Interviews to uplift , inspire and support wellbeing

The physical activity involved in gardening is known to be beneficial , but studies also reveal other benefits . Soil micro-organisms are now believed to boost serotonin , reduce inflammation and help with conditions such as diabetes and asthma . Gardening is also a great incentive to get outdoors , where people feel more relaxed and connected to the environment . Gardening with others has the additional benefit of creating a calm space for socialising , learning , sharing and therapeutic discussion . Together , these many benefits are known as horticultural therapy .

Julia Durbin , a horticultural therapist at the Eden Project in Cornwall . Julia and her colleague James run a gardening programme in the Vounder Garden for people with health-related problems . The programme begins with a five-session introduction to gardening skills , with a further 10 sessions being offered to those who would like to know more . People wishing to progress even further can undertake a 25-session Royal Horticultural Society ( RHS ) Level 1 Award in Practical Horticulture . Applications are open to anyone over 16 years old who is not in paid employment and is prevented from working by health-related circumstances – no green fingers or thumbs needed !

Photo © Eden Project 2023

How did you get into horticulture and horticultural therapy ?

I grew up in a council house in Cardiff and , at school , I had a great biology teacher who was very interested in plants . They inspired me to study biology at Lanchester Polytechnic ( now Coventry University ). It was a four-year sandwich degree and I spent my sandwich year at the Royal Botanic Gardens , Kew , in the chemical ecology unit looking at plant defence chemicals – the chemicals plants produce to stop insects eating them . I went on to the University of Nottingham to work with animals and was involved in a study on pain relief in labour , looking at whether it is possible to induce people ' s own natural opioids rather than giving them pethidine .

Following this , I took a break to travel and visit Australia . When I returned , I fell into working in radio , initially reading through government white papers and picking out key points for the presenter of the radio programme . I started at BBC Radio Wales , then worked at BBC Radio 4 in the science unit , making science and medicine programmes for BBC World Service . Eventually , I moved into middle management and project management , and ended my BBC career as the business executive for Radio 2 and 6 Music . It was fab ! I love live music and was able to go to lots of gigs .

It was at this point I realised how lucky I ' d been in my life and I wanted to give something back . At a Martin Simpson gig , I met the chief executive of a homeless charity , Providence Row , and ended up volunteering in its therapy garden on the roof of its hostel , which led to me completing an RHS Level 2 qualification in horticulture . It was at Providence Row that I met a wonderful woman , Julie Floyd , who is both a horticulturist and a horticultural therapist . She had created a space that was emotionally nurturing for homeless people but also physically productive , as the produce was used to create meals in the hostel kitchen . This proved to be a turning point for me , both personally and professionally .

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