Garden Displays Ltd

Although still an emerging field, a growing body of international scientific research clearly shows that regular exposure to green, natural environments benefits both our mental and physical health.

Much of this research is based on objective physiological measurements — such as heart rate, skin conductance (linked to stress and anxiety), body temperature and hormone levels — rather than subjective questionnaires. This allows researchers to draw reliable conclusions across cultures, ages and lifestyles.

While further research is ongoing, the evidence consistently indicates that we function better, feel calmer and enjoy improved health in green environments compared with hard, grey, urban settings.

From improving our own gardens to spending time in parks, woodlands and coastal landscapes, most of us can enhance our wellbeing through relatively small changes in how we interact with nature.

 
Nature, Health & Scientific Evidence
Much of the understanding summarised here is drawn from Good Nature (2024) by Professor Kathy Willis, Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Oxford.
The book provides accessible insights into peer-reviewed research exploring how biodiversity supports human health. For those wishing to explore the science in greater depth, it includes links to the original studies.

 
Our Biological Connection with Nature
From an ecological and evolutionary perspective, all life — biological and non-biological — is interconnected and interdependent. Increasingly, scientific studies confirm that our senses actively benefit from exposure to diverse, uncontaminated green environments, whether in our own gardens or wider landscapes such as parks, woodlands and coastlines.

By “uncontaminated,” we refer to environments with reduced exposure to pollutants such as:

• Herbicides and pesticides
• Vehicle exhaust emissions
• Industrial air and soil contamination
  These substances can enter the body through what we touch, inhale and consume, potentially disrupting metabolic processes and long-term health.

 
Plants, Food & Chemical Exposure
The nutritional and health benefits of fruits and vegetables are well established. However, conventionally grown produce may contain low-level residues of pesticides and herbicides. While generally considered safe within regulatory limits, a safer option is growing your own food or purchasing certified organic produce where possible.

Gardens designed with ecological principles reduce chemical inputs and provide cleaner air, healthier soil and safer spaces for both wildlife and people.

 
The Power of Sight, Sound & Touch
The visual presence of greenery — leaves, stems, flowers and seasonal change — has been shown to support reduced stress, improved mood and enhanced cognitive function. This is why sensory gardens, therapeutic landscapes and community gardens are so effective.

Beyond sight, sound plays a powerful role. The rustle of foliage, birdsong and the hum of insects are associated with calm, happiness and emotional restoration (unless, of course, you are particularly wary of buzzing pollinators).

Touch also matters. Contact with soil, plants and natural materials contributes to sensory engagement and microbial exchange, supporting immune health.

 
Scent, Forest Bathing & Physiological Effects
Our enjoyment of fragrance — evident in perfumes, soaps and scented products — reflects a deeper biological response. Recent scientific studies show that plant-derived scents do more than simply smell pleasant.

When inhaled, aromatic compounds enter the lungs, pass into the bloodstream and interact with biochemical pathways in ways similar to certain medications.

Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku)
Research into pine and conifer forests has revealed that volatile organic compounds known as pinenes — released naturally by trees — are linked to:

• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced stress hormones
• Improved cardiovascular function
• Enhanced immune response
  This research underpins the practice of forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku), originating in Japan and now widely practised in the UK. Slow, mindful immersion in woodland environments has been clinically shown to promote calm, relaxation and wellbeing.

 
Conifers, Immunity & Garden Design
Studies involving conifers such as pine, cypress and juniper indicate additional benefits. These species emit compounds known as sesquiterpenoids, which have been shown to increase levels of lymphocytes (white blood cells).

Lymphocytes play a key role in immune defence, including the destruction of virus-infected and abnormal cells. While research continues, introducing selected conifers into gardens may contribute positively to immune resilience — another reason to consider them in wildlife-friendly planting schemes.

 
Herbs, Traditional Plants & Wellbeing
Many familiar garden plants are associated with recognised health benefits:

Lavender, rosemary and mint are linked to relaxation, focus and mood improvement
Roses are valued for both fragrance and emotional wellbeing
Even plants such as nettles, though irritating to touch, have long been used medicinally. Nettle tea, for example, has been associated with reduced inflammation, allergy relief, mineral intake and antioxidant support — though best regarded as a supportive supplement rather than a cure.

 
Soil, Microbes & Immune Health
A landmark Finnish study (2020) examined kindergarten children playing in green, planted environments compared to those using artificial surfaces such as plastic, concrete and rubber.

The findings were striking:

• Children exposed to soil and plants showed a significant increase in beneficial skin and gut microbes
• Harmful microbes were reduced
• Blood markers associated with immune regulation improved
• Results indicated reduced long-term risk factors linked to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
• The soil and plant microbiome closely resembles the microbiome of a healthy human gut. Exposure occurs through touch, air, smell and contact with vegetation — reinforcing the importance of biodiverse green spaces.

 
Biodiversity, Microbial Diversity & Human Health
Global biodiversity loss is usually discussed in terms of declining plants, animals and pollinators. Increasingly, attention is turning to the fungal and microbial kingdoms, which underpin all life.

The average human body contains an estimated 100 trillion microbes. A loss of environmental biodiversity leads to reduced microbial diversity — including within us — increasing susceptibility to allergies and autoimmune conditions.

Microbial biodiversity exists:

On plant surfaces and roots
Within soil ecosystems
In the air
On and within humans and animals
The greater the diversity of plants in our gardens and landscapes, the richer the microbial exposure — and the more resilient our own microbiomes become.

 
Why Biodiverse Gardens Matter
Replacing gardens with gravel, artificial lawns and hard surfaces may reduce maintenance, but it also removes:

Biodiversity
Microbial richness
Sensory engagement
Health and wellbeing benefits
By embracing plant diversity and ecological gardening, we support wildlife, strengthen our immune systems and reconnect with the rhythms of nature.

Ultimately, biodiverse gardens offer more than beauty — they support mindfulness, physical health, emotional resilience and long-term quality of life.