ISHS Acta Horticulturae 639: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Expanding Roles for Horticulture in Improving Human Well-Being and Life Quality
CARRY-ON GARDENING: AN INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE FOR OLDER AND DISABLED GARDENERS |
| Authors: | T. Spurgeon, B. Simpson |
| Keywords: | human issues in horticulture, accessible gardening, gardening websites, older adults, individuals with disabilities |
| Abstract:
Thrive is the UK national charity promoting the use of horticulture and gardening for training and employment, therapy and health. Thrive has been working for 24 years and now runs a range of services to older and disabled gardeners and to the 1500 therapeutic horticulture projects. This paper examines the needs and challenges faced by older and disabled gardeners in the UK and looks at ways in which supporting their gardening needs allows them to live lives of choice. There are more than 6 million disabled people in the UK and 16% of the population is 65 years of age and over. Private gardens make up around 3% of England and Wales - approximately 1 million acres. Despite all this, the most commonly quoted reason that older people move into residential care is their inability to cope with their garden. When people do move, gardening activity reduces massively. The health benefits of gardening are well chronicled - even at Government level. The solutions to enable people to remain in their own homes include providing them with the information and support to manage their gardens. CarryonGardening is a scheme that harnesses the use of the Internet and allies it to practical support at the local level that results in improvements in life quality and well-being of many older and disabled people in the UK. | |
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