Gardening has been shown to boost mental and physical health – people who garden every day have significantly improved well-being and reduced stress levels in comparison to those who don’t (The Royal Horticultural Society, 2021).
Dr. Peter Thain, an Associate Professor of Health and Care Professions at Birmingham City University, has launched ‘Gardening for Health and Wellbeing’ at the Edgbaston City South Campus to boost mental and physical wellbeing as well as create a sense of belonging and community for students.
“This is a co-created project with students, where the students lead, and I simply facilitate. Some members have great experience in gardening, whilst others have never planted a seed before. It is fantastic to be part of this group of people, who are from a variety of courses across the University—I am learning a lot from them! The BCU Gardening Team have also been great, as they have kindly supported the project and provided us with a plot to work on. Within just four months, we have designed the plot, built raised beds from scratch, and started to sow flowers and vegetables ready to plant out in the coming weeks. It has been great to see the students engage and learn new skills, developing their hidden potential, and improving self-confidence. We have also cleared a patch of land and sown a wild meadow that will attract a range of insects and wildlife to the area, and give a great floral display for staff and students to enjoy.”
Peter goes on to say “Gardening should be for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background. Plants need care, and learning how to look after a garden can increase confidence in other aspects of life. Working as a team on shared goals fosters a sense of belonging and builds a community—one of the key BCU Values.” It is evident the project has built a community among the students already:
“The BCU gardening club has allowed me to socialise with like-minded people and build on my passion for gardening. It is something I look forward to every week and enables me to decompress from life pressures.” – 2nd year BA Human Resource Management student.
“Getting outdoors (come rain or shine); being able to socialise with other students and staff; building raised beds and designing a wildflower meadow have all been fantastic experiences so far. Gardening club is a lovely slow-paced way to spend an afternoon in an otherwise busy schedule. (A bonus is that I also now know how to use power tools!)” – 2nd year MSc Speech and Language Therapy student.
"I've never attended the gardening club without leaving with a huge smile on my face and a burst of energy. It's also an excellent way to incorporate some exercise into my week.”– 2nd year MSc Dietetics student.
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Whilst in its infancy, Peter and the students have great ambitions. Currently open to students and staff at BCU, the longer-term aim is to engage the local Birmingham community. As the University for Birmingham, with community at the heart of the University values, the project aims to offer a community garden to support health and wellbeing for those who don’t have access to green space.
The project also aligns with the NHS’s aims to reduce the carbon footprint to zero by 2040. The NHS Greener Allied Health Professionals scheme encourages Allied Health Professionals to consider how they can be sustainable in their everyday practice and how they can influence and lead others to have a more sustainable lifestyle.
As an Allied Health Professional and keen gardener, Peter has combined his two passions and is considering the longer-term possibility of using gardening within the rehabilitation setting. “As a physiotherapist and sports therapist, I am conscious not to overburden my patients with exercises but rather try to integrate them into their everyday lives. This is true for the elite athlete or more sedentary patient suffering with comorbidities. Gardening can be used to facilitate rehabilitation. Consider the dexterity required to re-pot a house plant, sow a tiny seed, or use a pair of secateurs, through to squatting to lift a heavy plant pot or a bag of compost. Rather than providing barriers to exercise through a need to complete 40 minutes of exercises, or go to the gym, we need to better integrate exercises into everyday activities and social occasions to get greater adherence… almost hiding them!”
Much of an Allied Health Professional's role is aiming to get patients back to work and reduce the need for further healthcare services which in turn reduces carbon emissions. By considering gardening as an intervention, aside from possible physical and mental health benefits, we can teach patients a new skill and empower them to grow their own produce at home, reducing the carbon footprint further.
Make sure to follow @bcu_gardening on Instagram to see the group's progress and get involved.