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Landscape Gardens and Health Network is an online resource for anyone interested in the role of gardens and designed space for health.  It serves a broad network of people interested in the restorative benefits of nature.  All information is free.  Join now to receive regular updates about news and events.

About Us

The network is a UK initiative - we are a multidisciplinary community of gardeners, designers, landscape architects, sociologists, therapists and healthcare professionals. We are practitioners and academics who recognise the need to bring all those involved with the healing environment into closer dialogue.  Our aim is to provide a central forum for this to happen. We want to break down barriers and promote serious debate about the role of green space in healthcare interventions.

​This is a network
Can you help us do what we do - see our support page

History

Founders
The founding steering group includes Gursewak Aulakh, landscape architect, University of Plymouth, Angie Butterfield, garden historian​, Daryl Martin, sociologist, University of York, Zoe Millman, landscape researcher, Birmingham City University and Colin Porter, landscape designer. 

Beginnings
The Network held an initial ‘Stepping Stones’ Forum Meeting at North Devon Hospice, Barnstaple, Devon in May 2014. This was followed by a one day seminar in February 2015, entitled 'Nature and Wellbeing'.  It was held at the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre in Bristol where the five acre garden plays a central role in therapeutic and healing work. The event was hosted by Michael Connors, Director of Services at Penny Brohn and Colin Porter and attended by landscape architects, designers, gardeners, writers, researchers and health care professionals. Speakers included Kathryn Aalto, Jeremy Parker, Angie Butterfield, Juliet Sargeant, Stephen Pettet-Smith, Elizabeth Williamson and Sara Miller.

Constitution and management board
​We are an unincorporated association with a constitution and our current management board consists of Colin Porter.

​Our board will be reconstituted over the next few weeks whilst we are in a period of transition.

​Our back room team now includes : Dr Bryony Porter and Dr Cate Woods.
​Colin Porter is a gardener and landscape designer. He trained at Kew and was Head Gardener at RHS Rosemoor before setting up his own design and build business 15 years ago. He has worked with North Devon Hospice over the last 8 years to renew and develop their 6 acre garden. He was awarded Professional Gardener of the Year in 2009 for his work there and has recently completed a Master of Landscape Research degree at Plymouth University. His website link.

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