Environment
Green Cities Europe Award 2024
Ten countries are up the Green Cities Europe Award, in recognition of outstanding sustainable, urban green space initiatives across the Continent.
Health
Bridewell Gardens marks 30 years of mental health support through horticulture
Bridewell Gardens, a pioneering mental health recovery service celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and launched a new fundraising campaign to aid the fulfilment of their mission.
Health
Children’s Society report shows UK teenagers less happy than European peers
The 2024 Good Childhood Report revealed that too many young people are unhappy with their lives.
Environment
Urban ecosystem services: Medellín’s cooling green corridors
To reduce the city’s significant urban heat island effect and improve urban biodiversity, Medellín in Columbia created thirty interconnected green corridors which run throughout the city.
Charity
The Stroke Association launches digital garden
In a charity first, the Stroke Association has launched a digital garden called ‘Strength in Bloom’ to raise vital funds for the charity and support stroke survivors.
Case Study
Alitex case study: Happy employees is good business
Staff are a company’s most important asset but even though many businesses sing to this mantra, there are often cases where employees fall into the lesser valued categories of company stakeholders.
Research
The more sustainable one’s gardening, the better for you & planet
Scientists at the Royal Horticultural Society have found that gardening sustainably the higher the perceived levels of wellbeing as well as being better for the planet
Health
Proximity to local heritage boosts life satisfaction & wellbeing, worth £29billion annually
Research by Historic England showed that the overall wellbeing value for people’s day-to-day encounters with heritage is estimated to be worth £29 billion annually, providing an average individual benefit of £515.
Wildlife
Corporate biodiversity in Henley
Global asset management firm Invesco provides an update on the progress made with their climate mitigation strategies at their EMEA head office in Henley on Thames.
Health
Thrive’s new campaign ‘Plants not Pressure’ puts the spotlight on men’s mental health & wellbeing
The new campaign by Thrive advocates gardens and green space as a place for men to grow their mental and physical strength.
Research
Gardens and local green space leads to lower incidence of antidepressant use
New research paper reveals strong link between living near green space and decreases in antidepressant prescription refills, highlighting the importance of nature for health & wellbeing and urban planning.
Charity
Blue Diamond Garden Centres launch Community Garden Competition
Prompted by their Octavia Hill inspired, 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, Blue Diamond are offering financial support to five UK community garden projects.
Health
Safety first: No Falls Week
The No Falls Foundation, the first and only UK-based charity for the work at height sector, is launching the first ever ‘No Falls Week’, a powerful campaign dedicated to promoting safe working at height.
Health
UK population has low life satisfaction and is more anxious, suggests new ONS data
Exploring UK quality of life, the Office of National Statistics wellbeing report reveals increases in economic inactivity, low life satisfaction with financial pressures contributing to poor wellbeing.
Charity
NGS & Macmillan: 40th anniversary of a very special partnership
As part of Gardens and Health Week, the National Garden Scheme is celebrating a unique, 40-year charitable partnership with one of the most significant beneficiaries, Macmillan Cancer Support.
Health
Gardens and Health Week: The uplifting impact of gardens
To mark Gardens and Health Week (4th-12th May), the National Garden Scheme brings together all that is good about gardens.
Health
New compulsory bird registration rules
Regardless of the size of the flock, Defra has announced compulsory registration requirements for all bird keepers to combat avian influenza outbreaks.
Research
Urban trees reduce heat-related mortality rates
Study found that London’s urban forest helped avoid 153 heat attributable deaths, representing around 16% of Urban Heat Island related mortality.
Gardens
Horatio’s Garden launches private tours of their gardens
The spinal injury charity Horatio’s Garden, has launched a new series of tours offering the public the chance to visit their award-winning, fully accessible gardens.
Health
Dr Michael Mosley on the benefits of gardening
On his BBC Radio 4 podcast ‘Just One Thing’, Dr. Michael Mosley explains that gardening is not only good for physical fitness but benefits the brain, mood and gut microbiome.