Who can participate?
You can sign up if you are seeking support with mild to moderate anxiety or depression. You might have been referred by your GP or community connector, or may have learned about the study through social media.
We have some specific criteria for who can take part in this programme.
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After you sign up, there will be a short wait before the programme begins while we set up each group. Some groups may need to wait a few months before taking part in the activities, depending on your group allocation.
We are using a separate website to manage the sign-up process, which will launch in a new window.
Are you ready to take part?
If you’re not using a smartphone and would like to sign up on your phone, scan this QR code.
What’s involved?
The sessions are delivered on a week day. You will spend 3 to 4 hours at one of our partner sites, each week, for six weeks.
Before, during, and after completing this programme, we will ask you to answer several questions about your mental health, behaviours, use of health services, and time spent in nature outside of the programme. This will use an online form, and take 30–45 minutes each time. We can help you complete this form if you would like support.
You will also be invited to attend an optional focus group with several other participants from your site. We’d like to know how you felt about the experience, how the programme was delivered, and any challenges you faced.
This will take about an hour, and can be in-person at the site you attended, or online if more convenient. The discussion will be audio recorded by our researchers, but everything you say will be anonymised.
Have a question?
You can call our research fellow Katie Gibbs on 07984 647 186 Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:30 or email any time on greengage@exeter.ac.uk.
Potential risks
So bad weather is possible, and using gardening tools may carry a small risk of minor injury.
Answering questions about your mental health might also feel distressing, but you can stop at any time.
There are no major risks to taking part, but most activities are outdoors.
How we will use your data
We will only use information that we need for this research study.
Everyone involved in this study will follow all privacy rules, and keep your data safe and secure.
We will make sure no-one can work out who you are from the reports we write. At the end of the study, we will save some of the data in case we need to check it, or use it for future research.
You can withdraw from the study at any time, without giving a reason. We will not store your data if you would like to leave.
Downloads
You can download both the short study sheet and the full participant information sheet below.
