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.
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Chapters
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Nature writer Richard Mabey in his Norfolk Garden
Richard Mabey’s been called “Britain’s greatest living nature writer”. He speaks about the losing his connection with nature during the “lost years” of depression.
Duration: 08:00
Members of the Dagenham-based men’s 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 “green therapy” works?
Dr Rachel Bragg from the “Green Care Research Team” at the University of Essex describes the evidence base behind nature-based therapies.
Duration: 06:25
Broadcasts
- Tue 26 Jun 2012 21:00BBC Radio 4
- Wed 27 Jun 2012 15:30BBC Radio 4
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A quick and easy guide on how to cope with the things you worry about.
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All in the Mind
The show with the latest evidence on psychology, mental health and neuroscience.
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