VanDusen Botanical Garden is providing passes to visit their 55-acre garden to organizations that support vulnerable communities. Passes provided to Covenant House Vancouver (CHV) will be given to youth in care, to provide them with a space to heal and benefit from everything nature has to offer.
VanDusen staff found that people would often visit when they were recovering from a physical illness, when they were grieving, and when they wanted to boost their well-being. There are many studies that attest to the fact that time outdoors and time in green spaces[1] is good for mental health. When people access these spaces[2]:
- Mortality is reduced
- Obesity is reduced
- Symptoms of mental illness, including depression and anxiety are improved
- Feelings of stress are reduced
- Social cohesion is improved
When CHV Staff visited the garden, they met with Milo Dron, VanDusen’s Director of Philanthropy, to get a sense of the project and immediately experienced the benefits of being outdoors. Stretching their legs, taking in the fresh air, exploring the wonderful vistas, and learning about the incredible plants and programs at VanDusen made a powerful impact.
“We just want [youth] to have a chance to engage in the green space in a way that’s meaningful to them. If they just want to come here to spend time with friends in a nice outdoor space, that’s fine. We want to give them the opportunity to experience this beautiful space, when they’re going through, what’s got to be one of the toughest times in their lives, and we believe that this space will help them. It’s giving them a quiet space where they can reflect and heal.”
–Milo Dron, Director of Philanthropy, VanDusen Gardens
Milo went on to explain that although there has been research around mental health and green spaces, VanDusen wanted to explore this further with different demographics and local community groups.
They also hope that the information from this inaugural year will inform more programs for people to connect with nature. At CHV, we are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to the youth we serve. It’s a great way for youth to reflect, relax, and engage with nature, and each other.
Thank you, VanDusen Botanical Garden, for supporting vulnerable youth in the community!
[1] A green space is an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes in an otherwise urban environment.
[2] You can find more information and links to the studies on the Government of Canada website.