Welcome to Trellis
Not quite sure where to start or what you need? We have lots of resources for every stage of your therapeutic gardening journey. We can support you with:
- project start-up
- developing established projects
- careers in therapeutic horticulture
- data, research and the therapeutic horticulture knowledge base
- statistics on the sector in Scotland/UK
- job adverts
- professional development and recognition
- promotion of therapeutic horticulture
- information on the benefits of therapeutic gardening and how it can best be used with different groups
- adapting horticulture techniques, tools and spaces to serve the needs of different client groups
- introducing gardening/seasonal activity programmes in health and care settings, schools, prisons and other community and health sector settings
- connecting you with other projects in the network to exchange good practice
- getting your group on the map so others can find you
- on-site fieldwork support
- learning from others around the world
Get Started
Getting started with your therapeutic gardening project can be overwhelming, but we’ve got all the resources and information you need to get gardening. From activity sheets to factsheets, how-to videos and books, we’re here to help you and your group benefit.
Set up a Therapeutic Garden
Get your copy of the Trellis Guide - How to set up a Therapeutic Gardening Project. A comprehensive guide to getting your project off the ground.
Adaptive Gardening™
Adaptive Gardening™ is the practice of making gardening accessible for everyone, finding ways to overcome physical, psychological and social barriers to taking part in gardening activities.
Network Map and Project Directory
Use the Trellis map and directory of therapeutic gardening projects to find out more about projects near you, and even link up with them to learn more.
On-site Support
Our staff and fieldworker team support therapeutic horticulture groups and start-up projects across the country to make the most of their garden space so it offers maximum benefits to participants, and to shortcut the process of starting a new project.
Support Us
You can help people facing a host of difficulties, from mental health concerns to physical disabilities. By using the health-boosting power of gardening and nature connection, you can help people cultivate not only plants but their own well-being, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Jobs & Careers
Our Jobs & Careers section has been designed to help you find your way into a career in therapeutic horticulture. You can also search the latest job advertisements - or advertise your project's vacancies on our jobs portal. Member organisations benefit from free job advertising
Careers in Therapeutic Gardening
If you are new to Social and Therapeutic Horticulture and wondering where to start, you are in the right place. This page will guide you towards getting the skills, qualifications and experience to become an STH practitioner.
Current Vacancies
Trellis offers this Job Vacancies page as a central portal for therapeutic gardening related jobs in Scotland.
Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic Horticulture is a process whereby trained practitioners, using plants, gardening and nature connection, work with people to help them improve their physical and psychological health and wellbeing, skills and abilities. At Trellis we can support you with:
- Information on the benefits of therapeutic gardening and how it can best be used with different groups
- Data, research and the therapeutic horticulture knowledge base
- Statistics on the sector in Scotland/UK
- Promotion of therapeutic horticulture
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic Horticulture (sometimes prefixed with ‘Social and…’ or STH) is a process whereby trained practitioners, using plants, gardening and nature connection, work with people to help them improve their physical and psychological health and wellbeing, skills and abilities.
Therapeutic Horticulture Knowledge Base
Therapeutic horticulture is a unique profession and practice that overlaps to some extent with the health/care and horticulture professional domains. The knowledge required to practice in this field is drawn from these overlapping sectors and from research in a number of other areas including psychology, physiology, neuroscience, environment, occupational therapy, social work and education. In these pages, we gather definitions, links to resources and associations, precis of research findings and updates on the evolving knowledge that underpins and helps our field develop and improve.
Want to find out more?
Information Service
The Trellis information service answers queries on a whole range of subjects related to therapeutic horticulture - from garden project management to funding to adaptive gardening techniques. We love to help and look forward to hearing from you.
Learning and Professional Development
We can support you with:
- professional development and recognition
- Connecting you with other projects in the network to exchange good practice
- on-site fieldwork support
- Learning from others around the world
Professional Development
Trellis began running a Professional Development Forum in 2021. We've now joined forces with Thrive to create the Association for Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, a professional body to register STH practitioners in the UK.
Networking Seminars
Throughout the year we arrange in-person networking seminars in various locations across Scotland. These events allow people from all areas of therapeutic horticulture to come together and share their experience and knowledge.
International Seminar Series
Our Seminar Series has been running for 5 years and have grown in size and reputation. The seminars are for anyone who is interested in therapeutic horticulture, for those already working in the field and anyone who is just diving into this wonderful world for the first time.
Latest news
HMP Dumfries
One of our most recent projects took place at HMP Dumfries where they were designing and constructing a Wellbeing Garden...
Murdostoun Brain Injury Centre Therapy Garden
Murdostoun Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Neurological Care Centre, run by the Active Care Group in Wishaw, offers neurorehabilitation, care and...
Perth & Kinross Community Mental Health Wellbeing Fund Sponsored Gardening Sessions.
This month we’re getting Summer off to a colourful start with our Perth & Kinross Community Mental Health Wellbeing Fund...
NHS Scotland Event 2025
Trellis CEO Fiona Thackeray and Training & Standards Officer Emma Martindale spoke at the NHS Scotland Event in Glasgow, presenting...
The Wellbeing Garden Podcast - A Conversation with Fiona Thackeray
Fiona Thackeray, Trellis CEO, joined Cath Manuel on The Wellbeing Garden Podcast. "In this episode I’m joined by Fiona Thackeray...
Health and Social Aspects of Urban Agriculture and Horticulture - SLU Lecture
Trellis CEO, Fiona, talked all things Therapeutic Horticulture in Scotland during a recent seminar with students from Swedish University of...