Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has joined forces with Climate Action North to transform green spaces across five sites, creating environments that support both people and wildlife. 
This collaboration is part of the Pollinator Parks® initiative and aims to rewild outdoor areas and boost biodiversity through community-led action.
Rewilding efforts will take place at Alnwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, North Tyneside General Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital, and Northumbria House (Cobalt). Plans include planting native species, creating habitats for wildlife, and revitalising underused green areas into vibrant, healthy ecosystems.
These rejuvenated spaces will serve as havens for relaxation, social connection, and wellbeing—benefiting patients, staff, and visitors alike. By inviting the community to reconnect with nature, the project promotes both mental and physical health.
The trust’s sustainability team will work closely with Phil Macari, Ecology and Community Rewilding Director at Climate Action North, to bring the vision to life.
Phil said: “Nature is deeply connected to human health. This rewilding initiative is designed with both patients and staff in mind, offering opportunities for small-scale rewilding on-site and ways to engage staff, visitors, and the public in meaningful, nature-based experiences.”
Designed with practicality in mind, the rewilded areas will be seamlessly integrated into the daily operations of each site, making them easy for facilities teams and ground staff to maintain sustainably.
Clare Winter, head of sustainability at the trust added: “This is a tangible way to bring nature back into our everyday healthcare settings. By gently rewilding parts of our sites, we’re creating peaceful, green spaces that support both people and wildlife. We’re excited to focus on engagement, education, and ecological enhancement together.”
In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, this project highlights how sustainability can be embedded into healthcare. It’s a forward-thinking step toward building greener, healthier hospitals—where nature and community wellbeing go hand in hand.
Through this partnership, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is leading by example, showing how hospitals can play a key role in environmental stewardship while enhancing the quality of life for all.