Green Hospital Infrastructure
and Outdoor Healthcare

Project Summary

We have been working closely with 2 health boards – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Velindre University NHS Trust.

The first scheme is a ground-breaking, green infrastructure partnership project with Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, known as “Our Health Meadow”. Working closely with staff, patients and the wider community, we have created an outdoor healthcare and rehabilitation facility based on 14 acres of woodland and meadow next to University Hospital Llandough between June 2021 and June 2023.

The second scheme involved staff, patients and the wider community in the design of Wales’ new flagship cancer treatment centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff (Velindre University NHS Trust). The new Velindre Cancer Centre aims to be the greenest hospital in the U.K. The design will embed natural materials and sustainable construction methods. It will be designed to enhance the well-being of patients and to enhance biodiversity. We have been working with the Trust to facilitate engagement in the design with patients, staff and the wider community to incorporate “green infrastructure” and community engagement. This phase of the Fit for the Future project ran for one year.

WHO IS FUNDING THE PROJECT?

Fit for the Future is a £1,051,000 ENRaW Project. ENRaW stands for: Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being. As the programme name suggests, it aims to connect improvement of natural resources with improvement of well-being. We have received £895,000 for this project through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

How will ‘Our Health Meadow’ at University Hospital Llandough look?

The Proposal is to enhance and develop a 7-acre field and 7 acres of surrounding woodland adjacent to University Hospital Llandough into an Outdoor Therapeutic Healthcare Facility. It will be designed around an edible landscape and also features landmark “Therapy Centre” built entirely from natural materials. The therapeutic outdoor activity will include the development of the site landscaping and construction of the therapy facilities, as well as the enjoyment and maintenance of the site.

This map shows the outline plan for Our Health Meadow and the features that have been planned for it

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR HEALTH MEADOW

The Our Health Meadow Project has also attracted additional funding of £145,000 from the Heritage Fund Community Woodland Project for woodland management and access improvements, £78,000 from Hubbub for building 2 round pole timber roundhouses and £5,000 from the Vale of Glamorgan Local Nature Partnership to construct some wetland areas. The partnership between Down to Earth and the Cardiff and Vale Health Charity is continuing to seek additional funding for the Nature Haven therapeutic centre and additional landscaping elements.

TRACK RECORD

This project is underpinned by 10 years of clinical research undertaken on our approach by Swansea University. You can find the latest clinical research here.

In a nutshell, we know our approach has been clinically-proven to reduce depression and anxiety levels as effectively as anti-depressants: using an outdoor-based and relationship-centred way of working.