Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport is set to see a significant boost to its outdoor garden areas with the appointment of a dedicated nature recovery ranger, Matt Ross. Working two days a week on the site, Ross will focus on creating more nature-friendly green spaces and supporting staff, patients, and visitors to access them for physical and mental wellbeing.
Part of a Nationwide NHS Initiative
Ross is one of nine rangers deployed across ten NHS Trusts nationwide as part of the NHS Forest / Healthy by Nature project, spearheaded by The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) and funded by the National Lottery. The project, managed by CSH’s Green Space for Health team, also oversees the NHS Forest initiative, which has planted over 160,000 trees across hundreds of NHS sites.
The rangers aim to inspire and support healthcare sites in transforming their green spaces for health, wellbeing, and biodiversity. The project is expected to benefit over 86,000 community members across the ten areas by connecting people with nature at NHS sites.
Dual Role at Tameside Hospital
In addition to his work at Stepping Hill, Ross will also spend two days a week at Tameside Hospital, working with both Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. This dual role underscores the collaborative approach to integrating nature into healthcare settings across the region.
Time spent in green spaces has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety and benefit numerous physical and mental health conditions. The initiative also aligns with the NHS's commitment to tackling climate change and improving biodiversity, demonstrating how healthcare settings can lead in preventative and community-based care as outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
Positive Feedback from Pilot Projects
Sarah Jordan, Green Space Director at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, highlighted the project's success: "Nature is more than just a nice to have, our pilot project showed that bringing nature and healthcare together creates incredible benefits for everyone involved. Over 90 per cent of pilot participants reported improved wellbeing and told us that the programme made their area a better place to live."
Ross is currently reviewing opportunities to plant more wildflowers and pollinator-friendly plants on site and examining where mowing plans could be adjusted to increase biodiversity. He is also working in courtyard garden spaces and will run nature connection drop-in activities for staff over the summer.
Experienced Ranger with a Passion for Nature
Ross brings extensive experience to the role, having spent nine years running an educational and community centre for the Peak District National Park Rangers and running his own health walk business. His previous initiatives include a social prescription 'woodland wellbeing' group and a programme of Nature Prescriptions for Derbyshire.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Ross said: "I’ve loved nature my whole life, and have been fortunate to spend most of my career connecting people with it. Time and time again, I have seen the health wellbeing benefits that can be unlocked with people spending time in nature, and it's great to be bringing that to people in the hospital services in Stockport and Tameside, whether that’s patients, visitors or staff. I’m really looking forward to working with colleagues and making real and lasting improvements soon."
Stepping Hill Hospital is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
