Since the Russian invasion in early 2022, gardens have been serving as centers of respite, recovery, environmental education, and nature healing. As a model for international collaboration, BGCI is continuing to support the work of Partnerships for Nature in uniting gardens in Ukraine with the current focus on Therapeutic Horticulture. Utilising expertise in US gardens to assist the traumatised population of Ukraine, including veterans and refugee families, Partnerships for Nature have been conducting webinars together with North Carolina Botanical Garden.

Andriy Prokopiv, Director of Lviv University Botanical Garden explains in this short video.

Therapeutic Horticulture in Botanic Gardens – A Current Critical Need!

In order to be of maximum service in these difficult times, Ukrainian botanical gardens, with the support of Partnerships for Nature, are eager to develop programs in Therapeutic Horticulture (TH). In the US and Europe, TH (also known as Garden Therapy) is widely practiced in botanical gardens to relieve stress and promote psychological and physical healing. TH and related activities have been shown in many documented studies to be highly effective.

North Carolina Botanical Garden, a leading center of TH programs and training in the US, together with Partnerships for Nature, is providing expertise through webinars, online consultations, and guidance materials. But for this critical TH initiative to be successfully implemented, funding is needed by Ukrainian botanic gardens for in-person and online training, minor infrastructure improvements (such as making gardens accessible to those with disabilities), and increased staffing. A central goal is to “train the trainer” – developing experts in TH among Ukraine botanic garden staff who can then train others.

BGCI and Partnerships for Nature will liaise with partner organisations in Ukraine, including the Council of Botanical Gardens and Dendrological Parks of Ukraine, to disburse the funding in the best possible way. All donations go directly to our Ukraine botanical gardens partners, so that they can:

• create special healing spaces within their botanical gardens
• train their garden staff and volunteers to run healin programmes for the public
• buy gardening equipment for people of ALL abilities to engage in their therapeutic activities.