Increasing biodiversity and staff connection to nature at Westmorland General Hospital

The project was initially developed in collaboration with the Trust’s estates leadership, with responsibility later transitioning to site-based estates teams. Work is now being delivered in partnership with the team responsible for managing the hospital site.

Following earlier activity such as wildflower plug planting, bird box installation and tree planting, Natural England health and environment higher officers worked with the hospital to organise a volunteer day. The day brought together 15 members of Well Communities (an addiction rehabilitation programme), a member of NHS estates staff and a supported intern from Kendal College based at the hospital.

Ahead of the volunteer day, landscape contractors prepared the site by strimming grassland areas that had been left unmown over the summer. Volunteers then raked the cut grass and sowed wildflower seeds collected from a species-rich meadow in the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape. Additional seed was spread in new grassland areas that will remain unmown through the following summer. One of these areas is located near the café, enabling staff, patients and visitors to experience wildflowers and wildlife in a visible and accessible part of the site.

Volunteers also checked the condition of trees planted the previous winter. This included clearing grass from around the base of the trees, removing damaged or dead specimens (including approximately 15 trees affected by strimming), and using grass cuttings as mulch to help suppress further growth.

Engagement with landscape contractors has supported a shared understanding of how different areas of the site should be managed to meet biodiversity objectives.

As part of the project, volunteers created four bee hotels. One has been installed in the Lions Courtyard Garden, with the remaining units to be placed across the hospital grounds. Members of Well Communities have also built swift nesting boxes, which will be installed in line with guidance from the Kendal Swift Group.

Project partners

• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay (UHMB) NHS Foundation Trust
• One Lancashire and South Cumbria Together
• Natural England
• The Well Communities
• Alben Landscapes

How Natural England supported the project

Natural England supported the project by:

• Planning and organising volunteer activity days, including timings and logistics
• Providing equipment, seeds and risk assessments
• Coordinating volunteer recruitment
• Promoting the project (with internal communications shared by the hospital team)
• Leading delivery on the day, ensuring volunteers were supported and safe

This support was essential in enabling the practical work to take place.

Project outcomes and lessons learned

• The project has strengthened relationships between NHS staff and Natural England, with further activity planned
• New connections have been established with Kendal College, including opportunities to involve supported interns in future work
• Collaboration with canteen staff is underway to improve the hospital garden, creating a more welcoming natural space

It was identified that having two Health and Environment Higher Officers leading volunteer activity was essential to safely and effectively deliver the work.

Impact

• Biodiversity across the hospital site has increased
• The work has been recognised within the Trust’s Green Plan
• Engagement with hospital staff has improved, with growing awareness and support for the project

Next steps

Further volunteer activity is planned later in the year, focusing on improvements to the hospital canteen garden and continued development of green spaces across the site.