A four-day horticultural therapy programme in an open prison in Kerala: A descriptive post-intervention report

Background: Horticultural and other nature-based interventions have been explored as adjunctive approaches to promote psychological well-being, social connectedness, skills development and rehabilitation in correctional settings. However, evidence from brief, structured programmes in Indian open-prison settings remains limited. Methods: This descriptive post-intervention report describes a four-day horticultural therapy (HT) programme conducted from 3 to 6 January 2025 in an open prison in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Fourteen adult male prisoners, all of whom had more than five years of experience in agricultural activities within the prison, participated voluntarily. Activities included plant meditation, mindful pruning and propagation, nature-based sensory engagement, tree hugging, agricultural education, group activities and a guided emotional-expression exercise. Written participant feedback and group reflections were summarized descriptively after the programme. Results: Participants reported subjective experiences of calmness, reduced mental preoccupation, emotional release, connection with nature and improved interaction with peers. Thirteen of 14 participants (92.9%) provided feedback categorized by the programme facilitators as positive, while one (7.1%) was categorized as neutral; no negative feedback was recorded. These figures represent post-intervention perceptions and not measured treatment effects. Conclusion: The programme was feasible and well received in this open-prison setting and may be a useful adjunct to rehabilitation and psychosocial well-being activities. However, the absence of baseline assessment, a comparison group, standardized outcome measures and follow-up prevents conclusions about efficacy or sustained benefit. Future studies should use prospective mixed-methods designs with validated measures and longer follow-up. Keywords: horticultural therapy; therapeutic horticulture; prison; correctional rehabilitation; nature-based intervention; mindfulness; psychosocial well-being; qualitative feedback