Become a Green Health Volunteer
Give your passion for nature a purpose and support patients, visitors, and staff across NHS Lothian.
Find out more about current opportunitiesGreen Health
Our natural health service
Contact with nature can have a positive effect on physical and mental health. Hospital courtyards and gardens create therapeutic spaces for patients and breathing spaces for staff. This is why Green Health has been highlighted as a long term strategic priority for NHS Lothian Charity. Through our Green Health programme, we work in partnership with NHS Lothian to enhance the NHS estate and community greenspaces, and connect more patients and staff to therapeutic activities within them.
Project Highlights
Access Place
NHS Lothian Biodiversity Action Plan
Wildlife at the Western
Havens: Stories and Portraits from NHS Lothian
Join our amazing NHS Lothian staff on their journey to discover their hidden havens – those peaceful pockets within the busy healthcare environment where they find moments of quiet to recharge. From an indoor basement laundry to an outdoor rooftop terrace, the stories and portraits capture the essence of these havens and the impact they have on wellbeing.
Latest News
Blog: A Look Back at the Positive Health Network Gathe…
Ian Mackenzie, NHS Lothian Charity: Green Health Programme Manager, shares his reflections and takeaways from the recent Positive Health Network […]
Wild Ways Well Spring Blog
TCV Senior Project Officer, Paul Barclay, shares his Spring blog as part of our joint Wild Ways Well project.
Committed to a greener NHS: NHS Lothian Charity Suppor…
In a significant development for protecting wildlife across the NHS estate, NHS Lothian Charity has supported NHS Lothian in completing its Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) by a Health Board in Scotland.
Four Years of Green Flag Success at Royal Edinburgh Ho…
In 2022, the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH) in Morningside made history by becoming the first NHS site in Scotland to […]
Recent case studies
Bee Healthy Project at Carmondean Health Centre, West Lothian
The Carmondean Health Centre has taken a proactive step towards promoting biodiversity and improving staff and patient wellbeing by creating […]
Climate Challenge Grants – 2024 Impact Report
Why the Climate Challenge Grants were introduced Climate change poses a major threat not only to our planet but also […]
RSPB Nature Connections Pilot at the Western General Hospital
Through the summer and spring of 2023, our team worked with RSPB Scotland to test nature connection activities and a […]
Nature Heals
Nature heals. It’s a simple statement, a simple message, but sometimes the simple things are the most powerful. I’m a […]
Scroll through our upcoming events
Positive Health: Green Health and Tonic Arts Network Gathering 2025
Our 2025 Network Gathering is a platform for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and advancing positive health initiatives using creativity and nature.
Green Health Activities at Astley Ainslie: Spring and Summer 2025
Join Aisling, our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger, for a range of nature-based activities to support your health and wellbeing. All activities […]
Green Health Activities at the Royal Infirmary: Spring and Summer 2025
What’s on The activities below run each week. No need to book, just turn up and take the opportunity to […]
Green Health Activities at Astley Ainslie: March 2025
Join Aisling, our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger, for a range of nature-based activities to support your health and wellbeing. All activities […]
Connect to our network to learn and share
If you feel passionately about the benefits of nature and their potential in addressing health inequalities, join our Green Health Network. All you need are a few good ideas, a little time to spare and a willingness to be involved with promoting and supporting green health activities across the Lothians.
Get in touch
Get in touch if you would like to find out more or discuss how we can work together to benefit NHS Lothian patients and staff.
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🐦 Astley Ainslie bird walk! 🌿 Apr 22nd – drop in between 12:15-2pm. Spot woodpeckers, buzzards, nuthatches & more! 🦅 Learn bird ID with Aisling. Binoculars & guides provided. Meet at pet cemetery/St Roque lawn. All welcome! #BirdWatching #NatureWalk #LothianGreenHealth
Exciting opportunity! @RSPBScotland is hiring a Nature Connections Officer at the Western General, Edinburgh, building on our successful joint pilot project to bring nature to patients & staff. Find out more & apply: https://ow.ly/CNF050Vaj04
#LothianGreenHealth @WGHLothian
We had a lovely day with patients at Astley Ainslie doing our walk and wheel. Everyone enjoyed learning about the birds and flowers. One patient, who spent ages watching a very entertaining squirrel, said he’ll miss the walks when he goes home.
#LothianGreenHealth
What a fantastic first session with LEAP today. Aisling led a guided nature walk learning about plants & trees & planted seedlings. One participant even said they’d never noticed so much before! Looking forward to gardening in the courtyard next week. #LothianGreenHealth #Nature
Our Nature Rehab Ranger, Aisling, has been leading guided walks & mindfulness activities at Astley Ainsley, helping staff connect with nature & reduce stress. You too can embrace autumn & enjoy the outdoors, it’s great for improving mood & overall wellbeing. #lothiangreenhealth
Green thumbs up for our soil free growing workshop yesterday @RIE_Lothian! 🌱 👍 Our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger, Lou, had a blast with colleagues from renal & liver support services, looking at growing plants without soil. Thanks to all who joined us.
#lothiangreenhealth
