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NHS Forest donate trees for our sites to celebrate National Tree Week

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in #ProudofDPT, News, Recovery and wellbeing on 15th December, 2023

This year, National Tree Week was celebrated from the 27 November to the 3 December and is a national campaign by the Tree Council to mark the beginning of the UK’s tree-planting season.

NHS Forest have distributed 5,500 trees to 29 NHS sites to mark National Tree Week and we were really lucky to have received 450 of these young whips (young trees which are approximately 1-2 years old).

Many of the donated whips are being planted around Langdon Hospital and nearly 100 are being planted at New Leaf to infill existing hedging.

Alex Watkins, Occupational Therapist Technician, is coordinating the planting of 300 of these young trees as part of the Devon Hedge and orchard restoration project which provides green prescribing opportunities for patients from the Dewnans. The project has been in place for approximately three years and has already planted 500 trees which will increase the biodiversity of 150 meters of hedging at Holm Bush field at Langdon Hospital. The hedging can be viewed as part of the buzzard circular walk.

Preparing to plant the trees Planting the new boundary at Landgon Hospital

The remainder of the trees for Langdon have been planted by Brian Leys, Gardener and Rod Butler, Estates Officer, who have incorporated daffodils around the base of the whips. The trees have been planted to form a semicircle surrounding the outside seating area provided for patients, visitors and staff who go to the Plym Café. When the trees mature, they will provide a beautiful green canopy for those who sit beneath their branches.

New trees are planted around the seating area at Langdon Hospital

NHS Forest distribute trees annually to NHS sites across the country to encourage green prescribing, biodiversity and provide space for health and wellbeing. The trees acquired this year were ordered in specific bundles to ensure they provide a variety of benefits such as attracting wildlife or adding spring colour to the areas where they will grow.

It is hoped that planting trees on healthcare sites will create better places to live and work, as well as shade, and food for native wildlife. Trees also store carbon which helps towards our net zero goals.

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