Plants 'can boost health and wellbeing of staff'

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 31-05-2011

Individuals carrying out an office design project have been advised of the many benefits of incorporating plants into any plans.

Dr Roger Williams, head of science at the Royal Horticultural Society, said the introduction of greenery can have a positive psychological impact on individuals, while it also helps people to remain fit and healthy as they need to be regularly tended to.

He commented: "There's exercise and activity associated with tending to [plants], and the psychological effect of having an area of the world you've got some control over and can be creative in."

According to Paul Edwards, chair of the British Council for Offices' Environmental Sustainability Group and head of sustainability at Hammerson, businesses could make savings both in terms of cost and emissions by updating their lighting solutions to more efficient products.

Furthermore, this would have a knock-on effect of improving the wellbeing of staff as they would be working in a less harshly lit environment.

Posted by Adrian Norman