Occupational therapist, Mary Lynas and senior health care support worker, Kirsty Neville explain how green health activities support their patients mental and physical health.
Those with access to a garden have been found to have significantly lower sensitivity to stress than those without (Stigsdotter and Grahn (2004).
Did you know that many learning disabled adults lack the opportunity to explore and enjoy their natural environments? They may also lack the necessary knowledge and skills required to seek out community activities.
We have been involved in green therapies for several years in NHS Lanarkshire, and for us, it is the most rewarding initiative.
Alongside the health benefits this brings to our patients, they also get to access new opportunities, build therapeutic relationships and develop everyday living skills which is invaluable.
Our health board, NHS Lanarkshire, offers a range of green health opportunities to inpatients, outpatients and community volunteers as well as hospital staff and visitors. NHS Lanarkshire is part of the Green Health Partnership which was formed in April 2018 and all partners involved work to connect health and social care with nature, which is achieved by:
- ensuring outdoor activities are promoted and valued in how we provide health services
- calling for action from many organisations
- shaping work around local health priorities
One of our main green health projects is in partnership with Clydesdale Community Initiatives Scotland (CCI Scotland). Some of the opportunities provided by CCI Scotland are weekly gardening groups across NHS Lanarkshire sites:
- Kirklands, Bothwell
- Coathill, Coatbridge
- Lady Home, Lanark
- Airbles Road Centre (ARC), Motherwell
These groups help promote health and wellbeing benefits for those who take part and work with Clydesdale Foodbank to grow and donate fresh vegetables to residents within communities.
The project has donated almost 1,000kg of healthy vegetables – all of which were grown on NHS Lanarkshire grounds and CCI Scotland food network sites. Alongside growing vegetables, CCI facilitates a volunteer opportunity for our inpatients, as well as occupational therapy support for them to attend and be involved in a variety of tasks e.g. planting, weeding and crafting. We also built a hibernaculum for our small wild animals on hospital grounds.
Recognising their contribution to nature, participants have been awarded the Discovery Award from the John Muir Trust, which is a nationally recognised, individual award scheme. The enthusiasm shown by the participants and volunteers and support from the staff involved have been fantastic, we were delighted to see everyone involved have been given this great award for their amazing work.
We held a ceremony for them to receive their well-deserved certificates at our Kirklands Hospital site, which was amazing to see them being recognised for their contributions to nature.
On top of our work with CCI, we have also carried out some great green health work at Kirklands Hospital including wicker sculptures – Benji the Stag and Pat the Coo, as well as our dome for anyone who needs a ‘wee time oot’ as we all do now and again.
We feel the biggest benefit for our patients involved in this work is they have a sense of being a valued contributor to our local community, with the local produce going to local food banks, and being able to grow vegetables from a seed and then use them to prepare meals. Participants love access to the great outdoors and undertake activities whether it rain or shine!
The most rewarding part for us is to see our inpatients every Tuesday at 10.30am ready for action!
