Young people from Everton in the Community’s Safe Hands programme enjoyed a hands-on winter workshop with CSH’s Nature Recovery Ranger for NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, Nick White, using natural materials gathered from NHS green space.
Nick collected holly, ivy and other evergreen foliage from Bluebell Woods at Aintree Hospital, an NHS Forest site, and brought them to The People’s Place to lead a festive wreath-making session. The activity showed how hospital woodlands can provide seasonal, sustainable resources while supporting biodiversity and staff and community wellbeing.
As they created their wreaths, the young people learned about the benefits of spending time in nature, even during the colder months, and how caring for local green spaces can have a positive impact on both wildlife and people. Nick commented that it was inspiring to see the group gain creative confidence and pride in using local, natural materials.
The workshop is part of ongoing collaboration between NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, Everton in the Community and the Nature Recovery Ranger programme run by CSH, demonstrating how NHS Forest sites can be used to connect young people with nature, build skills and support healthier, greener communities.