Making a blueprint for wellbeing gardens
RHS scientists are working to design an evidence-based blueprint for wellbeing gardens by 2025. Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui explains what this means for both the RHS and gardeners
What does this target mean?
‘There’s already lots of strong evidence of the beneficial impacts of plants and gardens on human health and wellbeing. But to understand the processes behind these results, we need more information on responses to specific plants and garden features. There won’t be a “one size fits all” prescription but rather an approach that makes sense for different communities and individuals.
‘If you want to optimise wellbeing outcomes from gardens, it’s important to make them locally relevant. Which features match the needs of your users? Which fragrances or colours might have the desired impact? For example, if you’re designing a garden area intended for calm reflection or stress relief, perhaps a different palette of plants would be appropriate than for a garden intended to be uplifting for people suffering from depression.
‘Ensuring that people have equal access and feel welcome in the garden is vital. So we’re collating evidence from community outreach activities to create a blueprint with guidelines and recommendations that will be applicable anywhere - to help ensure that wellbeing gardens really do meet the needs of people and places once they have been created.’
Part of my mission is to ensure that gardens are recognised as health resources and assets – as well as beautiful, natural spaces
What is the RHS already doing to meet this target?
‘Our research study involving Britain in Bloom groups has added to the increasing body of evidence showing that gardening fosters a sense of community, fulfilment, personal identity; all of which have positive physical and mental health outcomes. Indeed, our community gardening projects span the entire country and are already reaching thousands of people.
‘Our Director of Science and Collections, Professor Alistair Griffiths [along with garden designer Matt Keightley, and garden writers Annie Gatti and Zia Allaway], has written a book – Your Wellbeing Garden – which brings the current scientific knowledge to a wide audience. Plus we’ve been working with the NHS on green social prescribing projects, such as at RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford.’
What will the RHS do next to meet this target?
‘Over the next four years, we’ll continue conducting research on the emotional and stress responses to multisensory elements in gardens, with a particular focus on plant scent, colour and flower shape. Part of this will use the Wisley Wellbeing Garden as a living laboratory. We’re aiming to publish this research in peer-reviewed journals, and then to make it accessible to the general public via the RHS website and other channels.
‘As part of our dedication to community gardening, we’re planning to create a network of ‘Community Hubs’ in healthcare and other settings, where people can come together and learn horticultural skills and achieve wellbeing benefits by being involved in or spending time in gardens. This partnership between the RHS community groups and other partners will be designed to be inclusive for the people who can benefit from these spaces.
‘We hope to collaborate with organisations such as local authorities, the NHS, developers and local charities, to encourage everyone to value gardens and their important role in promoting health and wellbeing. Learning from the ‘Community Hubs’ and the wellbeing landscapes we create or help to create will help inform the evolution of the blueprint as time goes on.’
Why should gardeners care about this?
‘Think of all the research that has been done about gardening for wildlife; which plants are best for which pollinators. Yet we have no evidence on how to optimise gardens for humans! Ultimately we’re animals, and we have habitat preferences too.
‘As there are ever more people on planet earth, living ever closer together, there’s a huge need for evidence on how to make our green spaces as people-friendly as possible. How much shade do we need? In which contexts is a still pool more restorative than moving water? Which fragrances are most uplifting? These are just a few of the questions we need to ask.
‘It’s also important to understand people’s different needs, experiences, and cultural contexts. These matter for design, and will influence what people appreciate and value about a space. You need to be sensitive to all of these viewpoints when creating a wellbeing garden so the most fundamental step in the process is first to listen to what matters to the community.’
See also:
- Gardening for health and wellbeing
- Greener gardens promote healthier residents
- Spending time in the garden linked to better health and wellbeing
- Discover Wisley’s Wellbeing Garden
- Your Wellbeing Garden book
