GARDENS


Landscapes for Health Healing Landscapes Enabling Gardens


Demonstration Gardens


Active Elder Gardens


Physical Therapy Gardens


Figure 4. Classification of gardens.14


appropriate environment where the user can perform various actions, such as resting during work breaks and de- stressing, encouraging a possible increase in production and quality of care. A common classification of gardens in


healthcare settings includes contemplative gardens, restorative gardens, healing gardens, and therapeutic gardens.13


All of them are designed with


the intention of contributing to the physical, mental, and spiritual recovery of people. However, this classification can lead to confusion because there are semantic nuances that are not sufficiently clarified when words such as ‘curative’ and ‘therapeutic’ are used. Another, more general classification14


based on how much activity or contemplation is encouraged in the gardens. First, we must distinguish between healing landscapes and healing gardens – the latter are designed for a specific purpose while the former are natural spaces with little or minimal human intervention. Healing gardens are divided into two


groups: enabling gardens and restorative gardens. Facilitative gardens are designed to be accessible, regardless of the type of disability. They are classified as demonstration gardens, eldercare gardens, and therapeutic gardens. The main purpose of a facilitative


garden is to educate the population and provide horticultural therapy programs. Eldercare gardens are designed for nursing homes, adult day care facilities and others that specialise in the elderly care; they must be highly accessible for activities such as gardening, walking, or staying. Therapeutic gardens should be designed to be part of physical treatment programmes or horticultural therapy. A restorative garden is a place for meditation, contemplation, or worship, where people can stay alone or in small groups for a while; they usually have water


IFHE DIGEST 2025


fountains, figures that recall meditation practices, paths, and gardens with simple figures and colours that contribute to relaxation. They can also be oriented to influence one or more senses, so that users can be given facilities to touch, smell, or look closely at the vegetation.


is


Healing gardens in urban environments One of the main challenges facing today’s cities around the world is promoting health among the population. One of the ways that has been most explored in recent years to contribute to the creation of healthy environments in cities is the incorporation and rehabilitation of green areas because contact with nature via urban gardening has several benefits, such as increasing life satisfaction, psychological wellbeing, social inclusión, and social cohesion.15 In cities, it is possible to find beautiful


outdoor spaces where man-made objects and natural elements coexist. These are often called ‘urban landscapes’. However, the accumulation of green spaces is not enough to create a healing garden; these places are designed with the intention of influencing the visitor in a positive way, so the careful choice of landscaping elements is essential. The aim is to create gardens where it is possible to enhance positive health effects linked to pleasant emotions, such as happiness or a sense of community, and to facilitate the expression of unpleasant emotions such as anger, loneliness or confusion. One point of interest for urban planners is that there is evidence of the importance of activities linked to the care and use of nature, such as urban gardening and horticulture, which can be used to treat mental illnesses, and are therefore considered ‘therapeutic landscapes and healing gardens’ therapies.16


Green spaces have a potential protective effect on mental health in adults


Eldercare Gardens


Dementia/ Memory Gardens


Horticultural Therapy Gardens


Therapeutic Gardens


Meditation Gardens


Labyrinth Gardens


Healing Gardens Restorative Gardens


Contemplation Gardens


Sanctuary/ Refuge Gardens


Hospice Gardens


Sensory Gardens


Figure 5. New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing. A place for families to honour and celebrate loved ones lost to gun violence.1


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