Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen

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Defining the concept of ‘green care’
In this section we will define what we mean by the general concept of green
care and explore how the ‘natural component’ fits within it and is essential
to it; how green care differs from employment and how it is linked with
models of psychotherapy.
3.1 Broad divisions of green care
There is a growing movement towards green care in many contexts, ranging
from social and therapeutic horticulture, animal assisted therapy, care
farming, facilitated green exercise interventions, ecotherapy, wilderness
therapy and others. Although there is much diversity under the broader
umbrella of ‘green care’, the common linking ethos is essentially to use
nature to produce health, social or educational benefits. Figure 3.1 (Hine et
al, 2008) briefly summarises the activities that fit under this umbrella. They
are described in more detail in Section 4 of this report.
Figure 3.1: the ‘green care umbrella’.
Under the ‘green care’ umbrella – the diversity of green care
Social and
Therapeutic
Horticulture
Animal
assisted
interventions
GREEN CARE
Care
Farming
Facilitated
green
exercise
as treatment
Range of different contexts, activities, health benefits,
clients, motivations and needs
Wilderness
therapy;
Nature
therapy
Ecotherapy
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