甚麼是園藝治療？What is Horticultural Therapy?

園藝治療，是一種輔助治療專業，旨在通過園藝活動，發揮植物的療癒力量，為各類有需要人士帶來身心效益。園藝治療早於四、五十年代於美國的復康治療中應用，近代則在歐美、亞洲多個地方流行起來。目前園藝治療主要應用在教育、社區、復康、醫療等範疇，治療過程透過讓服務對象接觸和運用園藝材料，從而達到預期的治療目標。

​

Horticultural therapy is an adjuvant therapy, which aims at engaging a person in gardening and plant-based activities to achieve therapeutic goals based on individual needs. Horticultural Therapy was adopted in the discipline of rehabilitation in America in the early 40s and 50s.  It is widely practised in many places in Europe, Asia and Hong Kong . Nowadays, horticultural therapy is mainly applied in education, community, rehabilitation and medical disciplines. Throughout the therapeutic process, horticultural therapist offers various planting materials to participants so as to achieve the desired treatment goals.

​

園藝治療與一般園藝活動之分別－以人為本 VS 以植物為本
Difference between Horticultural Activity and Horticultural Therapy - Human-based VS Plant-based

 

一般園藝活動如種花、耕作，主要都是以植物的需要為重心，例如教授植物的知識、按它們的需要和特性教導參加者照顧技巧（包括何時播種、澆水或施肥等）。但園藝治療是以人的需要為本，不只著重於植物本身的品質或產量，而是著重人的健康和福祉效益（Well-beings）。園藝治療活動按參加者需要設計，透過與植物和大自然的接觸，參加者能夠在不同範疇有所改善，如個人興趣的培養、邏輯意識、社交技巧、情緒舒緩、肢體運動。

​

General horticultural activities such as planting and farming is Plant-based.  They mainly focus on the needs of plants, for example knowledge of plants, skills of maintenance (i.e. seeding, watering and fertilizing). Conversely, horticultural therapy is Human-based.  It primarily targets the needs of people (i.e. health and well-being) rather than just the quality or yield of plants. Horticultural therapist designs tailor-made activities based on the needs of participants. With the exposure to the natural environment and plants, participants would be able to improve themselves in various areas.  For instance, developing an interest in plants, relieving stress and improving social and logical thinking skills. 

 

園藝治療服務對象

園藝治療一般由園藝治療師帶領或督導，為有需要人士提供服務，認知障礙症患者、智力障礙人士、精神病康復者、情緒減壓人士、有特殊學習需要的學生等都是園藝治療的服務對象。

 

Service Target of Horticultural Therapy

Horticultural therapy is usually facilitated or supervised by a horticultural therapist to provide services to people in need. For example, the elderly with dementia, mentally-challenged individuals, mental illness patients, students with special needs, etc.

 

活動內容及成效評估 Programme Contents and Outcome Evaluation

園藝治療師會在活動前先掌握服務對象的需要，再按他們的需要訂立活動目標、設計的活動計劃，一般會進行連續性的小組活動。過程中，治療師亦會通過適合的方法（如自評問卷）去評估活動的效益。

A Horticultural therapist will understand the needs of service users before the programme. He / She will set goals and design continuous activities based on the needs of users. Different evaluation methods (e.g. Self-evaluation) will be adopted in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme.

​

具體活動方面，園藝治療小組中會進行不同的園藝活動，例如是種植盆栽、花藝設計、耕作、庭園設計等等。當中會應用的植物和工具也相當廣泛，例如是種植不同的時花、香草、蔬果或觀葉植物，園藝治療師會按參加者的需要選用不同的工具，如高架式花床或改良式工具（Adaptive Tools）。園藝治療活動內容也不局限於種植，非種植活動如收集種子、植物手工藝、田園烹飪、景觀攝影、原產品製作等也園藝治療中常用的手法。

​

For concrete contents in horticultural therapy, various kinds of planting and related activities will be used, for example, pot planting, florio design, farming, landscape design, etc. Species of plants (such as flower, herbs, fruits) and equipment adopted in the sessions based on the needs of the participants. Adaptive tools and elevated planting beds are widely used in horticultural therapy to enable the elderly and special needs users to participate. Horticultural therapy is not limited to planting, non-planting activities such as seed collection, nature crafts, wild cooking, landscape photography are common activities in this therapy.

​

園藝治療的效益 Effectiveness and Outcome of Horticultural Therapy
 

1. 認知方面 Cognitive

－改善專注及集中力 

   Improve concentration and attention

－訓練記憶、感知系統、邏輯及抽象思維 

  Improve memorization, sensory system, logic and abstract ability

－學習種植的知識和技巧

   Learn skills and knowledge of planting

－訓練聆聽和執行能力

   Train one’s listening and executive ability

 

2. 社交方面 Social

－在自然輕鬆環境下與他人交流的平台

   Interact with others in a relax environment

－改善溝通及與他人相處的技巧

   Improve communication skills

－擴闊社交圈子及凝聚社區資本

   Enhance social network and build social cohesion

   Provide beneficial social interaction

 

3. 心理方面 Psychological

－ 提升自我效能感

    Enhance Self-efficacy

－ 舒緩壓力

    Relieve stress

－ 提升抵抗逆境能力

    Improve the resistance to adversity

－ 反思人生哲理

    Rethink one’s life philosophy or introspect about one’s life goals

​

4. 生理方面 Biological

－進行不同程度的運動

    To expose participants to different levels of exercise

－提升戶外活動的動機及接觸大自然的機會

    To provide opportunities for outdoor activities and natural environment  

－ 改善身體機能

    To Improve body function

 

緣木花園休閒農莊的園藝治療團隊由ACP認證園藝治療師及註冊社工組成，農莊以園藝治療中的「療癒庭園」(Healing Garden) 為設計原則，當中包括刺激五感（視覺、嗅覺、觸覺、聽覺、味覺）的區域，旨在令參加者可以在大自然的環境下進行園藝治療的活動。如你希望索取更多相關資訊，請即聯絡我們！
 

The Horticultural Therapy Team of A Piece of Wood Leisure Farm is formed by ACP registered horticultural therapists and registered social worker. The concept of “Healing Garden” is adopted to the design of the farm which included five senses stimulation areas. Our farm also aims at providing a natural environment for conducting horticultural activities.  Feel free to contact us for more details.

​

活動形式 Forms of activities:

一次性體驗活動、每星期小組（較常為4-8節）

One-off experiential activity, weekly-based group activity (Usually 4-8 sessions)