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		Green Care
		Our evidence suggests that therapeutic applications of green exercise activities may be effective, and we refer to this as green care. There is a growing movement towards green care in many contexts, ranging from therapeutic applications of green exercise activities (green exercise as a treatment option), Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH), Animal Assisted Therapies, Wilderness Therapy, Ecotherapy and Care Farming. Although there is much diversity under the broader umbrella of green care, the common linking ethos is essentially to use natural interventions to produce health, social or educational benefits for a variety of vulnerable people.

Further research at the University of Essex already focuses on the therapeutic applications of green exercise for a cohort of the mentally-ill and youth at risk.

This includes assessing the mental health benefits and individuals’ connectedness to nature during wilderness excursions, which ties into adventure therapy research; investigating the impact of environmental volunteering on individuals’ connectedness to nature, behaviours and attitudes to the environment; analysing the effect of brief garden visits at a horticulture show and analysing the psychological health benefits of participating in a series of weekly green walks for people experiencing a range of mental health problems.

 

Green exercise as a treatment option: Green Walks for Mental Health
Green exercise as a treatment option: Nature Based Interventions
Care Farming
Wilderness Therapy
Therapeutic Horticulture