Our natural health service: How we are building a new ranger service for NHS Lothian

As Spring begins, we are celebrating the first full year of our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger Service, a pioneering programme helping patients, staff and local communities connect with the natural environment to support health, wellbeing and recovery.

NHS Lothian is in a unique position: 46% of the estate (81 hectares) is greenspace. While research consistently proves that contact with nature reduces stress and supports recovery, there are often significant barriers preventing patients, staff and communities from accessing these areas.

To bridge this gap, our Green Health team launched the Nature Rehabilitation Ranger Service. One year later, we are looking back at how we set up this vital service and the incredible outcomes it has already achieved.

Setting up for success

Launching a new service across a major healthcare estate required a clear strategy. We began by hiring two part-time Rangers to maximise the therapeutic potential of our greenspaces while also delivering biodiversity action. We specifically chose two vastly different sites to pilot the program:

Astley Ainslie Hospital (AAH): A 42-acre site with mixed woodland and parkland, focused on long-term rehabilitation.
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE): A major acute teaching hospital with a high-stress environment and 167 acres of grounds.

These sites were selected because they were our largest greenspace assets and addressed a critical “resource gap” – ensuring that green health initiatives were available across all major NHS Lothian locations.

Year one achievements

The first year has been a testament to the power of nature-based intervention. The service recorded 1,181 Green Health engagements with patients and staff in just 12 months.

Supporting Staff Wellbeing: 58% of engagements were with staff. At the RIE, weekly guided walks and workshops helped mitigate high levels of stress and burnout for those on the front lines.
Deep Patient Engagement: At the Astley Ainslie, the Ranger provided sustained support through repeated interactions, including recurring workshops for patients in the Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme.
Biodiversity Wins: The service isn’t just for humans; it’s for the planet. We planted 20,000 pollinator-friendly bulbs across the RIE to create a more welcoming and biodiverse environment.

Impact on wellbeing and happiness

While the statistics are impressive, the feedback from those using the service is even more powerful. Our evaluation showed that:

100% of patients who took part in an activity agreed their wellbeing had improved.
100% of patients reported an increase in happiness following their engagement with a Ranger.

I was really not feeling well this morning, but after being outside in fresh air I feel so much better in myself.” – NHS Lothian Patient

Empowering our workforce

We believe in sustainability. That’s why the service worked with over 50 NHS Lothian staff members to improve their skills and confidence. By equipping frontline staff with the resources to facilitate nature-based activities directly on the wards, we are ensuring that nature becomes a permanent part of the treatment pathway.

Looking forward

As we move into year two, the goal is clear: to continue breaking down barriers to the outdoors. By treating our greenspace as a health asset, we are not just improving biodiversity, we are helping our community heal.