Gardens and nature campaign targets better health
Reducing stress and anxiety by connecting to the therapeutic power of gardens and nature is the target of a new campaign run in association with gardening-for-health charity Thrive and family-owned garden centre group Notcutts.
Spending time in green spaces has proven benefits for mental and physical health with the value of one outdoor experience programme estimated to save over £7,000 in NHS costs, benefit reductions and increased tax contributions per participant.*
Now, everyone can access a free online course, Cultivating Wellbeing in Gardens and Nature, that not only explains the advantages of being in the great outdoors but also guides users so they can create their own health and wellbeing plans to make the best use of what nature offers.
Poor mental health one of biggest challenges today
Kathryn Rossiter, Thrive’s CEO explains that poor mental health is one of the biggest challenges confronting the UK today and the new campaign is aimed at tackling this with a proven method – increasing access to nature: “Thrive’s 40 years of experience tells us that when people connect with gardens and green spaces, symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression are markedly reduced, and in an era when our health services are under strain, this is a message worth spreading far and wide.” She said.
Gardeners’ World presenter and Thrive Ambassador Mark Lane, who trialled Cultivating Wellbeing in Gardens and Nature said: “As someone whose health and outlook have improved dramatically as a result of being in gardens, this is a valuable and much-needed initiative to encourage more people to tap into what nature freely provides.”
Thrive is a UK leader in using gardening to promote better health and overcome social isolation. The charity has developed this resource with support from national garden centre group Notcutts who are advocates of wellbeing through gardening.
Caroline Notcutt, Vice-Chairman of Notcutts said: “We are passionate about the benefits that gardening can bring to mental and physical health, and we are delighted that through tis free online course, we can give everyone the opportunity to learn and experience these benefits.”
Caroline points out that her great-grandfather, Roger Crompton Notcutt, was advised to work outdoors due to ill-health and this started his passion for horticulture that eventually led to the foundation of Notcutts 120 years ago.
People can participate in Cultivating Wellbeing in Gardens and Nature by visiting:
www.thrive.org.uk/nature
• https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/gardens-and-health
