Abstract
This chapter presents the findings from an evaluation of the Master Gardener Programme, a horticultural intervention with substance-misusing men in prison, undertaken by an inter-disciplinary research team from Coventry University. The Master Gardener Programme, led by Garden Organic, ‘the UK’s leading organic charity’, was initially launched nationally as a pilot community programme in 2010. The extension of the programme from a community to a prison setting was in recognition of research evidence (national and international) that showed a range of positive outcomes associated with the role of horticulture in supporting physical, emotional, behavioural and social wellbeing. Here, we focus on the impact of the programme on health and well-being and reflect on gardening as an embodied practice and the garden as a space that promotes humanisation and self-worth, community and a connection to nature.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
- 2.
Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Through care worker.
- 3.
82,683 21st June 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-population-figures-2019.
- 4.
Ministry of Justice (2012) Estimating the prevalence of disability amongst prisoners: results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) survey, London: Ministry of Justice.
- 5.
Ministry of Justice (2013) Gender differences in substance misuse and mental health amongst prisoners, London: Ministry of Justice.
- 6.
Wiles, N., et al. (2006) Self-reported psychotic symptoms in the general population, The British Journal of Psychiatry, 188: 519–526.
- 7.
Ministry of Justice (2013) Gender differences in substance misuse and mental health amongst prisoners, London: Ministry of Justice.
- 8.
Pratt, D. Piper, M, Appleby, L. Webb, R. Shaw, J. Suicide in recently released prisoners: a population-based cohort study, The Lancet—Vol. 368, Issue 9530, 8 July 2006.
- 9.
Ministry of Justice (2013) Gender differences in substance misuse and mental health amongst prisoners, Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal cohort study of prisoners, London: Ministry of Justice.
- 10.
Ibid.
- 11.
The remaining P2 participants identified as Irish (21%), Indian (7%), Gypsy or Irish Traveller (7%), and White and Black Caribbean (7%).
- 12.
Participant in Phase 1 (P1); Participant in Phase 2 (P2).
- 13.
As part of the MG programme, participants also get additional access to the gym.
References
Adevi, A., & Martensson, F. (2013). Stress rehabilitation through garden therapy: The garden as a place in the recovery from stress. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 12(2), 230–237.
Brandt-Meyer, E., & Butler, S. (1999). Food for people not for profit: Meanings of a farm project for homeless and very poor participants. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 10(1), 53–66.
Davies, G., Devereaux, M., Lennartsson, M., Schmutz, U., & Williams, S. (2014). The benefits of gardening and growing food for health and wellbeing. Garden Organic and Sustain, UK.
Diener, G., Devereaux, M., Lennartsson, M., Schmutz, U., & Williams, S. (2014). The benefits of gardening and growing food for health and well-being. Garden Organic and Sustain UK.
Fontaine, J. (2017). Horticulture as therapy in Toronto: Unearthing healing and wellness. Canada: School of Social Work, York University.
Grabbe, L., Ball, J., & Goldstein, A. (2015). Gardening for the mental well-being of homeless women. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 31(4), 258–266.
Grimshaw, R., & King, J. (2002). Horticulture in Secure Settings. Thrive: Reading.
Haller, R. (1998). Vocational, social, and therapeutic programs. In S. Simson & M. Strauss (Eds.), Horticulture as therapy: Principles and practice (pp. 43–68). New York: Food Products Press.
Harris, N., Minniss, F. R., & Somerset, S. (2014). Refugees connecting with a new country through community food gardening. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(9), 9202–9216.
Hefley, D. (1973). Horticulture: A therapeutic tool. Journal of Rehabilitation, 39(1), 27–29.
HMP Rye Hill. (2014). About Rye Hill (online). Available from https://hmpryehill.co.uk/aboutrh_main.htm
Kam and Sui. (2010). Evaluation of a horticultural activity programme for persons with psychiatric illness. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 20(2), 80–86.
Knight, A., & McNaught, A. (Eds). (2011). Understanding wellbeing: An introduction for students and practitioners of health and social care. Lantern Publishing.
Lehmann, L., Detweiler, J., & Detweiler, M. (2018). Veterans in substance abuse treatment program self-initiate box gardening as a stress reducing therapeutic modality. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 36, 50–53.
Millet, P. (2009). Integrating horticulture into the vocational rehabilitation process of individuals with fatigue, chronic fatigue, and burnout: A theoretical model. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 19, 10–22.
Ministry of Justice, National Health Service and Department of Health. (2011). Funding for 2011/12 substance misuse services in prisons. Polmoski, R.F, Johnson, K. M., Anderson, J. C, (1997) Prison.
O’Hagan, A., & Hardwick, R. (2017). Behind bars: The truth about drugs in prisons. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 5(3), 00158. https://doi.org/10.15406/frcij.2017.05.00158.
Pearce, C., & Seals, L. (2006). The Importance of Gardening for Homeless Women: A pilot Study. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 17, 20–27.
Pretty, J., Barton, J., Colbeck, I., Hine, R., Mourato, S., MacKerron, G., & Wood, C. (2011). The UK National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report Chapter 23: Health Values from Ecosystems. In: The UK National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report. UK National Ecosystem Assessment. UNEPWCMC, Cambridge in.
Rappe, E., Kajander, H., Vesamäki, J., & Malinen, A. (2016). Horticulture in rehabilitation of inmates. Acta Horticulturae, 1121, 19–26.
Riordan, R. (1983). Gardening as a rehabilitation adjunct. Journal of Rehabilitation, 49(4), 39–41.
Sempik, J., Rickhuss, C., & Beeston, A. (2014). The effects of social and therapeutic horticulture on aspects of social behaviour. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77, 313–319.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. M. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Sage Publications,
Sturge, G. (2018). UK prison population statistics. House of Commons Library.
Wheatley, M. (2016). Drug misuse in prisons. In Y. Jewkes, J. Bennett, & B. Crewe (Eds.), Handbook on prisons (pp. 205–223). Oxford: Routledge.
York, M., & Wiseman, T. (2012). Gardening as an occupation: A critical review. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2), 76–84.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brown, G., Bos, E., Brady, G. (2021). Building Health and Wellbeing in Prison: Learning from the Master Gardener Programme in a Midlands Prison. In: Maycock, M., Meek, R., Woodall, J. (eds) Issues and Innovations in Prison Health Research. Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46401-1_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46401-1_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-46400-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-46401-1
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)