RSPB brings nature’s healing power to NHS

The RSPB are supporting the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (the RD&E) to enhance their outdoor spaces for staff, volunteers, patients, carers, visitors and local wildlife.

A number of the outdoor spaces located at the RD&E Wonford site’s have recently been renovated – this includes the development of a new wildflower meadow area, a staff garden, and a memory courtyard. The support offered by the RSPB will help the RD&E to enhance these spaces and make sure they benefit the Trust’s local wildlife too.

In addition, the RSPB are supporting the Trust to create garden spaces for therapy, fitness, tranquillity, and relaxing sensory areas. This supports the Trust’s longer-term aim of increasing the presence of wildlife in these gardens, which has been shown to improve mental and physical health.

Dave Tarbet, Director of Business, Innovation & Sustainability for the RD&E and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We recognise that good quality green space has a hugely positive impact on people’s health, and many of our staff have said that these gardens provide a relaxing space where they can take their breaks. We are very grateful to the RSPB for helping us to review our outdoor spaces and make sure that our local wildlife benefits too.”

Jane Taylor, RSPB’s Green Infrastructure Champion for Devon added: “it has been a joy to work with the RD&E on this project. I hope the review enables the RD&E to enhance their wonderful outdoor spaces for the many thousands of people who pass through the site each year. As biodiversity improvements are gradually implemented, staff and patients can enjoy having green-space with more bird song, flowers, bees and butterflies. We know that a little moment of delight in the company of wildlife can help us all through a stressful day and outdoor spaces have become increasing vital in the last year.”