News from our Green Health Network
Check our bulletin board regularly to keep up to date with what’s happening in our Green Health Network
Our Green Health Network brings people together to make better use of the grounds and gardens on the NHS estate, focussing on unlocking the potential of these greenspaces for improved wellbeing and environmental sustainability.
Upcoming network dates:
- Positive Health: Green Health and Tonic Arts Network Gathering 2025 – 13 May 2025 – in person – Complete our online event registration form to secure your space.
Past Networking Events
Green Health Network Event: 25 March 2025
Our March event focused on staff wellbeing, looking at how you can utilise greenspace to improve health wellbeing. We discussed what green health assets are available to help all staff, with a special focus on our work at both Astley Ainslie and the Edinburgh Bioquarter with our Rehabilitation Rangers and Work Well leads.
We also explored some of the challenges and opportunities around how the NHS estate and other local greenspace can support staff wellbeing and would welcome your thoughts as part of our discussion.
For those attending in person, there was a guided tour of the green spaces around Astley Ainslie.
Ian Mackenzie, NHS Lothian Charity, Green Health Programme Manager, shares his reflections and takeaways from the event.
Working together to improve health and wellbeing in NHS Lothian
14 May 2024
Face to Face joint network event.
We were delighted to welcome members of our Green Health and Tonic Arts networks to our combined Network event, looking at how we use arts and greenspace to improve wellbeing in hospitals and health care settings across Lothian.
Attendees had the opportunity to take part in a range of workshops, working with other network members to share experiences and develop learning.
Connecting and Reconnecting: 6 Sep 2023
The first event was all about reconnecting and getting to know each other along with finding out what members are looking for from this network. The top three things that came out of the discussion were:
– Sharing good practice and sharing learning
– Information on what’s happening
– Exploring partnerships and collaboration
Project Case Studies and Referrals: 14 Nov 2023
In this session, we explored case studies and looked at address common challenges, focussing on two top themes:
– Showcasing opportunities for green health
– How people come to projects / or ‘referrals’ – including dilemmas and issues for project users and project teams.
Greenspaces for Staff Wellbeing: 6 March 2024
We were delighted to welcome Emma Martindale, Training and Standards Officer and Social and Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner at Trellis Scotland. Emma looked at how Trellis can help green health wellbeing practitioners:
– Trellis is a charity focused on supporting gardening for therapy and for wellbeing
– Trellis has an aim of access for all to outdoor wellbeing
– Opportunities for CPD available through Trellis
The event finished with a tour of the greenspaces around the Western General for those who attended in person.
Lothian Green Social Prescribing Forum
Our first Lothian Green Social Prescribing Forum created space to connect and share our work and allowed us to have good conversations about what is working and what we can do better.
Green Health Network – Recorded Sessions
Creating Green Breathing Spaces
Using the NHS Estate for Therapeutic Activities
The Transitional Power of Gardens
Making Space for Nature
Join our network
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 and a willingness to be involved with promoting and supporting green health activities across Lothian.