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Unveiling of London's Latest Sanctuary Garden

London's Battersea Park houses a center established by Thrive LDN, a mental health partnership between the city's mayor and London Health Board, formed in July 2017. This facility serves the city's most at-risk individuals, offering continued support. Thrive LDN's mission includes delivering...

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Fresh London Initiative: Unveiling the Sanctuary Garden
Fresh London Initiative: Unveiling the Sanctuary Garden

Unveiling of London's Latest Sanctuary Garden

In the heart of London, at Thrive's centre in Battersea Park, a unique and specially designed garden space has been created to provide a sanctuary for vulnerable individuals, particularly those living with dementia and mental health conditions. The Sanctuary Garden offers a sensory, therapeutic environment where participants can engage in gentle gardening activities alongside trained practitioners [1][2][3].

The garden's design caters to various sensory and mobility needs, promoting engagement with nature, which research from Thrive suggests can help delay the onset of dementia and slow its decline [2]. This is particularly beneficial for people with dementia, as flowers and foliage can aid memories [3].

The Sanctuary Garden is more than just a garden; it's a place where individuals can experience improvements in their well-being and mental health. Through therapeutic horticulture and time spent in a natural setting, visitors find solace and a sense of community [1][2][3].

The garden's accessibility and inclusivity are key to its success. It is designed to accommodate a wide range of needs, ensuring it is welcoming and usable by people with different abilities, thereby enhancing participation and social interaction [2].

The Sanctuary Garden project was funded by the Wolfson Foundation, The National Garden Scheme, and the Friends of Battersea Park. Ben Thomas, CEO of Thrive, stated that the Sanctuary Garden enables them to support more people in improving their health and wellbeing through spending time in nature, undertaking meaningful gardening activities, and joining a positive community [1][2].

Being around gardens has been found to help reduce stress and anxiety levels according to research [3]. Visitors to the Sanctuary Garden and Thrive programme participants can engage in activities such as planting new trees, flowers, and tending to existing vegetation.

Thrive LDN, a mental health partnership founded in July 2017 between the Mayor of London and London Health Board, provides respite for people living with various health conditions or disabilities, with a focus on those with dementia and their carers [4]. The Sanctuary Garden is a testament to their commitment to improving mental health and wellbeing in London.

In unrelated news, a housing proposal for Plymouth High Street has won the Davidson Prize [5]. As we continue to navigate these challenging times, initiatives like the Sanctuary Garden serve as a reminder of the power of community, nature, and support in promoting mental health and wellbeing.

References: [1] Thrive LDN. (2021). Thrive LDN. Retrieved from https://www.thriveldn.org/ [2] Thrive. (2021). The Sanctuary Garden. Retrieved from https://www.thrive.org.uk/our-work/projects/the-sanctuary-garden/ [3] Alzheimer's Society. (2020). The benefits of gardening for people with dementia. Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/activities-and-hobbies/gardening-and-dementia [4] Thrive LDN. (2021). About Thrive LDN. Retrieved from https://www.thriveldn.org/about-us/ [5] The Architects' Journal. (2021). Plymouth housing scheme wins Davidson Prize. Retrieved from https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/plymouth-housing-scheme-wins-davidson-prize/10017971.article

  1. The Sanctuary Garden in Battersea Park, designed by Thrive, offers a therapeutic environment that caters to various sensory and mobility needs, promoting engagement with nature, as claimed by research.
  2. This garden, unique in London, serves as a sanctuary for vulnerable individuals, particularly those living with dementia and mental health conditions, offering opportunities for gentle gardening activities with trained practitioners.
  3. Research from both Thrive and the Alzheimer's Society suggests that this engagement with nature, such as flower and foliage, can help delay the onset of dementia and slow its decline.
  4. The Sanctuary Garden isn't just a garden; it's a place where individuals can experience improvements in their well-being and mental health, find solace, and foster a sense of community.
  5. This garden's accessibility and inclusivity are key to its success, accommodating a wide range of needs to ensure it's welcoming and usable by people with different abilities, thereby enhancing participation and social interaction.
  6. Funded by the Wolfson Foundation, The National Garden Scheme, and the Friends of Battersea Park, the Sanctuary Garden enables Thrive to support more people in improving their health and wellbeing through gardening activities and joining a positive community.
  7. Initiatives like the Sanctuary Garden, focused on environmental-science, health-and-wellness, mental-health, and womens-health, serve as reminders of the power of nature, community, and support in promoting overall wellness, including fitness-and-exercise, skin-care, climate-change awareness, and even nutrition, especially in the face of aging.

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