Thrive's popular guide, gardening for hearts & minds , is now being made more widely available to coincide with World Heart Day on Sunday 28 September 2008. It is currently distributed through NHS stroke and cardiac rehabilitation units in England but is now also available to the private healthcare sector and to a wider geographic area.
This new move follows the successful launch in May of this easy-to-use, self-management programme specifically designed to support the recovery and rehabilitation of people affected by heart disease or stroke.
Each gardening activity is based on doing just 30 minutes of physical exercise. Fully illustrated, it works step-by-step through progressive jobs such as seed sowing, potting-up or weeding – or even tending a window-box – to keep the heart healthy and to build up strength and mobility through gardening. Its benefits are listed as:
- keeping the heart healthy
- building up stamina and strength
- burning calories
- improving movement
- relaxing muscles
- providing a 'feel good' factor
The guide is also full of tips and techniques such as useful gardening equipment, a calendar of seasonal activities, space for notes and contacts for further information.
Through commissioned research Thrive has proved that gardening is beneficial to one's health and wellbeing. The guide draws on Thrive's 30 years of experience as well as an advisory group comprising representatives from the British Heart Foundation and the Stroke Association, and individuals managing heart disease. Its development has been supported by the Department of Health.
"We know that this user-friendly and innovative gardening activity guide can be a lifeline to people starting to rebuild their lives after heart disease or a stroke" says Nicola Carruthers, Chief Executive of Thrive. "Using an everyday activity like gardening to improve people’s health is a wonderful way to enhance wellbeing both physically and mentally".
Thrive's
gardening for hearts and minds guide is free to health professionals within NHS stroke and heart rehabilitation units across England or is available direct from Thrive for £8.99 (including postage and packing withing the UK).
Click here to order your copy. Click here to read Thrive's press release about gardening for hearts and minds.