Northumbria NHS Trust and Climate Action North to rewild five hospital sites
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is working with Climate Action North to create spaces that benefit both people and wildlife across five hospital sites, as part of community rewilding efforts.
Together, they will focus on rewilding outdoor areas and boosting biodiversity across the hospital grounds as part of Climate Action North's Pollinator Parks® initiative.
Community rewilding will take place at Alnwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, North Tyneside General Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital, and Northumbria House (Cobalt). The plan includes planting native plants, creating wildlife habitats, and turning underused green spaces into natural, healthy environments.
These rewilded areas will be designed for relaxation, social interaction, and wellbeing, providing calming outdoor spaces for patients, staff, and visitors. Through community rewilding, the project encourages people to connect with nature, promoting both physical and mental health.
Phil Macari, Ecology and Community Rewilding Director at Climate Action North, is working with Clare Winter and Katie Storey from the Trust’s Sustainability Team to bring the plan to life.
Phil said: “Nature has a powerful connection to human health. This rewilding plan will be designed with both patients and staff in mind. It will create opportunities for mini-rewilding on-site and explore ways to engage staff, the public, and visitors in health and learning experiences."
Above: Phil Macari and Clare Winter
The community rewilding plan will not only benefit wildlife but also places people at the heart of the initiative. It will be designed to fit seamlessly into the daily management of the sites, ensuring that both ground staff and hospital teams can easily integrate and maintain the new green spaces in a practical, sustainable way.
Clare said: “This is a practical step to bring nature back into everyday healthcare spaces, offering a serene and healthy environment that can support both wildlife and people. We are excited to focus on engagement and nature enhancement together, gently rewilding parts of the sites and creating more space for people.”
As the climate crisis and biodiversity loss continue to be pressing issues, this initiative demonstrates how sustainability can be embedded in healthcare. This project is an important step toward creating greener, healthier hospitals, where both nature and people can thrive.
By partnering with Climate Action North, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust sets an example of how hospitals can help protect the environment while improving community wellbeing through community rewilding.
Climate Action North’s portfolio of work is primarily funded by corporate sponsorships from the business community, which is then reinvested into climate action initiatives across the North of England. In addition to Pollinator Parks®, this includes teaching communities through Global Wilders®, cleaning rivers with North East Action for Rivers, organising litter picks and beach cleans, and building Climate Resilient Communities.
To sponsor Climate Action North, email info@climateactionnortheast.org.uk