RSPB Volunteer, Jane Taylor, tells us about how she's been helping the Royal Bournemouth Hospital give nature a home...
Great fun last week, with a stall at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Sustainability day. The RSPB stall was in the main reception and generated lots of interest from staff and patients alike. The event was held to promote the great work the hospital is doing to bring nature onto their site, and also improve sustainability across all departments.
Photo 1: Sustainability Day Poster
Laura Dale, the hospital Sustainability Manager has been working collaboratively with the RPSB to enhance the hospital grounds for both wildlife and human health. The hospital site has a large lake area and adjacent wildlife area which now has lots of bird boxes, insect houses etc. The Trust has a wide ranging biodiversity plan, which has been reviewed and updated this year to encompass a number of new initiatives.
Photo 2: Left to right - Laura Dale - Sustainability Manager for The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, RSPB Volunteer Wayne Prosper and RSPB Volunteer Jane Taylor)
Laura Dale said: “The Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are grateful for the invaluable support and guidance that they have received from the RSPB in compiling and writing their Trust Biodiversity Management Plan. The actions implemented have enabled us to become the first Hospital in the UK to gain to Green Flag Award in 2016.”
The Green Flag ward recognises the biodiversity, community and sustainability work the Hospital have been doing.
Laura continued: “Within our Trust we understand the importance of managing our grounds in a sustainable and sympathetic manner and are working hard to promote the link between green spaces and their positive benefits for mental health and wellbeing.”
Jane Taylor, RPSB Volunteer, said: “It has been so rewarding working with Laura, and her Sustainability Assistant, Lisa Mills. We all want to enhance the site to maximise benefits for staff, patients, visitors and wildlife alike. Creating calming green places for people to contact nature at often very stressful times is so vital and the hospital has wonderful grounds to do just that! The new biodiversity plan offers a multitude of benefits for local wildlife - so everyone’s a winner! Warmest congratulations to Royal Bournemouth Hospital on their Green Flag award, very well deserved.”
Photo 3: RSPB Volunteers Wayne and Jane had a fab time at The Royal Bournemouth Sustainability Day.