Looking ahead to the 2025-26 planting season, we’re excited to offer fully funded trees to healthcare sites across England, Scotland and Wales.
Over the past two planting seasons NHS Forest has received generous support through DEFRA’s Nature for Climate fund. This funding has been transformative, allowing us to reach more healthcare sites than ever before. In total we’ve distributed 36,673 trees to more than 180 locations – nearly a quarter of all trees planted since NHS Forest began in 2009. However, because forestry grants are managed by the UK’s devolved governments, this funding could only be used in England meaning unfortunately we were limited in our ability to supply trees to healthcare sites in Scotland and Wales. For 2025-2026 our funding model has changed and we now have an increased supply of trees for Scottish and Welsh sites.
NHS Forest is committed to support all eligible applicants – and we’re especially keen to ensure that sites outside of England benefit from the return of our planting programme this winter. Unfortunately, post-Brexit trade regulations still prohibit NHS Forest from supplying tree bundles to sites in Northern Ireland at present. We will keep this situation under review and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Below are two case studies that showcase how we have previously supported tree planting in Scotland and Wales. These examples highlight the many ways green spaces can benefit patients, staff and the wider community.
Therapeutic Woodland at the Carseview Centre (Ninewells Hospital, Dundee)
In early 2025 a new woodland of 540 trees – known as the ‘Wee Forest’ – was planted at the Carseview Centre, a mental health unit at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. The planting was part of the Carseview Recovery Garden initiative which aims to create therapeutic and inclusive outdoor spaces that support wellbeing and recovery.
The woodland transformed an overgrown and underused part of the site. With input from local partners, the space was carefully designed to boost biodiversity, improve visual appeal, and offer a welcoming environment. Thirteen native species were chosen for their seasonal interest and ability to support birds, pollinating insects, and other wildlife. Some fruit trees were also included to enhance the sensory experience and provide foraging opportunities.
Patients and staff helped shape the vision for the garden through creative sessions and informal discussions. The area is already seeing more daily activity, with users choosing to walk, sit, or reflect during breaks in care. The Wee Forest has brought new life to the site, offering shade, colour and a living symbol of growth and healing. It also helps to reconnect people with nature, supporting mental health through time spent outdoors.
As the forest establishes, it’s expected to become a key feature of the Recovery Garden. Future plans include seasonal gardening sessions, creative outdoor activities, and regular opportunities for service users to take part in wildlife monitoring and management.
Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture (Morriston Hospital, Swansea)
Cae Felin CSA is a regenerative horticulture project operating on land leased from Morriston Hospital in Swansea. This not-for-profit initiative grows fresh fruit and vegetables while promoting wellbeing through social prescribing. It helps users reconnect with where their food comes from and with the natural world around them.
In summer 2022 Cae Felin joined NHS Forest and began planting trees early the following year. Volunteers planted an additional 290 trees in winter 2024, helping to establish a 0.8-hectare nature area. This included the creation of a tranquil ‘quiet grove’ – a peaceful, secluded space designed for relaxation and reflection. NHS Forest trees were also used to thicken existing hedgerows, enhancing the capacity for wildlife by creating denser, more diverse habitat. These efforts support the ongoing transformation of the site into a therapeutic landscape that offers respite and rehabilitation opportunities for patients at Morriston Hospital.
Most recently in March 2025 NHS Forest supplied a further 21 trees. These productive fruit cultivars were added to Cae Felin’s conservation food forest – a space envisioned for therapeutic volunteering. This mix of heritage apple trees and other top fruit varieties will form the canopy layer of this perennial zone, complementing existing shrub and groundcover layers.
Tree planting at Cae Felin supports a wider vision of creating a sustainable, therapeutic landscape that promotes biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing. The project demonstrates how a partnership between a community-led initiative and NHS Forest can deliver shared environmental and health outcomes.
Apply today and grow with NHS Forest
If you’re part of a healthcare site in Scotland or Wales, now is the perfect time to get involved. Tree planting offers lasting benefits for wellbeing, biodiversity and climate resilience. NHS Forest is here to support you every step of the way. Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your green spaces and make a positive impact on your community. Apply today to receive fully funded trees in the 2025-26 planting season.