Astley Ainslie Hospital

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.

We are currently recruiting a Nature Rehabilitation Ranger for the Astley Ainslie to lead on the delivery of the Greenspace Management Plan. They will act as a specialist for the conservation of and engagement with the site’s greenspaces. The ranger will develop and deliver a programme of greenspace related enhancements and activities designed to increase biodiversity, and engage patients, staff and local residents.

We are working with the Work Well team to refurbish the courtyard at Woodlands House for staff and patient use, with the aim of bringing the courtyard back to life with new planting and upcycled furniture. Currently the courtyard is overgrown with bushes and has broken furniture which deters people from using the space. Landscape Designer, Krystina Barko, has created a design, in consultation with staff and patient groups to create garden ‘rooms’, distinct areas which can be used individuals and small groups alike. Currently, there is not a great deal of diversity of plants, the intention being to introduce plants that not only provoke the senses but encourage pollinating insects.

Garden designer, Krystina Barko, is leading 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. The area has been cleared by the NHS Lothian grounds maintenance team. It is planned that the replacement planting scheme will be made up of a diverse range of native species in order to encourage pollinators, birds and other wildlife.