As a GP, and a keen gardener and a Garden Designer, I have long been aware of the benefits that come from gardening and horticulture for my own well-being, but more importantly for that of my patients.
The COVID19 Pandemic and the UK Lockdown in 2020 saw a rapid growth in the wider use of gardening to maintain mental and physical well-being for many people. Moreover, there has been a steady growth in recent years of organisations across the UK which provide Social and Therapeutic Horticulture for service users.
People living with mental health problems, physical health problems, sensory impairments, learning disabilities, and a range of other problems including loneliness and isolation are all increasingly able to access help, support and camaraderie through these organisations. They also provide huge benefits for those that work for them – often giving their time and expertise on a voluntary basis.
The problem that I encountered as a GP was that I was unaware of what was available in my area. Often I’d come across these organisations in a rather haphazard way – perhaps visiting a garden in the National Garden Scheme, or as an affiliate of the Royal Horticultural Society – and only then understanding the role they could offer my patients, either to be service users, or to work as volunteers. I’d often find some amazing charity and blog about it – but was both sad that local GPs were unaware of its existence, and frustrated that the benefits were available to such a small,localised population.
So with Social Prescribing booming, and actively encouraged by the UK Government, there seemed to me to be a lack of coordination and publicising of the available services – either to prescribers like myself, other health or social care workers, or even for members of the public to self-refer.
This website is my attempt to address this need. I hope that people can use it primarily to find out what services are available in any given locality within the UK. I also hope that the organisations themselves may be able to use it as a means of networking and liaising with like-minded Horticulturalists.
The Directory is growing fast. Obviously, I am acting as only a coordinator here and rely on contributors to keep me abreast of changes in the Social and Therapeutic Horticultural Landscape out there.
So please use the Contact forms accordingly.
Richard Claxton
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