Astley Ainslie Hospital

Our Nature Rehabilitation Ranger, Aisling Murphy, works with patients and staff on site three days a week. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having trained as a nurse, worked in social care, and served as a freelance gardener and wellness nature guide. Aisling is passionate about connecting people with nature and witnessing the positive impact it has on both physical and mental health. Aisling is excited to use her diverse skillset to enhance the hospital grounds’ biodiversity and integrate nature into the lives of patients and staff.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported all the activities so far and for making me feel welcome in my new role. I’m looking forward to doing more this year.”

Bird (c) Lorne Gill, NatureScot

The Big Garden Bird watch is coming up, and there will be opportunities to get involved in the biggest citizen survey in the world during the 2nd and 3rd week of February! Aisling will also be doing bird ID and walks around this time too – No previous skills or knowledge necessary and all equipment will be provided.

Plans for orchard care, outdoor picnic benches, pollinator workshops and wildflower meadows are underway – We can’t wait to share more information with you when it’s available!

Aisling has been engaging with staff and patients on site to look at different ways to access the beautiful nature around the hospital for improved wellbeing. She has done some nature-based mindfulness activities on the wards and balconies and our walk and wheel events have been a great way to explore the site and understand more about the different ecosystems within it. One patient said he really appreciated the time spent outside to calm his mind.

If the weather has been against us, we’ve been able to bring our sessions indoors and talk more about local wildlife, flora and fauna. We had a particularly good session about fungi where participants were surprised to find out that fungi can be trained to break down cigarettes butts and used nappies. One of our patients was happy to be able to bring family along to join in too.

We’ve been working with volunteers to prepare for Spring by clearing some of the flower beds around the site and planting nearly 700 bulbs to bring some colour in the Spring.

We also took advantage of Storm Bert blowing down some twigs and branches and, with the help of volunteers, we collected these and other foliage to use in our wreath making sessions. One staff member who took part said they have never made one but always wanted to and really enjoyed it. With a patient adding that they thoroughly enjoyed doing something different.

Garden designer, Krystina Barko, has led a project to reinvigorate the planted areas around the entrance to the SMART Centre. Previously, these areas were unmanageable and mono-cultural, with limited biodiversity. There are nine different services based within the SMART Centre (over 100 staff members) with over 25,000 outpatient appointments per year. Krystina has consulted with staff and the SMART Patient Focus Public Involvement Group in creating the planting scheme. Cleared by the NHS Lothian grounds maintenance team, the area now has a diverse range of native species, encouraging pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Learn more…

We are pleased to share with you the update of the courtyard refurbishment at Woodlands House. In collaboration with the Work Well team, we have revitalised this space for both staff and patients to use. The courtyard, once overgrown with bushes and broken furniture, has been transformed with new planting and upcycled furniture, making it an inviting space.

Landscape Designer, Krystina Barko, in consultation with staff and patient groups, has created a design featuring ‘rooms’, distinct areas which can be used individuals and small groups alike. The diversity of plants has been significantly improved, introducing species that stimulate the senses and attract pollinating insects, adding both beauty and ecological value to the courtyard. The newly regenerated space is now ready to be enjoyed by all. Learn more…

The Edinburgh 1 million trees project has kindly donated sixty semi-mature, specimen trees to the Charity for a number of sites. This includes eighteen flowering cherries that have been used to reinstate the cherry tree avenues running from Blackford Pavilion towards the Occupational Therapy building and around the Scientific block running towards the South Oswald Street entrance. Planting will commenced from November, complementing the single cherry planted by staff at the 100^th anniversary celebration day. Seven apple trees are also being planted to supplement the existing orchard situated beside the consultants’ bungalow.

The planting of trees is an output outlined in the Green Space Management plan for the site which we will continue to implement, including the creation of the first wildflower meadows, which have been agreed with the gardening team but not yet implemented.

The Grounds and Gardens team worked hard to tidy up the grounds of  the Hospital in time for its 100^th anniversary celebrations in 2023. They planted hundreds of spring-flowering bulbs (crocus; daffodils; narcissi and tulips) which will bloom across the site in the spring. This will create greater visual interest and improve the biodiversity across the site.

The planting of bulbs is an output outlined in the Green Space Management plan for the site which we will continue to implement, including the creation of the first wildflower meadows, which have been agreed with the gardening team but not yet implemented.