Gardens are unique ecosystems with the potential to deliver an array of important environmental and health benefits, particularly for urban populations. A large body of research has established that contact with nature and activities within green spaces (including gardening) are beneficial for our physical, mental and social health. An adjacent body of research has explored whether and how pro-environmental behaviours are also linked to positive outcomes for human health and wellbeing. But published research has not yet established whether pro-environmental behaviour in the context of gardening (“sustainable horticulture”) further increases the health and wellbeing benefits that gardeners derive. This paper uses evidence from a nationally representative UK survey (n=2086) conducted in August 2021 to explore this question. We used multiple regression analysis to quantitatively demonstrate that a positive association between gardening more sustainably and perceived health benefits from gardening exists at the population level amongst UK adults. This finding implies the possibility that promoting environmentally-minded gardening techniques may lead to an increase in the health and wellbeing benefits that gardeners can derive from their actions. The paper puts forth a range of potential mechanisms that could explain the identified positive association between sustainable gardening and perceived health benefits and identifies related policy implications.

Societal Impact Statement Daunting global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss may seem overwhelming. However, gardeners have a secret weapon—gardens, balconies, indoor planting, yards and allotments are mini‐ecosystems that offer opportunities to counter perceptions of helplessness, inadequacy and resultant inaction by using those spaces to ‘Do what we can, with what we have, where we are’. Minimising gardening ‘footprints’ to mitigate harmful impacts, whilst maximising gardening ‘handprints’ to enhance benefits, is readily achievable. With this in mind, the Royal Horticultural Society is leading research into environmental horticulture for gardens, and benefits for individual wellbeing. Summary This article presents an integrated and applied research approach to the unique and multi‐disciplinary area of science referred to here as environmental horticulture. It does this by: (a) providing an institutional perspective (The Royal Horticultural Society) on a research approach for this particular area, emphasising why domestic and community gardens are important in the context of global environmental threats; (b) presenting four primary research focus areas and project examples; and (c) highlighting interdisciplinary linkages, future research needs, public engagement/knowledge sharing opportunities, and ‘Green Skills’ development in the area of environmental horticulture. Research focus areas discussed are: (1) responding to the changing climate (adaptation, mitigation and resilience solutions in gardens); (2) ‘plants for purpose’ (harnessing the potential of horticultural plant diversity, and gardening, to help regulate environmental conditions); (3) sustainability and climate risk reduction through effective and efficient resource management (reduction, re‐use, recycling and repurposing); and (4) gardening and cultivated plant choice for human health and wellbeing. We argue that a key research priority is improving our understanding of the linkages and interactions between soil, water, plants, weather and people. These crucial linkages affect above and below ground processes, for both outdoor and indoor plants. They impact the effectiveness with which water and nutrient cycling takes place, the extent to which ecosystem services may be delivered, and the resultant capacity of gardens and gardening to provide environmental and human health benefits.

This study aimed to identify what specific plants and garden features in an intentionally designed wellbeing garden influence emotional reactions and perceived restoration. To test this 142 garden visitors were recruited and asked to complete a survey as they walked around the wellbeing garden. The survey guided participants around the garden instructing them to stop at four specific Zones. They were asked questions concerning how the different Zones of the garden made them feel (sad, happy, excited, calm, and perceived restoration). In addition, the survey included open-ended questions where participants were asked to identify the features such as water elements, plants, views, and structures (sculptures, seating, paving) they felt evoked their emotional response. Using a mixed methods approach with ANOVA and Content Analysis, results found key garden design features linked to emotional reactions and perceived restoration include sounds of flowing water, open seating areas, far-reaching views, and a variety of planting (colour, height, texture, scents, attracting wildlife). This evidence can be used to inform the design of gardens that optimise wellbeing outcomes.

