Easy to grow cheerful plants. Great in pots or the ground so work really well for an indoor or outdoor garden club bringing a sense of achievement to participants. Flowers and leaves are edible too and great in salads!
Pots ready for a summer garden display. Something like this can be potted up in a gardening class held indoors or out. A great activity that can bring a real sense of achievement for the rest of the season if placed within view.
Biophilia describes our innate affinity with the natural world. Spending time outside in nature is proven to restore our attention levels and reduce stress.
Social Therapeutic Horticulture
The charity THRIVE defines Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) as 'the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as communication and thinking skills'.
I trained with THRIVE in how to establish and run STH sessions for adults and children with varying needs. I have used this training alongside my horticultural knowledge to set up garden clubs at local primary schools and advised local secondary schools on how to make the most from their outdoor space.
Garden clubs can be table based for those with limited mobility, or held inside where that would suit the client-gardeners' needs, and if there is available space in a care home situation.
I decided to train with THRIVE having learnt through personal experience how beneficial gardening with other people through a difficult time can be. I was fortunate enough to be in the middle of my RHS level 2 practical course when, unfortunately, my Father was very ill. Both my Father and Mother died while I was on the course. Having practical sessions; outside learning, doing and being with other people, really helped me to keep going through the early stages of grief.
So I know from first hand experience how gardening through grief can be a way of moving forward when everything feels like a huge struggle. Having purpose, doing something practical, getting your hands in the soil, being outside and nurturing new life can really help to find peace during difficult times.
If you run a care home or other setting where your residents would benefit from gardening sessions please get in touch to discuss options.