How NHS Therapy Gardens Help Boost Health and Save Millions

It is therapeutically beneficial to include gardens in the NHS to foster good health and bring considerable cost savings. These gardens can offer therapeutic benefits to their patients, enhancing mental and physical well-being, which reduces demands for other healthcare services.

Therapeutic Benefits of Gardening

The literature has associated engaging with nature, especially gardening, with many health benefits. More frequent visits to green spaces can reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and improve mood disorders. A study published by the National Institutes of Health found that gardening activities significantly reduced depression and anxiety while improving other aspects of well-being.
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Gardening can bring a sense of purpose and accomplishment to the practice of therapy, especially for those recovering from illness or surgery. Tending to plants brings out feelings of life and nature, helping patients with emotional recovery and resilience.

Economic Impact and Cost Savings

Beyond health benefits, economic savings for the NHS therapy gardens make substantial contributions to economic savings for the NHS. A study by the Wildlife Trusts suggests that nature-based health projects, including therapeutic gardening, can bring a substantial reduction in costs. For example, the “Wild Health” project conducted by Gwent Wildlife Trust showed health savings of £66,882; this translates to a saving of £471 per participant. For every £1 invested, there is an added value of between 0.58 and £1.10 through reduced costs to the NHS.
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Similarly, the “MyPlace” initiative by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, which focuses on improving mental and physical health through nature-based activities, reported healthcare cost savings of £7,024 and reduced employment-related costs due to mental health of £28,442. For every £1 invested, there is an additional benefit of £2.16 in reduced costs to the NHS.
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Deployment and Accessibility

Integrating therapy gardens into healthcare settings means creating accessible and engaging environments that meet the needs of a diverse population of patients. Hospitals and clinics increasingly include green areas where patients can take part in gardening activities to encourage social interaction and physical activity. A good example is the NHS Forest, which aims to transform NHS sites into green spaces that improve health, well-being, and biodiversity.
SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE

However, challenges have persisted in the form of limited funding and the requirement that staff needs specialized training in order to lead therapeutic gardening programs. These barriers need to be addressed to ensure the broad availability of these interventions. Research in Frontiers in Public Health highlights the potential of nature-based interventions for safeguarding and improving population health, saving money by reducing the use of other health services.
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