Humans are threatened by climatic change and the loss of global biodiversity. These phenomena undermine the integrity of our ecosystem, with direct and indirect impacts on human health. Recent evidence indicates green space is fundamental to human well-being, through provision of material and psychological benefits. The World Health Organisation stresses that the decline of mental, physical and social health is of major concern, accelerated by urban densification and the loss of traditional human habitat (green space). Without immediate actions to tackle these global challenges, our species is at risk of becoming extinct. As we do for other threatened species, there is an urgent need to draught our own species recovery action plan. This involves a vision of how we need our future habitats to look like, and the types of plant diversity that are essential for our survival. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Plant Finder lists 81,000 different types of ornamental plants in UK Gardens, outnumbering those used as food/medicine. This suggests we have a dependency on a diverse community of ornamental plants as part of our habitat. Food/medicinal plants are essential for survival and a component of our lives. However, our habitat also needs to fulfil our emotional, psychological, physical and social health. Thirty million UK gardeners use ornamental plant diversity to bring them 'joy', nourishing their souls. Furthermore, 75% state gardening has a positive impact on mental health, 71% physical health and 44% on social wellbeing. This suggests that ornamental plant diversity is as important as food and medicinal plants for our survival. Yet ornamentals are often seen as being a luxury rather than essential. Further research is needed on the optimisation of ornamental plant diversity to create urban habitats that specifically support human and planetary health. Ornamental plants need to be part of the future human species recovery action plan and help prevent our species' extinction.

Britain in Bloom is a UK national campaign to help people improve their local environment through gardening, a popular and accessible pastime. This research presents a framework to understand the relationships between gardeners and their front gardens (yards). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of focus group data with 20 Britain in Bloom gardeners in Greater London explores why people garden in front gardens, how social cohesion may emerge from front gardening activities, and the health benefits of the presence of front gardens for residents and passersby. Front gardens played a key role in supporting participants' personal identity and self-expression. Maintaining a front garden was seen as making a positive and satisfying contribution to their local area and to others' pleasure. Social cohesion in the street or neighborhood occurred through informal verbal communication and knowledge-sharing. These findings are relevant to the impacts of front gardens and community greening initiatives in private spaces.

Evidence demonstrates the benefits of gardens for promoting wellbeing. Some gardens are now being designed specifically to promote wellbeing; however, there are currently no evidence-based guidelines or recommendations available for designers to support such endeavours. The present study undertakes a systematic review of garden design literature to: (1) identify the defining characteristics of a garden that promotes wellbeing in non-clinical populations; and (2) summarize existing evaluations of garden designs into recommendations that can promote wellbeing. Online databases were used to identify papers published before October 2022, from which 17 publications were reviewed. This review was conducted following PRISMA and framework for scoping reviews. Results: The defining characteristics of wellbeing gardens centred around six design aspects: accessibility, wayfinding, fostering serenity, multisensory planting, spatial organization, and cultural artefacts. From these, recommendations were developed for garden designers to create wellbeing gardens.

EDITORIAL article Front. Psychol., 12 December 2022Sec. Health Psychology Volume 13 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1095064

Evidence shows green space exposure has beneficial impacts on psychological and physiological wellbeing. However, aesthetic differences in color use in cultivated garden landscapes on wellbeing remains unexplored. This study investigates how warm and cool colored garden landscapes affect psychological and physiological wellbeing and how responses differ geographically.Our between subjects design used USA and UK participants exposed to videos of static garden landscapes consisting of (a) warm colors, (b) cool colors and (c) control images. Measures of subjective psychological wellbeing (UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL)) and biometrics of stress using the Empatica E4 watch (Heart rate; Heart Rate Variability (HRV); Skin Temperature; Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Photoplethysmography) were obtained to ascertain if warm and cool colored cultivated garden landscapes affected psychological and physiological responses.Results showed statistical differences between locations in psychological and physiological wellbeing. USA participants experienced increases in hedonic tone and decreases in perceived stress after viewing warm and cool colored garden landscapes, a result not found in UK participants. Physiological indicators show geographical differences with beneficial effects of warm colors in the USA, shown in HRV and GSR measures relative to control. The UK sample presented mixed evidence regarding positive effects of warm and cool colored garden landscapes on physiological measures.These findings show stronger psychological and physiological responses to color in the US sample compared to a UK sample, suggesting geographic disparities in these responses to plant color. This should be further explored to understand color choice for landscape design to optimize outdoor settings that maximize wellbeing.

