Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

Social and therapeutic horticulture is the process of using plants and gardens to improve physical and mental health, as well as communication and thinking skills

 

Therapy and rehabilitation

Social and therapeutic horticulture (STH) can benefit people in a number of ways:

  • It can be part of a person’s rehabilitation process, to help them recover and ‘find their feet again’ after an illness or a difficult time in their lives
  • It can help people recover from a wide range of conditions
  • It can help people to learn new skills
  • It can help slow down the deterioration seen when someone has a degenerative illness.

People can benefit from horticultural therapy:

  • At a garden project, where they are referred and funded by their doctor, social worker or care professional. Others start at a project through their own initiative and their place may be funded by their family and friends.
  • Through gardening at home, perhaps by starting with a simple idea like planting a small container or window box, or growing some herbs on a sunny window sill.

~ Claire

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