Community gardening
Nearly £300,000 NGS funding for community garden projects
The National Garden Scheme announces the distribution of £294,260 of funding for 117 community garden projects across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
People
Thomas Pearson becomes Trustee for Herefordshire Growing Point
Founder of garden pottery business becomes a Trustee for the Herefordshire charity that helps people living with physical and mental challenges to enjoy the benefits of gardening.
Environment
WWF Prescription for Nature campaign
Approaching Earth Day in April, the World Wide Fund for Nature campaign focusses on the connection between nature and mental wellbeing, highlighting local heroes driving positive change.
Events
Serge Hill Symposium: A Safe Green Space – Nature and Play
This year’s symposium at the Serge Hill Project will focus on the transformative relationship between nature, gardens, creativity, wellbeing and play.
Health
Horticulturists against skin cancer
Gardeners, growers, landscapers and those working outdoors are subject to high exposure to UV radiation and thereby amongst the most at risk to the dangers of skin cancer.
Health
Gardening is nature’s gym
The Horticultural Trades Association says gardening could be one of nature’s best workouts to improve physical health
Health
Gardens to fall in love with on Valentine’s Day
With a focus on a romantic day out, the National Garden Scheme’s new Valentine’s Day campaign serves as a reminder of the health benefits of visiting gardens in winter.
Charity
The gift of grasses
Working with its charity the Knoll Gardens Foundation, Knoll Gardens gift ornamental grasses to local community groups to create attractive spaces for benefit of the community and promoting wellbeing.
Charity
Record National Garden Scheme donations in 2024
2024 proved to be another landmark year for the National Garden Scheme with the charity donating a record £3,501,227 to nursing and health beneficiaries from this year’s garden opening season.
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.
