Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of gardening and horticulture for people's (a) physical and (b) mental welfare.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has developed a natural environment and health programme, following an evidence review of the health effects of access to greenspace published by Public Health England in 2020, which is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904439/Improving_access_to_greenspace_2020_review.pdf

The review found evidence that exposure to greenspaces, including through gardening and horticulture, can promote and protect good health, aid in recovery from illness and in managing poor mental and physical health.