Spend time in the garden to help us develop the first ever wellbeing garden blueprint
Take part in community science this summer by completing a 20-minute wellbeing activity in your garden, or any garden you have access to, once a week
Sign up by 20 May 2024 – details below
The RHS is developing a ‘wellbeing garden blueprint’ to help schools and hospitals to design their outdoor spaces in a way that maximises wellbeing. The ambition is to ensure that people can enjoy as many health and wellbeing benefits from each new garden as possible.
Expected in 2025, the blueprint will be based on evidence gathered by RHS and University of Surrey scientists from studies taking place at the experimental Wellbeing Garden at RHS Wisley, as well as wider citizen science studies in which volunteers can participate in their gardens at home.
You can help us by joining in with this latest community science project, which can be done from the comfort of your garden at home or in any other garden you have access to, including our five RHS Gardens.
What does the study entail?
Part of ongoing PhD research by Bethany Harries with RHS Science and the University of Surrey, the study aims to explore how spending time in the garden influences your health and wellbeing.
Participants will be asked to complete a wellbeing activity in any garden they have access to, once a week for six weeks. This is a remote intervention, so you will need to have access to a smartphone or tablet and a garden space.
You will be asked to spend 20 minutes in your garden of choice each week for six weeks. Each week you will be emailed a link with simple instructions to complete on your smartphone or tablet while you spend time in the garden. You can choose the day and time that you would like to complete the activity each week, but should aim to complete each activity one week apart.
How do I sign up?
For more information and to sign up to participate, please visit this University of Surrey page. The deadline to sign up is 20 May 2024.
Please note: by visiting this page, you are leaving the RHS website and will be governed by the University of Surrey’s data protection and privacy policy.
