260 trees planted inside Lynfield Mount Hospital grounds

The trees have been planted at Lynfield Mount Hospital as part of a wider initiative funded by Natural England.

The partnership, between Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCT) and Natural England, aims to evidence the positive impact of green therapy on patient wellbeing, whilst supporting nature recovery in the area.

(L to R) – back: Oliver Harmar, Tracy Metcalf, Adam Yusufali, Therese Patten; front: Humaira Jabeen, and Cathy Schofield (Image: BDCT)The approach will be used in the trust’s hospital and community mental health services across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale, and Craven.

Its gardening and sustainability teams and staff planted the trees at the front of the hospital, with Oliver Harmar, Natural England’s chief operating officer, and BDCT's chief executive, Therese Patten. 

The planting will create a greener space for patients, visitors, and staff, with a hedgerow and individual young trees including bird cherry and rowan.

The planting will create a greener space for patients, visitors and staff (Image: BDCT)The area will also feature a summer wildflower meadow, with plans to add vegetable and flower planters and bird boxes over the coming months.

The trees will provide a variety of benefits including attracting native wildlife and storing carbon to benefit the wider environment, contributing to the trust’s net zero goals.

Ms Patten said: “We know that being active outdoors is good for all of us, but it can be particularly beneficial for mental well-being.

"We have pockets of green therapy across our hospital and community services, but we want to test the benefits of connecting patients with nature as part of their care plans.

"We know from smaller projects that patients feel calmer when they’re involved in nature-based activities, and their feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

"It’s exciting to be scaling this up and we’re hugely grateful to Natural England for their support, and to NHS Forest who donated the trees.”

Mr Harmar added: “We know that access to nature plays a key role in improving our health and well-being and the project at Lynfield Mount is a great example of how Natural England is working with the NHS to increase access to nature for patients, staff and local communities, by bringing nature to those that may not be able to easily access local green spaces.

“This is part of our wider nature recovery project across Bradford and the South Pennines working with partners to connect people with nature and support local habitat and landscape restoration.”