Green Health Activities at Western General: Autumn 2025
Join Beth, our Nature and Wellbeing Officer, for a range of nature-based activities to support your health and wellbeing.
All activities will be run by Beth unless otherwise stated. If you need additional support to participate, or have any questions, please get in touch: [email protected]
Our timetables below outline the different staff, patient and volunteer activities on offer.
| Date | Activity | For Whom | Time | Location | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 7 | Wildflowers: how to look after them and how they look after us… | Everyone | 12pm – 1:30pm (Drop in) | Outside front entrance to Anne Fergusson Building (Bad weather back-up in AFB café) | Get advice on how to create a wildflower area (whether this means a tiny patch outside your front door or a full-blown meadow!), how you can get involved with looking after them at the Western and why they matter. Every plant growing in the wildflower area at the AFB entrance has its own story, folklore and traditional uses which you can learn about too. |
| October 8 | Bio Blitz with Edinburgh Natural History Society | All staff and outpatients | 11:30am – 1:30pm (Drop in) | Outside Wellbeing Wing | Drop in to help us discover and record the wildlife around the Western. We’ll be joined by members of the Edinburgh Natural History Society – who bring a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm for ecological recordings. They will offer guided walks to anyone who’s interested, with a special focus on insects! |
| October 15 | Morning Bird Watching and Recording with RSPB | All staff welcome | 8am and 10am | Meeting at Main Hospital Drive road entrance at 8am and walking slowly in the direction of the Wellbeing Wing. | If you can’t join us for the start, phone Beth on 07516588271 to find us! You can borrow binoculars. No experience needed – only an interest! Join RSPB volunteers in recording birds (and any other wildlife we spot!) in the hospital grounds. Contact [email protected] to sign up |
| October 14 | Wildlife Friendly Gardening Workshop, by Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) | All staff | 12-2pm | Wellbeing Wing (drop in) | |
| October 21 | Wildlife Friendly Gardening Workshop, by Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) | All staff | 5:15 pm – 6:45 pm | Carrington Room in Inverleith Building | To book evening session please email [email protected] |
| October 20 | Free Seeds! | All staff | 11:30am – 1:30pm | Wellbeing Wing | No matter your age or stage, there’s something uniquely thrilling about growing from seed. And you don’t need to have your own garden – there’s plenty you can sprinkle at your front door or grow on a windowsill! Chose from a collection of wildflower seeds gathered from around the Western General grounds and surrounding areas, and vegetable seeds from the Edinburgh Seed Library. Intrigued about what a seed library is? Wondering how these seeds were all gathered for FREE and how you can do this yourself? Come along and chat! You can also bring any seeds you’d like to swap. |
| October 25 | Staff Session at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh | All staff | 10:30am – 12:30pm | Meet at the West Gate entrance | Join us for a free guided tour run by the RBGE community engagement team. Enjoy the autumn colours, discover hidden treasures off the beaten-track and finish up in the historic Botanics Cottage for refreshments. Contact [email protected] to sign up |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, just let one of the staff know and someone will come to the ward and support you
Please contact me directly either in person or by emailing [email protected] and I will do my best to support you.
Yes, most activities will unless specified.
Yes, please do unless it states booking is essential.
No, everything will be explained.