for a wide range of vulnerable groups, including those with a mental health issues, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities. STH is defined as ‘the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as communication and thinking skills’ (Thrive, 2023). More specifically, Bloomin’ Lovely uses Horticultural Therapy which is defined as “the use of plants by a trained professional as a medium through which certain clinically defined goals may be met” (Sempik et al, 2003, p. 3). Horticultural Therapy therefore has a pre-defined clinical goals and documents outcomes on an individual or group basis, much like Occupational Therapy.

The scientific evidence is now very clear that gardening is good for you! Although most of us know this instinctively, it has previously been difficult to prove it using hard scientific data. However, more recently there has been a plethora of high quality, quantitative and increasing objective evidence being published to indicate that gardening nature is in fact a big dose of medicine.

The research shows that our wellbeing can be enhanced by combining the natural environment, meaningful activities and the social environment. The therapeutic use of these three components has recently been labelled as ‘green care’. The evidence suggests that activities in natural settings offer greater benefit to those starting with lower wellbeing (e.g. lower levels of self-esteem and mood) (Pretty et al., 2007; Barton and Pretty, 2010). Therefore, when these activities are delivered as therapeutic interventions, they can provide a wide range of benefits for various groups within our society.

Some of the key studies in recent years include

Perhaps not coincidentally, there has also been increased emphasis on the health and wellbeing benefits of nature from large organisations, such as the RSPB, and Natural England, the NHS, MIND and Woodland Trust. This interest may have been caused by a growing concern that sedentary lifestyles, poor diets and the prevalence of mental health problems are seriously hindering the health of the UK’s population. A UK Government White Paper in 2011 called ‘The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature’ has also acknowledged the wealth of evidence of the positive effect that spending time in nature has on the health and wellbeing of people, and campaigning for everyone to have fair access to what they have termed ‘nature’s health service’ (HM Government, 2011, p46). At Bloomin’ Lovely, we are keen to make this government aim into our own ambition, as well as utilising the increasing evidence to develop programmes that offer the best possible use of nature for our clients’ needs.

Although Clinical Commissioning Groups do not currently commission significant numbers of programmes in green care settings, commissioners have suggested that it is an appropriate service in the future (Bragg et al, 2015) which can contribute significantly to reducing NHS costs, benefit reductions and increased tax contributions. Most recently, Leeds Beckett University have undertaken thorough research into the Social Return of Investment (SROI) of nature-based health and wellbeing programmes (Bagnall & Southby, 2019). The analysis found:

A SROI value of £6.88 for every £1 invested, for people with low wellbeing at baseline, who were part of a targeted programme.

A SROI value of £8.50 for every £1 invested, for people with average to high wellbeing at baseline, who were part of a nature conservation volunteering programme.

This research shows the importance of engaging with nature to prevent avoidable health problems and illnesses from developing or getting worse.

A return of £8.50 for every £1 invested in nature-based volunteering programmes strengthens the argument for a community-based approach to health, and investment in green exercise and volunteering programmes. This will deliver improved health and wellbeing at a population scale, reducing the current burden on the National Health Service.

A return of £6.88 for every £1 invested in programmes that are designed to improve mental, physical and social wellbeing is also significant. It strengthens the argument for ‘nature on prescription’ to be standard practice for GPs and NHS mental health providers, supported by specifically allocated NHS funding.

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