Green Health: Spring Round Up
Enjoying the fresh air and light of Spring. By Ian McKenzie
As I write this on the hottest day of the year, I am reminded how crucial our greenspaces are to help keep us cool. Across our sites staff, visitors and patients will be desperate to get outdoors and under the shade – all because the deep shade of a single tree can reduce the apparent temperature we feel by up to 15°C. Plants and natural surfaces actively dissipate heat through evapotranspiration to cool the environment making our greenspaces nature’s air conditioning unit.
Despite the soaring temperature, Green Health activity is in full swing across NHS Lothian. From new planting and growing spaces to staff wellbeing sessions and patient programmes, our sites are full of opportunities to connect with nature.
In this edition, you’ll see how volunteers, staff and partners are working together to create greener, more welcoming spaces – supporting wellbeing, encouraging participation, and helping people reconnect with the outdoors.
Thank you to everyone involved in making this work happen.
We hope you enjoy this update and all that the season has to offer.
Out and About: Activities and Enhancements
Western General Hospital
There’s lots happening across the Western General, with more opportunities for patients, visitors and staff to connect with nature
Volunteering onsite
Volunteers, led by our RSPB Nature Connections Officer, Beth, have been bringing green spaces to life helping patients and visitors connect with nature, particularly at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre.
Together, they’ve planted 1,000+ bulbs in Amanda’s Garden, bringing colour and supporting early pollinators. Student and corporate volunteers, and our volunteers from Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh (FACE) have also supported garden maintenance, built structures in the staff growing space, and created wildlife signage.
Staff Growing Space
The new growing space is already proving popular, with teams from Main X-Ray, Pharmacy, Ward 7 and the Dialysis Unit getting involved.
Recent workshops saw leeks, rocket and sunflowers planted – and the first radishes have already been enjoyed by patients and visitors! More wildflowers and sunflowers are on the way to brighten the space and attract wildlife.
The team are truly excited and it’s great for them to have a space that they can get away from the department. What you have achieved on such a busy site with limited space is amazing.” – Rebecca, Principal Radiographer
Nature Connections
Our partnership with RSPB and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh continues, with activities including staff tours, and nature-based yoga for patients from the Teenage Cancer Trust Ward. New Bird Watching Bundles have been created for wards to help bring nature to those unable to get outside.
Bioquarter: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh & RHCYP/DCN
Nature-based activity across the BioQuarter continues to grow under the guidance of our Nature Ranger, Lou, with new planting, more wildlife, and plenty of ways for staff to get involved.
Highlights include:
- Pollinator-friendly planting at key entrances
- More bees, birds and biodiversity across the site
- Staff wellbeing activities such as nature walks and growing initiatives
Chilli Challenge
The Chilli Challenge is in full swing! A cold spring made it tricky, but teams have rallied – re-sowing, sharing tips and getting stuck in.
It’s been a great way to bring people together, spark conversations and connect over a bit of friendly competition. Plans for next year are already underway!
Staff wellbeing activities
The wellbeing courtyard is buzzing with life, from ladybird larvae and different species of bees to a raucous male blackbird, and staff are making the most of it.
A programme of relaxed drop-in activities (from herbal sessions to art) is helping people take a break and enjoy the space.
Looking ahead
Lou is also continuing with drop in and bespoke lunchtime nature walks, windowsill growing and direct requests for green space/garden enhancements. Working closely with NHS Lothian Estates and the team at Equans, we are piloting changing the grass cutting programmes to support increased biodiversity around the site.
All of this and much more is detailed on the RIE/Bioquarter page on our Green Health website. And for bespoke support contact Lou directly by emailing [email protected]
Astley Ainslie Hospital
It’s been a busy and positive season with strong engagement from staff and patients, supported by our Nature Ranger, Aisling.
Activities and wellbeing
Our staff sessions, including gentle nature walks, herbal teas and mindfulness, have been a lovely way for people to pause and recharge.
“I’ve started to notice so much more when I’m outside now.” – staff member
Patients taking part in the LEAP programme are also enjoying time outdoors and connecting with nature, with one patient telling us:
This has helped my recovery a lot.”
Nature and biodiversity
The wildflower meadows are looking beautiful and buzzing with life – bees, butterflies and birds are everywhere just now.
We’ve also welcomed back some familiar summer visitors, including swallows, swifts and warblers.
Coming up
And there’s plenty more to look forward to:
- Scything Festival (September)
- Evening with a fungi expert (August)
- Ongoing gardening, wildlife and creative sessions
All of this and much more is detailed on the Astley Ainslie page on our Green Health website. And for bespoke support contact Aisling directly by emailing [email protected]
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
There’s lots happening across REH, with ongoing work led by our Arts and Greenspace Manager, Becky, to make outdoor spaces more welcoming for patients, visitors and staff.
Courtyard garden improvements
Across the site we are working to improve the courtyards and gardens that are accessible to patients. The Hive Garden is being refreshed with support from TCV – with new planting, tidying and improved seating, creating a calm space for patients to relax away from clinical areas.
