Growing Together consists of six community gardening projects delivered by Trust Links, an independent charity for mental health, wellbeing and the environment in Essex. The Growing Together gardens offer adults experiencing a range of mental health conditions an inclusive space to engage in a range of gardening and workshop activities, build social relationships and gain vocational qualifications
Background
In the UK, one in four adults are experiencing a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. Whilst support and treatment for mental health problems are available from health professionals, including talking therapies or medication, these are not always readily available due to long waiting lists, or may not be suitable or effective for the individual. In other cases, people just need some extra support in addition to the treatment they are already receiving. Therapeutic community gardens offer people experiencing mental health problems an alternative or additional place to get support, build friendships and develop new skills.
Trust Links is an independent charity for mental health, wellbeing and the environment in Essex. Trust Links delivers Growing Together a therapeutic gardening project across six sites in Essex. To mark the 25-year anniversary of Growing Together, we are undertaking a new evaluation of the data that has been routinely collected from its garden members. The garden members provide information about a range of mental health related outcomes, including wellbeing, self-esteem, life satisfaction, loneliness and nature connection. In addition, we will collection some new qualitative data that will help Trust Links to understand some of ways through which attending Growing Together enhances the mental health of its members. Generating new evidence that demonstrates that participating in therapeutic community gardening can help people in their recovery from mental health problems, and why it helps recovery, is essential to build the evidence base for therapeutic gardening to inform commissioners and funders Findings may also help guide future research into the mental health benefits of therapeutic community gardening.
Project Aims
The project aims to deliver a new analysis of psychological health outcome data routinely collected by Trust Links Growing Together therapeutic gardens in Essex. The outcome measures include wellbeing, life satisfaction and self-esteem. This evidence will help to build an evidence base for therapeutic garden and support Growing Together (and other therapeutic gardening projects) to continue to support people experiencing mental health conditions in Essex.
In addition, the qualitative evidence will help understand the mechanisms through which attendance at Growing Together benefits the mental health of its members. This will support Growing Together to continue to improve and enhance the activities and services they offer members and guide future research in the field.
Project Activity
- Quantitative analysis of psychological health data routinely collected by Growing Together.
- Design of a qualitative component in collaboration with Growing Together.
- Qualitative data collection alongside a peer researcher , inviting a range of Growing Together stakeholders to participate.
- Analysis and interpretation of qualitative data in collaboration with peer researcher.
Anticipated or actual outputs
- Presentation for Growing Together’s 25-year anniversary event (July 2025).
- Written report for Trust Links for public consumption (March 2026).
- A minimum of one academic journal publication (March 2026).
Who is involved?
- Dr Claire Wicks (PI), University of Essex
- Prof. Susan McPherson, University of Essex
- Dr Cara Booker, University of Essex
- Dr Carly Wood, University of Essex
Corresponding researcher and contact details
Claire Wicks- cwicks@essex.ac.uk