Domestic (home) gardens provide opportunities for psychological and physical health benefits, yet these environments have received less attention in terms of their therapeutic value compared to other urban green spaces. This is despite their ubiquity and the popularity of gardening as a pastime. This research explored why residents engaged with gardening and the extent to which they recognised any health benefits from the activity. A questionnaire was distributed electronically within the UK, with 5766 gardeners and 249 non-gardeners responding. Data were collated on factors including garden typology, frequency of gardening and individual perceptions of health and well-being. Significant associations were found between improvements in well-being, perceived stress and physical activity and more frequent gardening. Gardening on a frequent basis i.e. at least 2–3 times a week, corresponded with greatest perceived health benefits. Improving health, however, was not the prime motivator to garden, but rather the direct pleasure gardening brought to the participants. There was evidence that satisfaction with one's front garden and the time spent in it increased as the proportion of vegetation was enhanced. The data supports the notion that domestic gardens should be given greater prominence in urban planning debates, due to the role they play in providing health benefits.

Residential gardens make up 30% of urban space in the UK, yet unlike many other green space typologies, their role in the health and well-being agenda has largely been overlooked. A horticultural intervention introduced ornamental plants to 38 previously bare front gardens (≈ 10 m2) within an economically deprived region of North England, UK. Measures of perceived stress and diurnal cortisol profiles (as an indicator of health status) were taken pre- and post-intervention (over 3 months). Residents reported significant decreases in perceived stress post-intervention. This finding was aligned with a higher proportion of ‘healthy’ diurnal cortisol patterns post-intervention, suggesting better health status in those individuals. All residents derived one or more reported socio-cultural benefits as a result of the front garden plantings, although overall scores for subjective well-being did not increase to a significant level. Further qualitative data suggested that the gardens were valued for enhancing relaxation, increasing positive emotions, motivation, and pride of place. The results indicate that adding even small quantities of ornamental plants to front gardens within deprived urban communities had a positive effect on an individual’s stress regulation and some, but not all, aspects of subjective well-being. The research highlights the importance of residential front gardens to human health and well-being, and thus their contribution to the wider debates around city densification, natural capital and urban planning.

This perspective article proposes an agenda to investigate the impacts of front gardens (yards) on health and well-being. As front gardens are increasingly being paved over, significant ecological benefits will be lost. In addition, urban green infrastructure has a measurable role to play in addressing major public health issues related to mental health, chronic stress, inflammatory, and cardiovascular diseases. The social value of front gardens remains un-quantified. Future research can contribute to assessing the psycho-socio-cultural value of front gardens, and fostering healthy environments for people to live, work, and play in. A better understanding of the health impacts of front gardens can provide a relatable argument to protect permeable surfaces and spaces for nature, as well as to discourage the general public from paving over their front gardens. We propose eight central research questions to be addressed in future work, and elaborate on further variables, lines of inquiry, and suggested intervention trials and observational studies. Potential research findings will have implications for decision-making in fields of horticulture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and public health.

Using a case study of London Zoo's BUGS (Biodiversity Underpinning Global Survival) exhibit, this article assesses the role of experiential learning in raising biodiversity knowledge, concern and potential pro-conservation actions. Using Personal Meaning Mindmapping, a novel method in visitor research, the study examines how adult visitors relate to biodiversity conservation. Researcher priming, perceived proximity, affection, and responsibility are explored as key factors in understanding biodiversity and conservation. A mixed-method approach involving statistical, discourse and semiotic analysis finds that BUGS enables visitors to value nature by fascinating and entertaining them. However, BUGS falls short of its experiential potential as it does not resonate in visitors' everyday lives, nor does it enable them to personally contribute to conservation efforts.