Houseplants can reduce anxiety and depression in young people. Help us build an RHS Malvern exhibit to raise awareness & inspire change!
by Megan Warren-Davis in Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
Additional funding will go towards:
- Transportation costs
- Building materials
- Plants
- Pots and Planters
- Food for those working on the stand and for our volunteers
Thank you for your support!
To see other ways you can help support my exhibit and even become a part of the stand (Yes really!) Visit www.forestinterior.co.uk
In May 2025, I will bring my first Indoor Plant Garden Exhibit to life at RHS Malvern Spring Festival, one of the UK’s biggest horticultural events.
Titled Neo Flora, this immersive exhibit explores the mental health benefits of houseplants, recreating a teenager’s bedroom filled with greenery, neon lighting, and urban aesthetics. The design reflects the growing connection between young people and plants - how caring for them can help manage stress, anxiety, and depression in an increasingly digital world, where access to green spaces is becoming more limited in urban areas.
“More than 500 children a day in England are being referred to mental health services for anxiety [...] In 2023-24, there were 204,526 new referrals of patients aged 17 and under where anxiety was the primary cause, more than double the 98,953 referrals in 2019-20" - Children’s Commissioner
This teenager’s room portrays their newfound love for collecting houseplants, which can have numerous therapeutic benefits for those experiencing depression and/or anxiety, while showcasing alternative growing methods.
Neo Flora is not designed to be perfect but to feel lived-in, with the hope of inspiring other young people to nurture houseplants. It seeks to show that caring for plants is an accessible and rewarding activity, not just a pastime for older generations.
This project pushes boundaries in both plant care and design, showcasing hydroponics, alternative sustainable growing techniques, and urban interior innovation to inspire young people to engage with houseplants in new and meaningful ways.
“Living in areas with more green space is associated with a 20% reduction in the likelihood of anxiety or depression” - National Institute of Health and Care Research
My journey in horticulture started with one, small succulent - a gift from my university flatmates. I didn’t know it at the time, but that tiny plant sparked a passion that would shape my career.
After university, I worked in a commercial plant nursery, and today, I combine my love of plants with digital storytelling, helping to inspire young people to explore houseplants through social media and content creation.
For the past two years, I have also volunteered as Social Media Manager for the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), helping to connect and support young professionals in the industry. Now, with Neo Flora, I want to take my passion a step further - raising awareness of how houseplants can provide comfort, routine, and mental well-being for teenagers struggling with stress and anxiety.
Creating an exhibit of this scale is a huge undertaking. While I have secured partial funding, I still need support to cover the plants, materials, and logistics required to bring Neo Flora to life.
The total cost of this project will be £10,000, covering:
This project is incredibly important to me - not just for my career but also as a committee member of the YPHA, my goal is to get more young people engaged with nature, working in horticulture, and discovering the joy of collecting houseplants.
If you’d like to support Neo Flora, every contribution will help bring this vision to life. Let’s inspire the next generation of plant lovers together!
Find out other ways you can support this project on my website.
Thank you for being part of this journey. 💚
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