Royal Edinburgh Hospital

Celebrating the great outdoor spaces of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Summer Sessions offers an exciting programme of workshops and events for patients and staff. Enjoy activities ranging from an Alexander McCall Smith reading to a performance by the Bamberger Brass Quintet. Click to see the full calendar of events. Learn more

We were thrilled to have completed the new all ability path to the Community Gardens – and this is just the start. We are working with partners on site to put some benches along the path and get patients involved in doing some planting. This project delivered improvements to the paths and ground flora in the woodland along the southern boundary of the site.

Volunteers and Charity staff collaborated on enhancing the Oasis Garden located by the glazed corridor next to the broch.

Their efforts included painting the building, installing planters and spreading wood chippings on the ground. These improvements not only add aesthetic appeal but also contribute to create a welcoming and tranquil space for patients, visitors, and staff alike. Through their dedication and hard work, the volunteers and charity staff have significantly improved the environment surrounding the Oasis Garden.

The Art Box at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital has been filled with colourful artwork created by patients during a series of workshops with artist Natasha Russell.

During the workshop patients worked from references and imagination, to create artwork linked to plants, nature, insects and birds. Exploring ideas for what they would like to see in the mural.

These ideas have now been brought to life as a beautiful nature-inspired mural by the glasshouses, painted by Natasha, alongside staff and patients. This is more than just adding some colour to the hospital grounds, it is also about creating an environment that lifts spirits and aids in the journey to recovery.

As part of a move to create a more inviting atmosphere for patients, staff and visitors at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, we’ve teamed up with a local artist, Andy Archer, to create a series of hand-drawn illustrative artworks celebrating the site. These artworks highlight the green spaces and charity partners connected to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

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The courtyard project at Mackinnon House has transformed this hospital space into a vibrant accessible area. Thanks to the work of the hospital community, The Conservation Volunteers, and Volunteer Edinburgh the revitalised space is now widely utilised by both staff and patients.

The initiative involved painting tables, benches and sheds blue, planting new greenery, creating signs for the growing spaces, and adding a little library, enriching the hospital experience for all who use the space.

These vibrant and unique quilts have been created in collaboration with artist Laura Spring. Through this project, the custom quilts help patients enjoy outdoor spaces regardless of the weather conditions. The quilts not only meet stringent fire and health safety regulations but have also been specifically designed for use in all hospital wards, enhancing the patient experience and allowing individuals to fully embrace the outdoors.

The Greenspace Management Plan aims to recognise the site’s successes but also identify areas for improvement. It is hoped this project will pave the way for other NHS sites to follow suit based on its successes and learning and perhaps result in more Green Flags at NHS sites.

The IPCU courtyard improvement project, undertaken in collaboration with The Conservation Volunteers and the hospital community at REH, aimed to enhance the outdoor space for patients.

Installing raised beds, allows patients to participate in gardening activities, making it more accessible for those on the wards. This project not only improves the look of the courtyard but also creates a therapeutic environment, promoting physical activity and engagement among patients during their recovery process.

This three year project, funded by NHS Lothian Charity and led by the Cyrenians, aimed to establish a sustainable person-centred green health activity pathway at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. The therapeutic activities supported the patient community to use the community gardens and associated greenspace to improve their health and wellbeing.

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