1. Underlying Principles

There is increasingly well-recognised evidence-base for the efficacy of contact with plants as being beneficial to human’s wellbeing and health. For example:

• Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory states that working with and even just being near to plants can bring about fascination, which is mentally restorative, rather than fatiguing.
• Ulrich showed that the presence of plants can significantly reduce stress and powerfully engage most individuals
• Various studies have proven that many plants have the ability to remove various pollutants from around them and so improve air quality and therefore help maintain good general health
• The physical health benefits of gardening tasks can have the equivalent health impact of sports and exercise

Such work has led to the now generally accepted term of ‘Biophilia’ to describe the very close association and reliance of humans on plants and nature for our physical and mental wellbeing.

In addition, Universal human emotional needs include, amongst other things, security, to be able to give and receive attention, to have a sense of control in one’s life, to gain a sense of achievement, to have a sense of status, and to have fun. (Tyrrell, 2003). A facilitated programme of gardening and nature-based activity for individuals or groups by experienced Practitioners can be transformational in meeting these needs.