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.
Health
Policymakers urged to provide sustained funding for therapeutic horticulture initiatives
Members of the Scottish Gardening and Horticulture Cross-Party Group (CPG) have written to Ministers advocating for the health benefits of horticulture and gardening in healthcare.
Research
Horticultural engagement is effective for stress & mental fatigue recovery in children
Conducted by researchers in China, research into the stress recovery benefits for children participating in horticultural activities demonstrated greatly reduced physiological fatigue.
Charity
Ben Thomas is the new Thrive CEO
Former Head of Operations at Thrive, Ben Thomas has been appointed as CEO, replacing Kathryn Rossiter who stepped down in March.
Research
Research into garden influences on health & wellbeing seek participants
Researchers are looking for people to take part in a psychological intervention to explore how spending time in the garden influences health and wellbeing
Charity
Furzey gardening team seek support for RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival show garden
A talented group of gardeners want to show that people with learning disabilities are creative, committed and challenge the prejudices they face every day.
Health
Counting butterflies reduces anxiety
Research conducted by the University of Derby in association with Butterfly Conservation reveals that counting butterflies reduces anxiety by almost 10%.
Health
GPs urge policymakers to invest in green space to reduce NHS pressure
New research by the Woodland Trust, reveals that 96% of GPs surveyed want the government to combat health threats from climate change and extreme weather.
Research
Nature’s therapeutic power: study on the psychophysiological effects of touching grass
Study reveals that touching real grass increased relaxation, comfort, a sense of naturalness and decreases anxiety levels.
Local Heroes
Chelsea Physic Garden: Forget-me-nots
An important and endearing initiative by the Chelsea Physic Garden to support people living with dementia and their families.
Health
Sarah Raven on combatting the January blues
Expert gardener and author Sarah Raven is a fierce advocate for spending time outdoors in nature to boost one’s wellbeing.
Health
Eden Project launches Nature Connections Initiative
The Eden Project has announced a number of group activities starting during January which aim to bring people (of all ages) closer to nature and each other.
