Green Health Network Event
Unlocking the potential of volunteers on the NHS estate
This network meeting is your opportunity to discuss how we work with volunteers to grow our impact. Volunteers support our work in many different ways, from individuals in the community gardens to corporate group days.
You will be able to share your experiences, and explore new ways to unlock the potential of volunteers to enhance the natural environment of our NHS estates while promoting health and wellbeing.
This is a space to celebrate successes, troubleshoot challenges, and gain practical inspiration for future projects. Whether you’re involved in planting, nature walks, therapeutic gardening, or conservation, your contribution is vital, and this session is dedicated to supporting your growth.
Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026
Time: 12 midday to 1pm
Location: Online via teams. Join our network to receive your meeting link.
Join our network to attend!
If you haven’t already, make sure you are signed up to our Green Health Network to receive your invitation. After joining our network we will send you diary invites for our upcoming events, including this one!
Who is it for?
These network sessions are suitable for current network members and any NHS Lothian staff or voluntary sector partners who feel passionately about the benefits of nature and their potential to improve health and tackle climate change.
Why should I attend?
Our Green Health Network focuses on connecting people, fostering collaboration, and sharing ideas across the network. We always aim to facilitate meaningful discussions and explore ways to support the network’s shared goals of improving wellbeing, sharing knowledge, and fostering partnerships.
Our Green Health events are a great way to:
- Contribute to professional development
- Share ideas and learning
- Make connections with others
Upcoming dates
We run a series of events throughout the year to connect people and practice across NHS Lothian and beyond. We will be featuring some of the amazing projects that are already happening and hear about how people have collaborated to overcome some of the barriers.
Our next events will be:
- 13th May 2026
Not joined our Network yet?
If you feel passionately about the benefits of nature and its potential to improve health and tackle climate change, then our Green Health Network is a great way to share ideas, connect with others and do some professional development.
Get a feel for some of the things we discuss at our networking events by watching our short videos below:
Creating Green Breathing Spaces
In this short recording, Inga Cosway from the Work Well team, gives us some insight into the work being undertaken to develop the “New Royal Mile” at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and also introduces the new ‘Put Your Emotional PPE On’ campaign.
Watch here
Using the NHS Estate for Therapeutic Activities
In this short recording, Linda Walker, Head Occupational Therapist for Adult, Forensic and Older People’s Health Services shares her experience of working from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital to deliver therapeutic activities on NHS grounds.
Watch here
The Transitional Power of Gardens
In this short recording, Chris Jones, Patient Engagement Coordinator with Cyrenians, working at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Astley Ainslie Hospital, talks about work undertaken to develop meaningful and active participation in different areas of hospital grounds.
Watch here
Making Space for Nature
In this short recording, Jim Scott, Grounds Supervisor at the Western General Hospital, talks about what goes on behind the scenes.
Watch here