Main content

26/06/2012

Being outside in nature has long been thought to help mental distress. Claudia Hammond examines the evidence that being in the great outdoors really does promote mental well-being.

Richard Mabey

The man described as "Britain's greatest living nature writer", Richard Mabey, talks to Claudia Hammond about "the lost years" of his depressive illness. The author of Food for Free, Flora Britannica and Nature Cure admits that a symptom of his clinical depression was that he lost his connection with the natural world.

Allotment "Young at Heart"

The Young at Heart Project in Barking and Dagenham works to improve the mental and physical health of socially isolated men by bringing them together for regular growing sessions down at the allotment.

Ecotherapy

Mental health professionals join Andy McGeeney in ancient woodland, Thorndon Park, in Essex, to learn about ecotherapy.

Lisa on Horticultural Therapy

After many years of illness, Lisa, a former mental health nurse, tells Claudia about the part making a garden played in her recovery.

"Green Therapy": the evidence

Dr Rachel Bragg from the "Green Care Research Team" at the University of Essex describes the evidence behind nature-based therapies and argues they should be part of a "toolkit" of care for patients.

Producer: Fiona Hill.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 27 Jun 2012 15:30

Chapters

  • Nature writer Richard Mabey in his Norfolk Garden

    Richard Mabey鈥檚 been called 鈥淏ritain鈥檚 greatest living nature writer鈥. He speaks about the losing his connection with nature during the 鈥渓ost years鈥 of depression.

    Duration: 08:00

  • Members of the Dagenham-based men鈥檚 allotment group, Young At Heart

    The Young at Heart Project works to improve the mental and physical health of socially isolated men by bringing them together for regular growing sessions down at the allotment.

    Duration: 03:55

  • An Ecotherapy workshop in Thorndon Park with ecotherapist, Andy McGeeney

    Mental health professionals join Andy McGeeney in ancient woodland, Thorndon Park, in Essex, to learn about ecotherapy.

    Duration: 06:16

  • Lisa on Horticultural Therapy

    After many years of illness, Lisa, a former mental health nurse, tells Claudia about the part making a garden played in her recovery.

    Duration: 03:02

  • Does the evidence exist to prove 鈥済reen therapy鈥 works?

    Dr Rachel Bragg from the 鈥淕reen Care Research Team鈥 at the University of Essex describes the evidence base behind nature-based therapies.

    Duration: 06:25

Broadcasts

  • Tue 26 Jun 2012 21:00
  • Wed 27 Jun 2012 15:30

The All in the Mind Awards 2025

The All in the Mind Awards 2025

Find full details and how to submit nominations for the Awards.

How to Manage Your Worries

How to Manage Your Worries

A quick and easy guide on how to cope with the things you worry about.

Podcast