Regardless of whether you work in the health sector or not, you are probably aware of how beneficial greenery is to our health. However, if you are in this industry, you might be looking for ways to create a space where people in your care could experience all of the perks that nature provides us with, such as reduced stress and improved concentration.

From creating a peaceful oasis for getting in touch with oneself and nature to providing an area where people can take up gardening, there are many approaches to garden therapy. It doesn’t matter if you are in charge of a spa center, wellness retreat or a rehabilitation facility, listed below are some ideas that can help you when coming up with a design that will work best for your space. Depending on the complexity of your plan, you could do it on your own or you might have to hire a professional to sketch an idea and bring it to life. Take a look.

1. Implement Gardening Areas

Seeing as to how horticultural therapy has become a widely accepted practice among rehabilitation experts, you should certainly consider designating one part of your outdoor space for gardening. Taking care of plants allows individuals to connect with nature, get some vitamin D and fresh air, work on their fitness and so much more. Therefore, you can have a garden where your patients can go and either learn new skills or work on regaining those they’ve lost.

While you can have a big garden where everyone can work together, having several smaller ones might be a better approach as then everyone will have their own plants to take care of. That will help them really connect with nature and what they are doing. Luckily, this doesn’t require a lot of effort and money – you can simply assign everyone a few pots or a garden bed and provide them with guidance when it comes to the plants that are best for your location.

2. Add Water Features

Another excellent idea you should think about is adding a water element to your garden space. Both still and running water have their benefits so try to find a way to incorporate several features. Moving water, with its sound and sight, can be very restorative while still water creates the perfect environment for meditation.

This can be achieved in so many ways. For one, you can add a pond where there will be fish and ducks, for example. Then, you can find a professional who can design and build a waterfall feature in your resort’s garden. Even though waterfalls come in all shapes and sizes nowadays, if you can’t find a way to include one, you can also consider several smaller fountains that can be installed in a few spots in the space.

3. Focus on the Entrance and Visitation Room

An aspect you cannot forget about is making your facility inviting. This is why you should also pay attention to what the entrance looks like and invest time and effort into making it appealing. In case someone is considering your health facility for their recovery and rehabilitation process, seeing a green space upon their arrival will surely make them feel more secure and relaxed.

Consult with commercial landscaping experts in your area to find the best approach to designing an entrance that will show potential patients how dedicated to their wellbeing you are.

Apart from the entrance, the visitation room should also provide your patients and their visitors with a safe and calm space. While this room can be a standard visiting area, you can also take a different approach. Consider creating little pathways through the garden where they can take a stroll and adding benches alongside the paths where they can sit and have a chat. Birds chirping, the lovely scent and colors of the flowers from the garden and the sound of water will all contribute to this tranquil vibe.

4. Create a Meditation Zone

Finally, if your facility is conceived as a retreat where people can escape their everyday worries and get to relax for a few days, you need to cater to those needs. For example, individuals may be looking for a quiet place where they can meditate and reach the state of Zen.

Other than implementing water features, you can look into what other elements are necessary for a Zen garden and add them as well. Furthermore, you should also provide them with comfortable seating options where they can sit and contemplate as well as with enough space if they would rather take up a relaxing activity such as yoga or tai chi.

The most important thing to keep in mind when coming up with a design for your garden is the needs of your clients. You need to find a way to meet their requirements, keep them safe and provide them with a unique and safe space. Think about the elements necessary in order to achieve this and plan with that in mind. Whether it’s water features, allowing them to take up gardening, creating a Zen zone or having an overall appealing vibe, these ideas can be your starting point.