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.

Join Aisling for some seasonal nature-based activities this November.

Patients and staff have been really keen to learn more about the birds, find out more about what we can do in winter to get us outdoors and explore what the site has to offer. From light gardening to mindfulness sessions and wildlife workshops, there’s lots coming up.

Find out what’s on by visiting our Green Health Activities at Astley Ainslie page.

Join Aisling for some seasonal nature-based activities this December.

From Christmas wreaths made from natural materials found on site, to wildlife walk and wheels where you can explore the site and all the species within it. Recent sightings include: great spotted woodpeckers, fungi, gold crests nuthatches and some tree flowers.

Find out what’s on by visiting our Green Health Activities at Astley Ainslie page.

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.