An essential mark of the success of the NHS Forest will be its long-term legacy. This project is not just about planting trees in the ground but more about engaging people with their immediate environment by jointly creating space that will be used and continually improved by staff, patients and the local community. A sense of ownership of the NHS Forest by all these groups will help to ensure its survival.

We have identified several ways in which people can be encouraged to get involved in using the NHS Forest. This includes the role of art, food crops and the woodfuel.

While several sponsors will provide core funds to establish the project, the financial sustainability of the project into the future will be secured by the development of a tree sponsorship scheme. Patients, relatives and staff will be able to purchase one or a group of trees to celebrate (a birth or recovery), to Commemorate (a person’s life or service in NHS) and to say thank you to staff at the healthcare organisation for their care. It is thought that the tree sponsorship scheme will provide additional financial resources to trusts that have already signed up to the NHS Forest and will be run centrally. We are currently working on this scheme in conjunction with the Woodland Trust. This website will contain more details of the scheme when it is up and running.