During National Tree Week, Nick White, our Liverpool Nature Recovery Ranger, organised a series of tree planting events for staff and community volunteers. The sessions took place in Bluebell Woods at Aintree Hospital and involved staff from the trust’s Sustainability and Finance teams as well as Friends of Bluebell Woods and young people from Everton in the Community Safe Hands programme. NHS Forest provided the trees as part of their free tree programme for NHS sites.
Nick White says: “We planted a variety of native trees, all of which are good for biodiversity. The great thing about the cell grown trees supplied by the NHS Forest is that they are easy to handle, and their root system is protected by compost making them easy to plant and establish faster than bare-rooted stock. As the trees grow they will help reduce the impact of climate change, provide homes for wildlife, improve our health and so much more. I’d strongly urge anyone that is considering tree or hedgerow planting at their health site to contact the NHS Forest team as soon as possible as we only have a couple of months left of the present planting season. Help create a greener tree filled future for your healthcare site and the wider community”.
Watch this video from NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (credit:Lisa Gudzenko) from one of the sessions showing just how easy it is to plant the trees. Tree planting also makes a fantastic team activity.