Date – 10 December 2024
Time – 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
We are pleased to invite members and non members to our upcoming Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) Special Interest Group network meeting. This event will take place on Tuesday 10th December at 6.00pm via Zoom.
Evaluating Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) and other Nature based interventions – STH sig Network Meeting December 10th
Join us for the next Chartered Institute of Horticulture Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) Special Interest Group network meeting, focusing on evaluating STH projects. This session will explore different approaches to outcome measurement in STH, helping practitioners demonstrate the benefits of their work. Our two expert speakers will share valuable insights into the evaluation process, providing both practical guidance and research-based perspectives.
Alison Marsden
Alison became involved with Social & Therapeutic Horticulture in 2015 as part of her second career, and holds qualifications in horticulture, project management, teaching, counselling, and an MSc in Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion. As a lifetime supporter of wildlife and the value of people connecting to the natural environment, this underpins her approach to gardening as well as STH.
For her MSc research project, Alison investigated the lack of a standard model for evaluating the mental health benefits of STH. While practitioners and participants could see these benefits, research reports showed that commissioning, funding, and prescribing bodies remained sceptical and sought more quantitative data. Alison’s research gathered insights from practitioners and participants, as well as existing academic research, and revealed that STH’s benefits fall into three distinct categories, each requiring different evaluation methods. She identified the biggest gap in current tools as being the measurement of the actual outcomes experienced by participants in STH programmes, and suggests that models from mental health personal recovery could fill this gap.
Dr. Becca Lovell
Dr. Becca Lovell is based at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health at the University of Exeter Medical School. Her research focuses on evaluating, synthesising, and translating evidence of the links between nature and health into policy and practice.
Becca has been at the forefront of exploring ‘what works’ in nature-based health interventions. She has contributed to the evaluation of the UK Government’s Green Social Prescribing Test and Learn programme and delivered randomised controlled trials on nature on prescription. Her work provides crucial insights into how nature-based interventions can be successfully implemented and evaluated, ensuring robust evidence to inform future projects.
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the evaluation of STH and nature-based interventions and learn from two leading voices in the field!
Registration is required. Free to Members, Non Members £5.