The NHS Forest

The Conservation Volunteers is a partner in the NHS Forest, a national initiative coordinated by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. The project aims to green the NHS Estate by planting 1 tree per employee, amounting to 1.3 million trees over the next 5 years. Tree planting will help local areas to adapt to climate change and will improve the health of staff, patients and local communities through the provision of new green spaces.

NHS organisations are invited to register with the project at the NHS Forest website.

The Conservation Volunteers offers NHS organisations a competitively priced range of resources and services to help you create your own local NHS Forest:

• Help with setting up volunteer groups, including Green Gyms, where patients and the local community can get fit and healthy through tree planting and other environmental activities.
• An online shop which sells trees, plants and tools as well as a range of practical handbooks, such as Tree Planting and Aftercare.
• Membership of The Conservation Volunteers' Community Network, which provides shop discounts, access to small grants and subsidized places on training courses.
• Insurance (Public Liability and Personal Accident) for volunteers undertaking tree planting and other environmental works.
• Training in a variety of environmental skills, such as tree planting, as well as how to organise environmental activities with volunteers, including health and safety aspects.

The Conservation Volunteers can also provide experienced staff to coordinate tree planting and community events, run training courses and provide advice and support on your project. Further details about these services can be found in the NHS Forest Guidance Pack on the NHS Forest website. Sites can indicate an interest in these services when completing the NHS Forest Registration Form

For further information on NHS Forest services you can also contact a TCV Green Gym Development Manager