Nature Recovery Ranger – Newcastle

Who is the ranger?

Our ranger in Newcastle upon Tyne is Duika. Find out more about Duika and her work.

Which sites are covered?

Duika is hosted by Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Trust. Her main sites are the Freeman Hospital, Royak Victoria Infirmary and Great North Children’s Hospital.

What are the plans for the different sites?

Each site has unique character and needs—though all seem to share challenges with plant care. Duika is acutely conscious that more skills in watering are needed at the site! Creating sensory-rich ways of introducing sustainable watering techniques is something she is exploring. It perfectly marries her research background with practical conservation needs. Duika is working to identify “sensory sanctuaries”—spaces where healthcare efficiency gives way to something wilder. The in-between spaces excite her most: edges where institutional landscapes soften into varied, living environments. She is particularly interested in developing activities that draw on clinical expertise where sensory issues are foregrounded—like her current collaboration with occupational therapists on the ‘Sensational Thinking’ team, developing spaces for those with sensory processing challenges.

Blogs and updates

Recently, Duika developed the Freeman Labyrinth. Find out more about it.