Mental health and wellbeing of unpaid carers through social and therapeutic horticulture
By Fi Brown, 13 November 2025
Fellow's Profile
Fi Brown
Fellow's Profile
Fi Brown
Therapeutic Horticulture for Unpaid Carers
Fellowship
- Themes
- Focus
-
Helping unpaid carers with their mental health using social and therapeutic horticulture
- Countries
- Fellowship year
-
2024
- Locality
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Scotland
Biography
I currently work on a freelance basis as a social and therapeutic horticulturist and as a caring service co-ordinator for a charity. The topic of my Fellowship is unpaid carer mental health and wellbeing, with a focus on those that cannot leave their cared for. I will use a social and therapeutic horticulture approach, based on a group befriending model.
As a former carer who works with current carers, I see the impact this can have on their mental health and wellbeing. This area is often neglected in favour of the health and wellbeing of those being cared for. Part of my role in caring services is managing a befriending project specifically for unpaid carers, so I regularly gain feedback on the benefits this can bring in terms of loneliness and isolation. I also work in social and therapeutic horticulture and see how this improves the lives of participants. I am passionate about using my love of nature to support the health and wellbeing of others.
Through my Fellowship I hope to improve not just knowledge of carer mental health and wellbeing, alongside the recognition of social and therapeutic horticulture, but how together they can bring about positive and lasting changes.
Ideas
Activity
‘The Right to a Break’?
Drawing on her own experience of caring for her mum, and her work alongside unpaid carers every day, Fi Brown reflects on the “mental load” of caring – and what it means to protect carers’ mental health before crisis point is reached. With Scotland’s ‘Right to a Break’ marking a significant shift in care reform, she explores why a legal right must translate into breaks that are genuinely meaningful and restorative, with prevention at their core.
By Fi Brown, 20 February 2026
February 2026 Fellows' update: Fi Brown
Dr Fi Brown (CF 2024) recently delivered a webinar for the Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.
By Fi Brown, 5 February 2026
February 2026 Fellows' update: Fi Brown
Dr Fi Brown (CF 2024) has been appointed as chair of Transition Edinburgh South following a period of having been the organisation's shadow chair.
By Fi Brown, 5 February 2026
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Ideas
Mental health and wellbeing of unpaid carers through social and therapeutic horticulture
By Fi Brown, 13 November 2025
Activity
‘The Right to a Break’?
Drawing on her own experience of caring for her mum, and her work alongside unpaid carers every day, Fi Brown reflects on the “mental load” of caring – and what it means to protect carers’ mental health before crisis point is reached. With Scotland’s ‘Right to a Break’ marking a significant shift in care reform, she explores why a legal right must translate into breaks that are genuinely meaningful and restorative, with prevention at their core.
By Fi Brown, 20 February 2026
February 2026 Fellows' update: Fi Brown
Dr Fi Brown (CF 2024) recently delivered a webinar for the Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.
By Fi Brown, 5 February 2026
February 2026 Fellows' update: Fi Brown
Dr Fi Brown (CF 2024) has been appointed as chair of Transition Edinburgh South following a period of having been the organisation's shadow chair.
By Fi Brown, 5 February 2026
Disclaimer
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