Work is also underway in:
- Craiglockhart Ward Garden (with further improvements planned)
- Divert Suite garden, being brightened with planting and refreshed benches
- Courtyard and shared garden spaces, supporting both wellbeing and biodiversity
Community Garden Patient Activity
The beautiful community gardens at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Midlothian Community Hospital are working directly with patients. With funding provided from NHS Lothian Charity we have been able to start two new fantastic projects and continue another one which is thriving.
The focus is on providing opportunities for patients facing health inequalities to access greenspaces. We will be providing meaningful activities to help build a sense of community while increasing skills, knowledge and passion around nature and the outdoors.
What the sessions look like:
Therapeutic Gardening: Cyrenians deliver supported, small-group sessions tailored to patient needs in partnership with OT and nursing staff. Inpatients gather to connect, grow local produce, and enjoy the healing benefits of nature.
Garden Buddies: Trained volunteers work closely with NHS staff and specific patient cohorts, building trusted, lasting relationships through shared time in the garden.
Looking ahead
Plans are developing to transform the Orchard Clinic courtyards, including new designs with garden designer Matt Nelson and a mural by artist Fraser Gray.
A brand-new garden for the ADC is also in progress – created with input from the hospital community.
The Royal Edinburgh Community Garden will also be hosting a book reading with local author Alexander McCall Smith on August 12th; at the event there will be plants and refreshments for sale. This event is aimed at patients and NHS staff.
Midlothian Community Hospital Garden
The garden is a beautifully inclusive space where Cyrenians staff and volunteers work side-by-side to grow a vibrant, welcoming community. The gardens are open to everyone, and enquiries are always welcome. Here is how you can get involved:
Visitors and Patients: Drop by for a free stroll to explore the grounds, pick up a plant from our cart, or participate in therapeutic activities and green social prescribing programmes.
Individual Volunteers: Whether you are a seasoned green thumb or a complete beginner, we have plenty of rewarding opportunities available. Find out more about volunteering.
Groups and Corporate Teams: We love collaborating! Get in touch to organise a dedicated volunteering day for your local community group or a tailored team-building day for your business.
St John’s Hospital
Exciting transformations are underway at St John’s Hospital as we collaborate closely with the Estates team to enhance our outdoor environments for both patient care and staff wellbeing.
At the heart of these efforts is a project to rejuvenate the garden at the Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). As one of only two specialist regional inpatient psychiatric facilities in Scotland, the MBU provides vital, intensive mental health care for mothers and their infants (up to one year old). Our goal is to reshape this garden into a deeply relaxing, practical, and welcoming haven, ensuring families can connect with nature and stay together comfortably during their recovery journey.
In tandem, we are focusing on those who care for our community by developing dedicated staff wellbeing spaces for the Theatres team. This area will feature restful seating, vibrant planting, and raised beds, offering a much-needed outdoor retreat for staff to recharge.
Rooted in a commitment to environmental sustainability, these projects will maximise on-site resources. By incorporating compost beds, utilising the greenhouse, and retaining and reusing existing materials, we are ensuring these gardens are as ecologically conscious as they are therapeutic. There is an absolute wealth of opportunity ahead as these vital green spaces take root!
East Lothian Community Hospital
Exciting progress is underway on two new garden spaces, led by our Green Health Projects Manager, Iain.
The garden for Ward 2 (Oak Tree Ward) is now complete, with Ward 1 (Blythe Garden) set to be planted over the coming weeks.
Designed with input from staff, each space has been tailored to meet patient needs – supporting dementia, mental health and palliative care.
What’s been added
The new gardens include:
- Accessible pathways for beds and wheelchairs
- Plenty of seating for patients and visitors
- Sheltered areas for privacy and comfort
- Raised beds for easy participation
Planting has been carefully designed to bring colour, interest and wildlife year-round – even for those viewing from indoors.
Looking ahead
A new Horticultural Practitioner will soon support the spaces, helping staff, patients and volunteers get involved in gardening activities and bring the gardens to life.
Volunteer Opportunities
We are recruiting experienced gardeners to help enhance after our therapeutic greenspaces and give back to our hospital communities! We currently have flexible, ongoing independent opportunities available at:
- Central Edinburgh: Chalmers Centre
- Haddington: East Lothian Community Hospital
- Bonnyrigg: Midlothian Community Hospital
- Livingston: St John’s Hospital
We also have spaces available in our Astley Ainslie gardening group (please note this is a shared group opportunity, rather than an independent role).
Network News
A round-up of recent activity and updates from across the Green Health network, highlighting collaboration, learning and shared impact.
A reflection on our 2026 Green Health and Tonic Arts Network Gathering.
Thank you to everyone who joined this year’s network gathering. I was struck by the warm, connected atmosphere as we continue building a shared vision through our Tonic Arts and Green Health networks. It reinforced for me the power of creativity, nature, and individual action, and how giving people space to connect, rather than over-structuring, can spark meaningful relationships and lasting impact. Read my blog for the key takeaways from the event.
Dates for your diary!
- Tuesday 4th August at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital
- Wednesday 18th November: online
- Tuesday 9th March: TBC