The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is expanding its Green Space for Health Programme with new funding from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
Broomfield Hospital Covid-19 Memorial Garden
Richard Hughes, Grounds and Gardens Manager at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford writes:
New research shows gardens and other green spaces at hospital sites have an important role to play in supporting staff wellbeing. Our year-long study focused on three NHS sites that had taken steps to encourage their staff to relax and recharge in green space. Staff stress has long been a critical issue for the NHS, where in 2019 more than four in 10 staff reported feeling unwell as a result of work-related stress in the last 12 months. These problems have been greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, making staff wellbeing a greater priority now than ever.
To help the UK reduce future pressures on the NHS and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has announced a two-year green prescribing pilot which will be established at four rural and urban locations. The £4 million green prescribing strategy is led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and will focus on areas hit the hardest by Covid-19. The government also announced plans to scale up the project to other locations.
The government has launched a consultation to guide development of the England Tree Strategy, due to be published by the end of 2020. The strategy will establish plans for the expansion and management of trees and woodland in England through to 2050.
We’re thrilled to be working with Plantlife and the National Trust on Gweirgloddiau Gwych Cymru: Magnificent Meadows Wales to create mini-meadows and 'meadow health routes’ that connect people to meadows and species-rich grassland. The project will draw on the experience of our Green Health Routes programme, which co-designs mapped neighbourhood walking trails for groups and individuals to enjoy their local green spaces.
Green space contributes to prevention through increasing physical and mental wellbeing and offers people therapeutic benefits for recovery from illness. Research from around the world demonstrates that a 'Green Prescription' can deliver physical and mental health benefits for patients and this is increasingly being used by healthcare professionals.
This week Ecosia is supporting mental health awareness week and are keen to promote experiences of nature from our front line key workers. If you have 5 minutes we would love to hear from you, please could you send your responses to info@nhsforest.org
Ecosia launches #GrowYourLove campaign to plant trees dedicated to NHS key workers in and around UK hospitals. Green search engine partners with UK charities The NHS Forest and Trees for Cities
To help UK users show their appreciation for the incredible efforts of NHS key workers, Ecosia, The NHS Forest is partnering with Ecosia to launch #GrowYourLove, a long-term, forward-looking initiative to plant trees in and surrounding hospitals in the UK.
