Greenspace and Biodiversity

The Greenspace and Biodiversity workstream aims to promote and help develop greenspace and biodiversity on NHS Tayside sites. As well as helping to prevent biodiversity loss, these actions also support climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as improving health and wellbeing by connecting people to the green and natural spaces.

The workstream members have spent time identifying the greenspace and biodiversity work that is currently being undertaken across NHS Tayside, and are now working with departments, groups and individuals from across NHS Tayside, as well as with partners including from Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross councils, University of Dundee Botanic Gardens, RSPB, and Eden project.

Read about some of our current projects below.

NatureScot in partnership with NHS National Services Scotland commissioned, UK Habitat surveys (UKHabv2) on NHS Tayside hospital sites which has highlighted areas of greater than 0.2 hectares of greenspace. These surveys provide a baseline of all the current habitats present on NHS Tayside sites which will help inform future biodiversity assessment, management and priorities. This data will be used to help plan opportunities for biodiversity enhancement.

Working in partnership with the Eden Project and NHS Tayside’s Estates team over the last few years, members of the Greenspace and Biodiversity group have introduced wildflower meadows around the Ninewells hospital site. A variety of native Scottish plant species have been sown close to the entrance of Ninewells Hospital. Wildflowers can connect people with the natural world, provide a habitat for a range of different pollinators and provide a blaze of colour over the summer.

Ninewells Community Garden and NHS Tayside’s Greenspace and Biodiversity workstream organised the Big Biodiversity Bash on 13th July 2024. The day provided a fantastic opportunity for people to connect with nature and learn about the critical role biodiversity plays in sustaining healthy ecosystems. The event was supported by a wide range of organisations and experts such as The Eden Project, RSPB, Dundee Naturalist Society, Art and Nature Collective, Whimsical Lush and Kiri Stone woodswoman who helped provide a day packed with events and educational activities. Those attending learnt about butterflies, moth trapping, birds, bees, flowers, trees and mushrooms. There was a family toadstool trail, compost workshop, foraging walks, whittling workshop and create your own sun prints. A bioblitz was carried out on the day to create a snapshot of the variety of wildlife found in the Ninewells Arboretum. Over 85 different species of plants, trees, insects, mammals, birds and fungi were seen and identified. An ecology study of the Arboretum was carried out and there are future plans to enhance the biodiversity of the Arboretum with bird and bat boxes as well as further planting.

Ninewells Community Garden Wellbeing Co-ordinator worked with the oncology team to improve the view onto the oncology courtyard space. Overgrown shrubs and trees were cut back, the space was tidied up and it was replanted with bulbs and plants chosen to contribute to improving biodiversity. These were supplied through an application to NHS Tayside Community Benefit Gateway. Positive feedback was received from both patients and staff on the improvements of looking out onto the courtyard space.

Vicki Tully and Dr Millie Stevenson, co-chair the Greenspaces and Biodiversity group would love to hear about other current greenspace and biodiversity projects on NHS Tayside’s sites.

Please get in touch at tay.climatechange@nhs.scot