GOOD FOR THE SOUL
F THERE ARE BOUNDLESS T R E A S U R E S T H AT N AT U R E H A S T O O F F E R U S . F I N D I N G W AY S TO CONNECT WITH THESE T R E A S U R E S I N S PA C E S C L O S E T O H O M E I S T H E S K I L L O F AWA R D WINNING GARDEN DESIGN AND PL ANTING PROFESSIONALS, G R E E N T H E R A P Y.
or centuries, plants and gardens have been used as a form of therapy, and there is a growing body of evidence to support their positive impact on mental health. One of the most well-known benefits of spending time in nature is that it can help to reduce stress levels and improve overall mental wellbeing. This is something landscaping specialists Green Therapy are all too familiar with. They understand the incredible health benefits of plants and nature in general and seek to connect each of their clients to the beautiful world of greenery. On top of that, they seek to create spaces to connect with family and friends to relax and enjoy. The
team offers a range of services to transform outdoor spaces. “We’re all about reconnecting people with nature,” says Bryce Coulter, Director at Green Therapy. “We offer design services, planting schemes, project planning and construction.” The team has recently completed a landscape project in Bob’s Cove, Lake Wakatipu, at the base of Mt Creighton. Bryce’s clients wanted a relaxing retreat in harmony with the grandeur of Lake Wakatipu and its surroundings – a place to reconnect with nature and enhance the local environment. “It wasn’t a straightforward site to work with,” says Bryce. “It’s perched on a sloping site with variable soil types, huge run-off and unpredictable winds. Add in the searing temperatures in summer and freezing winters with extreme rainfall, and it’s quite an undertaking. It goes from dry to boggy to sunny to deep shade. “What’s great about this project is that the architect and landscape architect worked on this build together from day one,” says Bryce. This cohesiveness led to the creation of an all-weather outdoor room and planting that is truly part of the landscape. Plants were selected to be in tune with soil type, wind, sun and shade aspect, and to only need temporary irrigation. The results are exquisite. The project recently won Supreme Winner, Best Horticultural Project of the Year and Best Revegetation Project of the Year at the Registered Master Landscapers 2022 Awards. An example of sculpted nature at its finest. As Bryce says, “This is not the sort of concept you could implement from sitting in the office. It was about having people on the ground, getting up close with the soil conditions and contours and so on. I think one of the reasons it was so successful was that we stayed in touch with the clients for five years, as things changed on the site as the seasons passed.” Guests to the property say it’s hard to leave, as they feel so connected and relaxed in the nestled environment that’s been created here. 027 688 8196 | greentherapy.info NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 23
