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Therapeutic gardens and therapeutic horticulture programmes

Learn more about these healing green spaces dedicated to improving your health and well-being.

In an evidence-based research study conducted by NParks in collaboration with research partners, we found that urban nature contributes positively to a person's health and overall well-being. 

Another study found that there were positive neuro-psychophysiological benefits from passive exposure to a therapeutic garden for the mental health of individuals with clinically concerning depressive disorders.

Both research studies provide scientific support for our City in Nature programme through the formulation of science-based urban nature planning, management, and design in Singapore as seen in the development of therapeutic gardens in our parks and our therapeutic horticulture programmes.

These research studies have been published in international peer-reviewed journals and are also among the first few studies in the world that demonstrate the impact of gardening on mental resilience and the relative importance of different types of urban nature during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About our therapeutic horticulture programmes

Therapeutic horticulture programmes maximise the features of a therapeutic garden through the use of plants and nature-related activities. They are conducted by trained persons for senior citizen groups or people with dementia and other special needs.

These programmes have been specially designed to:

  • Promote low-intensity exercise and improve motor skills.
  • Stimulate memory.
  • Encourage positive social interactions and connection with nature.
  • Promote mindfulness.

About the programmes' activities

The programmes include the following activities:

Plant propagation is the process of growing new plants from seeds, cuttings, bulbs, or other plant parts.

This activity helps to stimulate memory, promote fine motor skills, and encourage positive social interactions.

This activity involves selecting a mix of scented herbs to make a scent bag for the home.

It promotes medium and low-intensity exercise, improves fine motor skills and encourages positive social and environmental connections.

This activity involves painting flowers and leaves and making a print of them on paper to create personalised art pieces.

It promotes medium and low-intensity exercise, improves fine motor skills and stimulates memory and environmental connection.

This activity involves the basics of plant maintenance, such as weeding, pruning and watering of the plants within the therapeutic garden.

It helps to promote medium and low-intensity exercise, encourages positive social and environmental connection and improves fine motor skills.

This activity involves participants growing their own sprouts from vegetable seeds and consuming them after a few days. The sprouts have high nutritional value, require low maintenance and do not require much sunlight.

It helps to promote medium and low-intensity exercise, promotes mindfulness and stimulates memory.

This activity involves creating different card designs by pasting leaves on paper.

it promotes medium and low-intensity exercise, improves fine motor skills and stimulates memory.

Therapeutic Horticulture Programmes for Public

We have more than 20 free therapeutic horticulture programmes that you can sign up at six therapeutic gardens from December 2024 to May 2025. Registration via Health Promotion Board's The Healthy 365 app will open from early December 2024. Stay tuned to this page for more updates.

 

Upcoming sessions:

S/NDateLocation
110 Dec 24Sembawang Park
212 Dec 24Pasir Ris Park
321 Dec 24HortPark
47 Jan 25Yishun Pond Park
513 Jan 25West Coast Park
 615 Jan 25 HortPark
 7 16 Jan 25Pasir Ris Park
 810 Feb 25 West Coast Park 
 913 Feb 25 Pasir Ris Park 
 1015 Feb 25 HortPark 
 11 18 Feb 25 Choa Chu Kang Park

 

How to register

If you are representing a healthcare or community care facility and wish for those in your care to join a therapeutic horticulture programme, you may submit the application form to register your interest at least 1 month in advance.

Note: Only group bookings for 5-10 participants are accepted, excluding accompanying staff or caregivers.

The parks below offer therapeutic horticulture programmes. Refer to the following for more information on the respective schedules for 2024:

  • 23 Jul
  • 21 Aug
  • 18 Sep
  • 16 Oct
  • 20 Nov

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Bedok Reservoir Park.

  • 10 Sep
  • 8 Oct
  • 12 Nov
  • 10 Dec

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

  • 25 Jul
  • 28 Aug
  • 19 Sep
  • 24 Oct
  • 14 Nov
  • 26 Dec

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Choa Chu Kang Park.

  • 19 Jul
  • 18 Aug
  • 20 Sep
  • 18 Oct
  • 15 Nov
  • 20 Dec

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at East Coast Park.


  • 8 Jul
  • 27 Jul
  • 12 Aug
  • 24 Aug
  • 9 Sep
  • 28 Sep
  • 14 Oct
  • 26 Oct
  • 11 Nov
  • 23 Nov
  • 9 Dec
  • 28 Dec

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at HortPark.


  • 17 Jul
  • 13 Aug
  • 10 Sep
  • 8 Oct
  • 12 Nov

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Pasir Ris Park.

  • 18 Jul
  • 14 Aug
  • 13 Nov

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Punggol Waterway Park.


  • 22 Aug
  • 3 Oct

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Sembawang Park.

  • 22 Aug
  • 19 Sep
  • 17 Oct
  • 21 Nov

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Sun Plaza Park.

  • 15 Aug
  • 19 Sep
  • 17 Oct
  • 21 Nov

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Telok Blangah Hill Park.



  • 18 Jul
  • 15 Aug
  • 19 Sep
  • 17 Oct
  • 14 Nov
  • 12 Dec

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Tiong Bahru Park.

  • 28 Nov
  • 12 Dec

Find out more about Woodlands Healing Garden.

  • 25 Jul
  • 19 Sep

Find out more about the therapeutic garden at Yishun Pond Park.

Therapeutic horticulture workshops and courses

We conduct therapeutic horticulture training workshops for staff and volunteers of healthcare and community care facilities to assist them in incorporating therapeutic horticulture programmes in their centres or organisations.

If you are interested in starting a therapeutic horticulture programme in your centre or neighbourhood, you may submit your details and we will be in touch with you.

You may also view the following videos for therapeutic horticulture activities that you can easily follow and incorporate into your organisation:

Learn how to decorate and make a beautiful seed mandala using different kinds of seeds, spices, and other craft materials.

Learn how to make a wind chime with seashells, which can be hung by the window or as a wall decoration.

Learn how you can add interest to the garden by decorating rocks and pebbles.

Find out how you can decorate your very own plant pot using art and craft materials in this video.

Learn about how you can propagate plants while promoting fine motor skills, mindfulness and creative expression.

Have fun making art pieces by using leaf and flower prints to promote fine motor skills, creative expression, and social connection.

Find out how you can decorate your very own plant pot using art and craft materials.

Alternatively, you may visit the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) website to find out more about therapeutic horticulture workshops and courses that cater to the needs and interests of a wide variety of professionals including caregivers, healthcare practitioners, landscape designers and landscape industry professionals.