It's that time of year again!
Another year, another fantastic opportunity to join colleagues across the country and help improve NHS facilities nationwide.
This year, NHS Sustainability Day takes place on the 23rd March, and as always we are encouraging our sites to show their support by planting two trees at 2pm, somewhere prominent on their site.
"Smart design and investment in sustainable public spaces can help increase levels of physical activity, reduce traffic injuries, urban violence and urban air pollution including greenhouse gas emissions, both protecting public health and mitigating climate change”. This summarises the key conclusions of a WHO side event at a Habitat III Thematic Meeting on Public Spaces which took place from 4th to 5th April 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
Several NHS sites planted two trees at 2 o'clock - 2@2 - to mark NHS Sustainability Day 2016, on March 24th. The NHS Forest sites include: Broadgreen Hospital, part of the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust; Darent Valley Hospital, part of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; Guernsey Healthcare planted a tree in front of Princess Elizabeth Hospital and are a new NHS Forest site; and Gloucester Care Services NHS Trust, who planted 10 trees.
The Great Outdoor Gym Company (TGO http://www.tgogc.com/) is helping the NHS Forest plant new woodlands at several healthcare sites across the UK. TGO generously sponsor one tree for the NHS Forest for each piece of outdoor gym equipment that they install, and they have now donated 2,000 trees to our charitable programme.
Book the date and start organising now for the 2016 NHS Sustainability Day of Action on 24th March, 2016.
If you would like to take part in the NHS Forest's 2@2 campaign, that involves planting 2 trees at 2 o'clock, please do let us know!
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Obesity and diabetes are soaring at shocking rates and the NHS is spending £9bn a year on tackling health issues like these that are linked to physical inactivity. Multiple reputable studies show that exercise can help to prevent these health issues and several reports show that taking exercise outdoors is more beneficial that exercising indoors. Even relatively small increases in physical activity are associated with some protection against chronic diseases and an improved quality of life.
The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is delighted to announce the start of a new project with the Canal & River Trust, the charity which cares for 2,000 miles of waterway in England and Wales. This will involve designing pilot studies to measure the mental health benefits for people using waterways. The project will include a literature review of existing research and CSH will collaborate with specialist researchers to assess potential methodologies and understand research gaps.
Want a more sustainable Christmas present to buy friends and family? Then sponsor a tree for just £10 and support the NHS Forest. To do so click here
As part of a national programme of workshops run by The Centre for Sustainble Healthcare and Ecosystem's Knowledge Network's we are pleased to bring you a workshop on the 25th November in conjunction with the South Penine LNP, bringing together healthcare professionals in Bradford and Airedale Districts and leaders of green space projects. The aim is to encourage more people to use green space projects to improve their health.
University Hospital Birmingham has won numerous awards at Britain in Bloom's award ceremony on Saturday. They won Gold and large city category winner and won the best result in the competition.
One of the quotes from the judges which opitimises our NHS Forest sites is :
"The health for life programme at Queen Elizabeth hospital was impressive and gives a clear indication that communities working together do make a big difference. This is a true partnership, working with the authority, NHS and volunteers ".
