Growing health: integration of food growing into the National Health Service

There is a long tradition of therapeutic horticulture in occupational therapy practice in the UK. Gardening, and particularly food growing, provides a rich, sustainable and purposeful medium to achieve this. The health, wellbeing and social benefits of gardening, horticulture therapy and food growing are increasingly recognised, and reported in the literature.
Growing Health (www.growinghealth.info ) is a joint project between Garden Organic and Sustain funded by the Tudor Trust. It has created an active industry advisory board and network of healthcare professionals, academics and representatives of community growing initiatives. It is working to develop a comprehensive UK knowledge partnership to scope and support the potential of food growing as a viable option and a natural part of the health service.