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Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui

Lauriane leads an interdisciplinary research programme on the influence of gardens and gardening on health and wellbeing. She is working in partnership with the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape Architecture

What do you do?

I'm conducting research on how domestic gardens can support physical and mental health through exposure to plants and wildlife. Our aim is to promote the health, social and cultural value of green spaces for the general population as well as for specific groups of people who may not otherwise have access to safe and private gardens.

Gardens and gardening can play an important role in the UK’s health and social care systems. Supported by empirical research, the RHS is a key organisation able to deliver on evidence collation and dissemination, as well as practical interventions and gardening opportunities.

“It’s fulfilling to see the tangible impacts of our research on people’s wellbeing, while contributing to the evidence-base on how to design, create, and sustain healthy societies.”

Why is your team’s research important?

Mental health is a growing public health concern. In the UK, one in four adults currently experiences a significant mental health problem. The RHS has extensive knowledge and continues to understand how gardens can be optimised for wildlife but there is very limited research undertaken on how gardens can be leveraged to maximise health and wellbeing benefits for humans.

In the environmental horticulture team, we conduct our own research as well as being good science communicators. We relay our findings to members, visitors, government, industry partners, and the general public in ways that are as accessible, applicable, and policy-relevant as possible.

Projects I’m working on now

  • The role of colour and scent on stress and wellbeing in the garden context
  • The links between health and horticulture, and how cross-sectoral approaches can maximise beneficial impacts for the UK

Completed projects

  • The impact of front gardens on health and wellbeing (PhD from the University of Sheffield, with the University of Virginia and the RHS)

Achievements

I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Publications

  • Chalmin-Pui LS and Blanusa T (2022) Health and the role of nature in enhancing mental health, The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures
  • Neale C, Griffiths A, Chalmin-Pui LS, Mendu S, Boukhechba M and Roe J. (2021) Color Aesthetics: A transatlantic comparison of psychological and physiological impacts of warm and cool colors in garden landscapes. Wellbeing, Space and Society
  • Chalmin-Pui LS, Griffiths A, Roe J, Heaton T. & Cameron R. (2021) Why garden ? – Attitudes and the perceived health benefits of home gardening. Cities, 112, 103118
  • Chalmin-Pui LS, Griffiths A, Roe J & Cameron R. (2021) Gardens with Kerb Appeal – A Framework to Understand the Relationship between Britain in Bloom Gardeners and Their Front Gardens, Leisure Sciences
  • Chalmin-Pui LS, Roe J, Griffiths A, Smyth N, Heaton T, Clayden A, Cameron R. (2021) “It made me feel brighter in myself” – The health and well-being impacts of a residential front garden horticultural intervention. Landscape and Urban Planning, p205
  • Chalmin-Pui LS, Griffiths A, Roe J, Cameron RWF. (2019) Bringing fronts back: a research agenda to investigate the health and well-being impacts of front gardens. Challenges, 10 (37)
  • Cracknell D, et al. (2019) Demystifying Health Metrics, Valuing Nature Paper, Collaborator
  • Lovell R, et al. (2018) Demystifying Health, Valuing Nature Paper, Collaborator
  • Chalmin-Pui LS, Perkins R. (2017) How do visitors relate to biodiversity conservation? An analysis of London Zoo’s ‘BUGS’ exhibit. Environmental Education Research, 23 (10), pp1462–75

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.