Our team is dedicated to advancing the science of mental health and wellbeing through the development of innovative, nature-based interventions that promote both human and planetary flourishing. Termed Ecological Collective Flourishing (E-Co-Flourishing), our approach integrates physical, emotional, social, and ecological dimensions of wellbeing. Our research aims to understand and harness the mechanisms by which the crossover between human and green spaces can support flourishing of humans and non-humans, with a core programme around mental health in non-clinical settings. By developing and testing scalable, evidence-based programmes, our work seeks to contribute to a new model of preventative mental healthcare rooted in community and environmental engagement.

The research is led from various departments at the University of Oxford, including its Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM), in collaboration with Blackpool research initiatives and the Universities of Birmingham and Reading. These diverse settings serve as “Living Laboratories” where real-world interventions can be tested and refined. The inclusion of both urban and rural environments ensures that findings are applicable across a range of social and ecological contexts. Through our collaborations, we bring together expertise from mental health science, environmental studies, plant sciences, humanities, and economics, all in partnership with community organisations, charities, and public institutions.