GPs prescribe gardening in new surgery scheme

KEEN gardeners will swear by the health benefits of having green fingers.

Now, people in the Rhondda are being prescribed gardening to help improve their health.

Rachel Bennett, a GP at Forest View practice in Treorchy, came up with the idea of Grow Rhondda – a therapeutic gardening group.

The service is designed for people with mild anxiety, low mood, low selfesteem or social isolation.

Patients can now be referred to the eight-week gardening programme, based at Ysbyty George Thomas.

Dr Bennett said: “It’s a social prescribing project based here in the Rhondda.

“If patients feel they can benefit from this project they can be referred from their GP.

“The scheme consists of eight weekly sessions where patients attend and are involved in all aspects of gardening.”

The project as a joint venture by Rhondda primary care, Ysbyty George Thomas and the community group Men’s Sheds who will deliver the sessions to cultivate courtyard gardens at the hospital.

Men’s Sheds was first developed in Australia to help to combat male isolation, but has spread to the UK and Ireland – there are now 32 in Wales.

Dave Harris, from Treorchy Men’s Sheds, said: “I think the benefit you will get from any gardening project is the fact you are outside.

“You can share that experience with other people and enjoy the aspect of the garden through the changes in the seasons, what you can plan or plant.

“Within a few weeks you have something growing and that’s a rewarding experience.

“Men’s Sheds got involved in Grow Rhondda because it gives us the opportunity to do something within our community so it’s not just about us and finding something that satisfies our needs it also helps the community to grow.”

Roger Watts, a volunteer with Men’s Sheds, said: “There is an area out the back of the hospital, a blank canvas if you like, where we can incorporate raised beds with fruit and veg, and wild flowers.

“Paths in between for patients to walk around, plant if possible, and enjoy the flowers that are out there. Insects that will come and pollinate the wild flowers.

“It’s an area that’s therapeutic, out in the open, that’s the main thing.”

The original idea was developed by the primary care cluster in Rhondda.

The project combines the growing interest of primary care in well-being, brings the local hospital into the community and links with community groups.