Evergreen Gardening Project Evaluation Report

Trevor Neal & Jim Coe, January 2013

3.5 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Participants and their carers strongly expressed an improved sense of health and well-being as a result of attending the project sessions.

Some participants with serious health issues, for example, indicated improved communication, showed signs of a happier mood and demonstrated increased physical abilities during session activities.

The personal journeys of the participants - and carers - were typically rich and multilayered, as the following case study reveals:

This experience highlights that the project brought benefit to carers as well as participants - offering a time of release from some of the personal stresses of being a committed carer while providing an experience that was personally enjoyable and satisfying at the same time. 

We would say that it is unequivocally the case that participants' well-being has been enhanced through involvement in this project, particularly through a mix of the factors discussed above: through a combination of the project being socially fulfilling and creatively positive for an enjoyable fixed time in the week. 

These findings are consistent with academic research in this area, for example in the finding that,

"From a wide variety of University of Essex research... we have discerned three key outcomes from participating in 'green exercise' activities: 

1) Improvement of psychological well-being (by enhancing mood and self-esteem, whilst reducing feelings of anger, confusion, depression and tension); 

2) Facilitation of social networking and connectivity;

3) Generation of physical health benefits".

It is clear from project findings - as many of the quotes we have cited reveal - that the link to the cycle of nature has also proved an enriching experience for those involved. Given participants' limited mobility, this wasn't a 'green exercise' initiative in its mainstream sense ['exercising outside in the presence of nature'] but participants were able to 'get close to nature' through the project and this theme pervaded the approach throughout.

The experience of this project would point in particular to the first two benefits cited in academic literature - psychological well-being and social connectivity - having been fulfilled through this project. There were examples too that suggested physical health improvements had occurred

Creative use of the Museum's artefacts and displays also was important in promoting mental stimulus. This was in line with the identification by The Alzheimer's Society that, "People with dementia can often remember the distant past more easily than recent events. If you can find a way to help trigger the more distant, pleasant memories, the person may become more animated and interested". 

On its journey, the project enjoyed many examples of participants sharing and exploring past memories and recollections during the sessions, with Museum displays and rooms forming the basis for these recollections. These memories were often triggered by certain activities or individual items like spider-plants and herbs, including through smelling and touching them, or individual slides and photographs of past events and historic occasions at the Museum.