Five Years of Green Flag Success at Royal Edinburgh Hospital Thanks to Dedicated NHS Lothian Teams and Partners

In 2021, the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH) in Morningside made history by becoming the first NHS site in Scotland to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award—a national benchmark for publicly accessible parks and green spaces. Now, five years on, the hospital continues to uphold this high standard thanks to the hard work and dedication of the NHS Lothian Grounds and Gardens team, NHS Lothian Charity’s Green Health team, and a network of committed third sector partners.

The Green Flag Award sets a stringent set of criteria for environmental management, community involvement, safety, and sustainability. REH has successfully met these standards every year since 2021, a testament to the long-standing commitment to green space stewardship across the hospital site and beyond.

Decades of Dedication to Green Health

At the heart of this success story is Ewan Duff, Team Leader of the NHS Lothian Grounds and Gardens team, who manages green spaces across multiple NHS Lothian sites, including REH, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Lauriston Building, PAEP, and the Chalmers Centre. In total, the team maintains nearly 100 acres of NHS land – from neatly mowed lawns and seasonal planting beds to flourishing wildflower meadows.

Throughout the year, the team’s work goes far beyond aesthetics. In autumn and winter, they perform critical behind-the-scenes duties such as clearing leaves, gritting icy paths, and responding to Met Office alerts, sometimes arriving at sites as early as 2am to ensure the grounds are safe for staff, patients, and visitors by morning. Ewan said:

We aim to create an environment that’s not just safe, but also uplifting – for people and wildlife alike, that’s what Green Flag is all about.”

The team is bolstered by a number of long-serving staff members whose knowledge and experience are invaluable. Keith Baird, who has worked with NHS Lothian for over 30 years, plays a key role in maintaining machinery and equipment. Meanwhile, this year’s Green Flag was proudly raised by Jim Goudie, a cherished team member retiring after 25 years of service. Jim has helped plant thousands of daffodil bulbs across NHS Lothian sites, leaving a lasting legacy of colour and life.

Engaging with Communities and Patients

One of the Green Flag Award’s key principles is community engagement, something NHS Lothian excels in. The REH Community Gardens, managed by the Cyrenians, is a beloved space where volunteers, including patients, play a hands-on role in gardening and land stewardship.

Other vital partners include The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Artlink, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT), and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s outreach team. Together, these groups run workshops, planting events, and creative green activities that promote mental wellbeing and foster a deep connection with nature.

In a rare and inspiring initiative, REH is also one of the few hospital sites in the UK where patients are supported to volunteer, taking part in planting trees, maintaining gardens, and nurturing a sense of pride and purpose.

A Model for Sustainable, Healthy Spaces

This work forms part of a much broader movement to improve health and sustainability through green space. NHS Lothian Charity’s Green Health programme—delivered in partnership with NHS Lothian and third sector organisations – helps to maximise the potential of 80 hectares of NHS greenspace across the region.

Connecting people with greenspace isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s proven to support physical and mental health, reduce stress, and even improve recovery times,” says Ian Mackenzie, Green Health Programme Manager at NHS Lothian Charity. “It also plays a crucial role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.”

As the Royal Edinburgh Hospital celebrates five consecutive years of Green Flag success, it’s clear that its green spaces are more than just beautiful—they’re essential to health, healing, and hope for the future.