NHS staff and volunteers plant pocket forest with over 1,700 trees
Thanks to SUGi and London Borough of Newham, over 1,700 trees of 22 different species were planted in one day as part of a drive to make the hospital grounds greener and more biodiverse. These young trees will help clear pollutants from the air and serve as a habitat for local wildlife, making the hospital a healthier, more welcoming space for both patients and staff.
As the trees grow, the pocket forest will become self-sustaining in 3 years and in as little as 40 years will develop into a mature and thriving habitat.
Adrian Wong, UK Forest Lead at SUGi said:
We have planted 28 Pocket Forests across London and the community engagement at Newham Hospital has been one of the best. It’s been fantastic to see so many people - from clinicians and nurses to school students and local families volunteer today. The forest is designed to attract biodiversity to this area of the hospital while providing a natural canopy, creating a calming environment and surrounding visitors to the hospital with vibrant colours throughout the seasons.
Asif, senior physiotherapist and pictured below said:
Connecting with nature is so important for the wellbeing of both patients and staff. That’s why I brought along our therapies team as part of our wellbeing activity for the month, and we’ve really enjoyed turning it into a competition to try and plant as many as we can!
