The role of a campus herb garden in promoting social and personal wellbeing in naturopathic students

Objectives

Utilisation of university campus green spaces (such as campus gardens) has been associated with enhanced student wellbeing. Limited qualitative research exists on the role that campus gardens have in promoting student wellbeing in smaller tertiary institutions. The present study was designed to identify and explore how undergraduate students at a small tertiary college utilised an extensive campus herb garden for social and personal purposes outside of coursework.

Methods

Twenty-one undergraduate naturopathy and herbal medicine students at a tertiary institution in Auckland, New Zealand were individually interviewed. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyse the data.

Results

The campus herb garden promoted students’ social wellbeing by providing a physical setting where students could meet and socialise with each other outside of prescribed coursework. These social interactions helped create a sense of shared community among the students. Students collectively and individually utilised the garden for relaxation and recreational purposes. The campus herb garden provided students with a pleasant sensory environment where they could physically have a break from their coursework. Time spent in the campus herb garden was perceived to help students counteract study-related and general stress.

Conclusions

This study provided qualitative insights regarding how a campus green space in the form of an extensive herb garden was utilised both collectively and individually by naturopathic students to enhance their social and personal wellbeing. Study findings add further evidence regarding the value of green spaces in promoting student wellbeing in tertiary education settings.