Social & Therapeutic Horticulture

Welcome to the Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) page, maintained by the CIH’s Special Interest Group on Social and Therapeutic Horticulture. 

The STH Special Interest Group exists to:

  • Develop a network of STH practitioners to support and share excellent practice 
  • Organise regular online networking meetings  
  • Share global research news on the subject  
  • Share information about and provide opportunities to visit STH projects throughout the UK and Ireland 
  • Give a voice and support to STH in the UK and Ireland 
  • Forge links with other organisations in the STH sector

The group is run by volunteers and welcomes any offers of help from CIH STH members.

You can contact the STH Group via cihsth@horticulture.org.uk.

Recent STH Research

STH practice and theory is evidenced by an ever growing global research effort.  The CIH promotes an evidence-based approach for everyone – newcomers, students and seasoned practitioners alike.

In 2026 we have linked to the new Research & Readings Database maintained by Root in Nature, an organisation providing therapeutic horticulture resources and training based in Canada.  The database includes research, studies and articles on the benefits, methodologies, and applications of horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture.  It is fully searchable including by population, setting, outcome and publication type.

You can link to the Root in Nature database HERE.

The CIH is not associated with Root in Nature, does not endorse any commercial offering and is not responsible for information on any external website.

Academic papers reviewed by the CIH up to 2025 are listed by sector here:

Please let us know if you would like to share any relevant research by emailing cihsth@horticulture.org.uk including the article link and a short description of its value to STH practice.

STH Projects

STH Network members have started to compile a list of projects which are open to professional collaboration, visits and sharing good practice with colleagues. They are grouped under the relevant CIH Branch areas. Please contact them directly if you would like to establish links.

If you would like to add your own STH project to this list please complete the submission form.

Projects can be viewed in the Members Area of the website.