It’s Green Health Week (3rd – 11th May) and NHS Lanarkshire is celebrating its Grounds Maintenance and Biodiversity team to mark the occasion.
NHS Lanarkshire grounds host a range of greenspaces, which can make a real difference to biodiversity to encourage having lots of variety in nature, which in turn keeps the planet in balance. This also offers specific patient groups a chance to take part in outdoor activities that promote social inclusion, which can improve their mental health and overall quality of life, or simply to enjoy some time in nature during their visit.
These greenspaces provide many benefits to the environment e.g. homes for plants, insects, birds and more, whilst also bringing health and wellbeing benefits to patients, staff and visitors.
This team is part of NHS Lanarkshire’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, with the newly created role of Horticultural and Biodiversity Grounds Manager being one of the first positions of its kind in NHS Scotland.
The team are working across various sites including:
- Adding pollinator friendly plants at all areas, with Kirklands headquarters being the trailblazer for what will be rolled out across the wider estate
- Caird House, forensic mental health services, garden was rejuvenated with patients and staff
- Improving the Beatson Garden at Monklands Hospital
- Tidying up the Udston CAMHS unit and incorporating wildflower areas
- Improving the garden area at the Brandon Ward at Udston, which supports patients with dementia, through funding from Vitalenergi
Craig Brown, Head of Sustainability & Environmental Performance, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “We are delighted to support Green Health Week by shedding light on the great work from the Grounds Maintenance and Biodiversity team.
“NHS Lanarkshire is committed to improving our environmental sustainability, as well as making our sites a safe and clean place for staff, visitors and patients.
“Our greenspace accounts for 36% of our grounds, and it’s great to be able to use these spaces as an opportunity to support, and positively impact, those who spend time there, as well as contribute to the planet, environment and wildlife.”
Vicki Trim, Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership Lead, NHS Lanarkshire, commented: “As an anchor institution, NHS Lanarkshire is working to provide good quality greenspaces to improve biodiversity.
“It also showcases how much patients – and the wider community – gain when we connect with different people, engage with the outdoors and gain the benefits these bring to our wellbeing, so it’s a win win for people and the planet.
“Our work within the hospital gardens is possible thanks to the Greener Communities Fund, a partnership between NHS Charities Together and environmental charity Hubbub, supported by Starbucks.”
Tommy Whiteside, Forensic Support Worker, NHS Lanarkshire, commented: “We started up a gardening group in January at Caird House for inpatients as well as community patients.
“The gardens needed some much needed TLC and with the help of our teams: community mental health, occupational therapy and grounds maintenance and biodiversity, as well as patients it is now starting to look amazing.
“The goal is to make the gardens a welcoming place for everyone to use as well as give our patients a sense of achievement in the project they have engaged with.
“Feedback from our patients is that they feel pride on what they have completed so far and they’re looking forward to carrying on with the group. They also feel it is more welcoming and relaxing.”
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L-R back row: Scott Fyffe, Scott Russell, Kenneth Conner, John Gallacher from the Grounds Maintenance and Biodiversity team.
L-R front row: Tommy Whiteside – Forensic Support Worker, Vicki Trim – Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership Lead, Craig Brown – Head of Sustainability & Environmental Performance, Andrew Davies – Grounds Maintenance and Biodiversity team, Stuart Ward – Horticultural and Biodiversity Grounds Manager.
