A hospice has launched green-fingered therapy to help patients and their families.

Horticultural therapist Katie Gardner is now visiting ellenor in Northfleet hospice every week to pass on her gardening expertise.

The sessions are open to everyone – patients, families, the bereaved and members of the community.

Katie said: “Feeling at one with nature is relaxing and mindful. So, when you are feeling poorly, stressed or lonely, it is even more important to take some time out to tend to a plant or find out about the little creatures that inhabit our open spaces and the insects which help pollinate our flowers and fruit.”

The Green Shoots sessions suit all abilities and involve planting bulbs and seeds and taking cuttings, as well as activities like flower pressing.

Most of the activities will be indoors so that the class is accessible to all, but there will be some opportunity to explore the hospice garden.

Katie said: “In an ideal world, we would all be outside for large chunks of each day getting fresh air and communicating with the natural world around us. But modern life means this is seldom the norm for most people. And people who are unwell, elderly or caring for a loved one are even less likely to get out and about.

“That’s why it’s even more important to bring nature indoors, especially for people who have been keen gardeners or worked outdoors in the past, or maybe enjoyed long country walks.”

The benefits of horticultural therapy are becoming widely recognised and some doctors even now prescribe it for patients with milder forms of depression and minor health problems.

Katie said: “Horticultural therapy aims to improve both physical and mental wellbeing. Therapists like me help people get involved in gardening and the natural world as a way to boost their confidence. We introduce them to new skills and often teach them things they never knew.”

Katie has more than 10 years’ experience as a gardener, is RHS trained, and has completed a course with horticultural therapy charity Thrive.

She said: “I volunteered a few years ago with ellenor’s old Green Shoots gardening group, and then I went on to hold horticultural therapy classes at two residential homes for the elderly.

"Of course, the pandemic meant these sorts of sessions had to be abandoned, so I’m very happy that the restrictions have been lifted now and that ellenor’s head of wellbeing has been able to secure funding for such an important therapy."

Andrew Lowden, ellenor's operational wellbeing lead, said: "One of the things we’ve all missed in recent years is the great outdoors, and we’re really hoping that the Green Shoots group will allow us to get back in touch with nature again.

"Coming together and using gardening, plants and horticulture can really help people develop personally and socially, whilst also gaining confidence, independence and a sense of wellbeing. Or it’s just a great opportunity to get your hands dirty. Either way, we can guarantee it will be a lot of fun.”

The Green Shoots therapy sessions are held weekly from 1.30pm-2.45pm. There is no need to book, and the sessions are open to all.

If you have any plastic pots, small gardening tools or gloves, seeds, bulbs, gardening magazines or compost you would like to donate, please email andrew.lowden@ellenor.org