Development of IGGT and garden therapy

Since the beginning of the 1980s, gardens and gardening have again become increasingly important for internal and external therapeutic areas. In the field of garden therapy as well as in the field of therapeutic gardens, a wide variety of projects have since been developed throughout the German-speaking world. With the Gesellschaft für Gartenbau und Therapie e.V. (Society for Horticulture and Therapy e.V.; formerly Work Group Horticulture and Therapy from 1989), the first German-speaking organisation on this subject was founded in 2001. At the same time, contacts with horticultural and therapeutic associations intensified over the years. In 2002, the first nationwide congresses were held in both Austria and Germany, with organisations such as the Zentralverband Gartenbau e.V. (Central Horticultural Association), the Österreichische Gartenbau Gesellschaft (Austrian Horticultural Society) and the Deutsche Verband der Ergotherapeuten (German Association of Occupational Therapists) playing a leading role. In the following years, garden therapy courses of study, further education and training were created. further recognition of this specialisation has been ensured through various publications and, of course, the practice of therapy.