West Mid Hosts Symposium on Nature in Hospital Care
Experts consider how green spaces can improve patient care and staff wellbeing
Delegates at the Nature and Biophilia in Hospitals Symposium
June 11, 2026
Healthcare leaders, designers and researchers from across the UK gathered at West Middlesex University Hospital this week to explore how nature and green spaces can improve patient outcomes, staff wellbeing and the overall hospital environment.
The event, hosted by CW+—the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust—marked its first Nature and Biophilia in Hospitals Symposium, bringing together experts from healthcare, the NHS and the cultural sector to share ideas and practical approaches.
The symposium placed a strong emphasis on the growing body of evidence showing that access to nature can positively influence patient recovery, wellbeing and experiences of care. It also highlighted the role of thoughtful design, arts and environmental interventions in shaping more supportive healthcare settings.
Organisations taking part included the Royal Horticultural Society, NHS Forest, Horatio’s Garden, Forestry England, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, reflecting a broad, cross-sector commitment to integrating nature into healthcare.
Through keynote talks and project showcases, speakers outlined how nature-based approaches can be incorporated into hospitals in practical ways. Discussions covered the design of therapeutic gardens and green spaces, the development of hospital streetscapes, and participatory programmes connecting patients, staff and communities with nature. Creative and digital initiatives aimed at improving access to natural environments were also explored.
Featured examples included the RHS Wellbeing Gardens Blueprint, the NHS Forest Healthy by Nature programme and Imperial Health Charity’s Creative Walking Group—all demonstrating how nature can be embedded into care pathways and hospital life.
The West Mid recently opened its own garden
Trystan Hawkins, Director of Patient Environment at CW+, said the symposium offered a valuable opportunity to build partnerships and share learning. “This symposium brings together an inspiring mix of people and organisations who are all working to weave nature more meaningfully within hospital settings,” he said. “By focusing specifically on healthcare environments, we’re able to share practical learning and build the partnerships needed to make lasting change for patients, staff and communities.”
Katie Tait, Chief Executive of Horatio’s Garden, stressed the importance of recognising green spaces as an essential part of hospital infrastructure. “Gardens are not simply an ‘add-on’—they are a vital part of creating environments that support recovery, wellbeing and dignity for patients and their families,” she said.
The symposium concluded with a panel discussion examining the future of nature in healthcare, with speakers highlighting the importance of collaboration, continued research and sustained investment to ensure that nature-based approaches become embedded across hospital settings
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