Nick is the Nature Recovery Ranger at NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group. He is one of the rangers for the Healthy by Nature project, which is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. Nick joined the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare in August 2022 and was part of the original ranger pilot programme.
I’ve over 25 years’ experience in countryside management and have worked in both urban parks and healthcare settings. I’m passionate about wildlife conservation and involving the community in the care and management of green spaces. I was drawn to the nature recovery ranger role because it brings together my enthusiasm for environmental restoration and public health. Working within the Sustainability team at NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group demonstrates how green spaces on hospital sites can contribute not just to biodiversity but also to staff, patient and community wellbeing.
My main area of interest is urban biodiversity and how we can design and manage green spaces to be resilient and supportive of native wildlife. I’m particularly interested in how these spaces can be used as tools for environmental education and therapeutic engagement within healthcare settings.
The most rewarding part of the role has been seeing the joy that staff, patients and local people get from engaging with the green spaces. Whether it’s participating in planting days, taking a lunchtime walk through newly created wildflower areas, or just having a conversation about the part nature can play in health and wellbeing. These simple things make the job really fulfilling.
At Aintree Hospital we have a mature mixed woodland called Bluebell Woods. I manage the site with the help of regular volunteers, together we have brought invasive species under control, created new habitats and made the woods a safer, more welcoming environment for visitors. It’s a great place for reflection and a space away from the wards where staff can relax and reconnect with nature.
Autumn and winter are always a busy time on site. This is when most of the major practical projects are undertaken with the support of hospital staff and the involvement of the wider community. I’m looking forward to creating more wildflower areas, planting pollinator friendly bulbs and contributing to the NHS Forest through tree and hedgerow planting across our sites.
Over the next year we will seek to implement the first phase of the trust’s biodiversity action plan, this will be delivered in partnership with the Estates team. Subject to securing funding, this will include woodland management works, introduction of new habitat features, including a hibernaculum (a place for wildlife to hibernate or shelter), more wild flower areas and ecological enhancements to courtyard gardens. Involvement of the wider community will be expanded and I will work more closely with third sector organisations, schools and corporate volunteers.
I’m excited about the new Healthy by Nature ranger programme. Together we will deliver a comprehensive programme of environmental projects which help improve biodiversity in hospitals across the country and provide great spaces for staff, patients and the wider community to get closer to nature.
I’m proud to be part of the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Green Space for Health team, where we believe nature isn’t just a nice extra—it’s essential for our health and wellbeing. We’re only just starting to see how much of a difference green spaces can make in healthcare, and I’m excited to be helping make that change happen.
To get in touch with Nick, email info@nhsforest.org.
Banner photo at the top of the page: Nick White (right) with community litter pickers at Grove St open space. CSH/Nick White, 2025.