Natural Spaces

The NHS is one of the largest owners of estate in England. NHS organisations should take every opportunity to protect and enhance the natural environment surrounding NHS buildings. This can improve the quality of life for patients, staff and visitors, as well as the long term quality of the environment. 

Use of natural spaces is also vital to adapting to climate change and extreme weather events, including flooding and high winds, and will help the estate to be resilient to changing conditions.

Agencies such as Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust as well as the local Wildlife Trusts should be invited as partners to help develop the natural environment around and near to healthcare facilities systematically. Have a look at the Natural Spaces section for more information on the benefits of natural space to health and well being.

The NHS Forest (see its project page) provides a fantastic opportunity for organisations to enhance their estate while providing increased shade, outdoor meeting spaces and landscape through the planting of trees.