Experts have known for decades that gardening improves our health , making us fitter and happier . Now a public experiment is to be carried out to try to find out exactly which plants have the biggest impact on our mood . Using facial recognition technology , it will monitor the reactions of 150,000 visitors as they look at different plants at the Chelsea Flower Show in May . Happiness test : Using facial recognition technology , the experiment will monitor the reactions of 150,000 visitors as they look at different plants at the Chelsea Flower Show in May ( file picture ) It is hoped the results will determine which varieties of plants make people the happiest , according to their age and gender . The findings will be used to influence the work of charities which use gardening as therapy for those with disabilities . TV gardener David Domoney of ITV show Love Your Garden , who is designing the Chelsea project , said : ‘ It ’ s amazing how much sense of well-being and happiness the sight of a plant can bring . ‘ We ’ re hoping to identify the best-loved plant , be it the sight of red roses on Valentines , a field of sunflowers or even the magic of a Christmas tree . Plants lift our hearts just by the sight of them . We think there will be real differences between age groups and gender . It ’ s a fascinating experiment and a real talking point. ’ The exhibit , which is being run with gardening charity Thrive and the Horticultural Trades Association , will feature 20 popular plants chosen by an online survey . Cameras will monitor eye contact , physical gestures and facial emotions to gauge visitor reaction to each plant . It is hoped the results will determine which varieties of plants make people the happiest , according to their age and gender . Above , daffodil 'Georgie Boy ' named after Prince George . Doctors have long known of the impact of gardening on health . Last November a Government health adviser even suggested that doctors should start prescribing gardening courses on the NHS . Dr William Bird , who advises Public Health England on physical activity , claimed every £1 spent on access to community outdoor schemes could save the health service £5 in other treatments . Dr Bird said : ‘ We are programmed as humans to be hunter gatherers , to live outdoors , we are not really adapted to urban life . A dose of green space , really connecting people back to nature , can make a huge difference . ‘ Blood pressure reduces , muscle tension reduces , all of these happen within moments of going into a park or a garden . Even indoor plants have been shown to have a beneficial effect on mental health. ’ To vote for your favourite ‘ happy plants ’ , visit http : //www.daviddomoney.com/happy-plant-top-100/ .
Experiment will be carried out at the Chelsea Flower Show in May . Using facial recognition technology it monitor reactions of 150,000 visitors . It 's hoped results will determine which plants make people the happiest .