When someone is living with depression or anxiety, even leaving the house can feel overwhelming. Everyday activities become daunting, confidence disappears, and people can become increasingly isolated from their communities and the things that once brought them joy.
Therapeutic gardening offers hope
Working alongside a GP practice on a recent project, we created a safe, welcoming space where people could begin to rebuild their wellbeing through nature, meaningful gardening activity and human connection. Participants, diagnosed with mild to moderate depression or anxiety were referred directly by their GP and spent twelve weeks on a therapeutic gardening programme, learning practical skills, setting personal goals and gradually rediscovering confidence in themselves and in others.
Remarkable transformations
Across our two programmes, participants experienced clinically significant improvements in their mental health. Depression scores reduced well beyond the threshold recognised as indicating an effective intervention, while measures of overall wellbeing increased by almost 60%. Participants reported feeling more connected to other people and to nature, becoming more physically active, learning new skills and developing healthier ways of coping with difficult days.
Across the participants, measures of wellbeing increased by 60% by the end of the programme
Between the 3 months prior to the programme and the 3 months after, GP visits reduced by 67%
The statistics only tell part of the story
Many participants arrived anxious, withdrawn and uncertain about joining a group. By the end of the programme, they were supporting one another, creating their own social network to stay in touch, exploring opportunities to continue gardening together and even discussing establishing a volunteer group to care for the GP practice garden independently. Others found themselves able to take steps that had previously felt impossible. Participants told us they had overcome fears of meeting new people, rediscovered activities they loved, started attending other community groups, returned to work and regained hope for the future.
Dr Peter Churn, Partner at Harbours Medical Practice, expressed his delight at the changes they have witnessed in their patients:
“We’ve been stunned by the positive impact on our patients that were fortunate enough to attend and benefit from the Trellis group. They have learnt skills that will hopefully benefit them, and those around them, for a lifetime. We hope that this project will serve as a blueprint for many others and provide a long-lasting legacy for our surgery and our community.”
And for the patients, here are just some of the positive changes they have experienced:
Malcolm reflected:
"I have entered 2026 with so much positivity, hope and optimism for my future that was lacking when I joined the group."
Malcolm went on to start volunteering at a local environmental group and took the trip of a lifetime to see close family in New York – something he had long wanted to do but couldn’t muster the confidence or oomph to organise before.
"I have entered 2026 with so much positivity, hope and optimism for my future that was lacking when I joined the group."
Malcolm went on to start volunteering at a local environmental group and took the trip of a lifetime to see close family in New York – something he had long wanted to do but couldn’t muster the confidence or oomph to organise before.
Susan described the programme as:
"It's like therapy without the therapy. Everyone comes together and the focus is on something other than our problems. This means there is less pressure to talk about our problems but over the weeks it has happened naturally. I've found this approach much more helpful than the more traditional therapies I have tried."
"It's like therapy without the therapy. Everyone comes together and the focus is on something other than our problems. This means there is less pressure to talk about our problems but over the weeks it has happened naturally. I've found this approach much more helpful than the more traditional therapies I have tried."
For Helen, as with others, the impact extended far beyond the garden:
"I am now going out and doing things for myself that I haven't done in years thanks to this course. I have always wanted to trek with Alpacas – and now I have it booked for this Thursday.”
"I am now going out and doing things for myself that I haven't done in years thanks to this course. I have always wanted to trek with Alpacas – and now I have it booked for this Thursday.”
Wider Systemic Change
The programme also strengthens the wider health and care system. By working in partnership with GP practices, Link Workers and local community organisations, participants leave with trusted relationships and clear pathways into ongoing community support, helping the benefits continue long after the programme has ended. We are now collecting data to understand the impact on GP appointments and primary care use, while using our learning in these programmes and at other GP Practices to develop a model that can be replicated by practices across Scotland.
Our ambition is simple: that every person who could benefit from therapeutic gardening can experience it. Because when people are given the chance to reconnect with nature, with others and with themselves through an intervention this positive, they don't simply feel better for twelve weeks—they begin building healthier, more hopeful futures that can last a lifetime.
*Note: patient names have been changed to protect identities