What is Horticultural Therapy?

 According to the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association Horticultural therapy is:

 "The use of plants and the natural world to improve the social, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals who participate in it"

 In the words of Mitchell Hewson, Horticultural Therapy is:

“...a tool to develop a relationship with the client to improve their behavioural, physical and spiritual well being”.

Generally it could be said that Horticultural Therapy is the study of horticulture and related humanistic skills to provide a therapeutic basis to promote physical and mental functioning through natural or the man made environment.

 Diane Relf defines Horticultural Therapy in more specific terms in her book:

“…four elements that are essential for an activity to qualify as horticultural therapy if it is to be considered a profession eligible for the same status as other caring professions:

• A defined treatment procedure that focuses on horticultural or gardening activities

• A client with a diagnosed problem who is in treatment for that problem

• A treatment goal that can be measured and evaluated

• A qualified professional to deliver the treatment”