Third round of funding announced to expand nature-based spaces supporting the wellbeing of NHS staff, patients and communities

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25 February 2026

Today we announced that a further 15 NHS charities across the UK are set to receive a share of £500,000 in funding to create and enhance green spaces that support the health and wellbeing of NHS staff, patients and local communities. Delivered in partnership with environmental charity Hubbub and Starbucks, the latest round of funding builds on growing momentum behind nature-based approaches to improving wellbeing and tackling health inequalities.

Evaluation data from the previous two rounds of funding indicates strong positive outcomes from the green space created so far, with 96% of patient surveyed saying access to these spaces had improved their wellbeing, and 79% of staff reporting that the environments helped them manage challenges they were experiencing at work. Research also shows that eight in ten people feel healthier and more energetic after spending time in nature, yet one in five people in the UK still live without easy access to green space, underlining the importance of bringing nature directly into healthcare settings.

Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive at NHS Charities Together said:

Access to green spaces and the benefits that this brings to our health and wellbeing should not be something limited to a lucky few, but available to everyone across the UK no matter where they live. This latest round of funding, in partnership with Starbucks and Hubbub, will build on our achievements and learnings to date and enable even more NHS charities to create and enhance access to green spaces that support the physical and mental health of NHS staff, patients and local communities.

This third round of funding will bring the total number of projects supported by the Greener Communities Fund to 32. To date, £2.2 million has been distributed to 17 projects, with more than 7,000 NHS staff, patients, volunteers and community members already benefitting from increased access to green spaces. Over 100,000 additional people have engaged with funded projects through events and activities, demonstrating the growing reach of nature-led wellbeing initiatives across the UK.

Projects funded in this latest phase range from the development of a biodiversity-rich sensory garden at Tŷ Elwy Emergency Coordination Centre in Wales, to the transformation of an underused lawn at Prospect Park mental health hospital in Berkshire into an accessible therapeutic nature trail, and the creation of a wellbeing garden at Peterborough Ambulance Station designed to support staff and volunteers. Together, these projects reflect a growing shift towards creating welcoming outdoor environments that support recovery, reduce stress and strengthen connections within healthcare communities.

One previously funded initiative, Growing Good Health at Guild Park, a psychiatric inpatient facility near Preston, uses food growing and outdoor activity to inspire recovery.

A participant shared:

I came to grow your own around 18 months ago… grow your own isn’t a clinical space, it’s a place where you can be yourself and relax and get away from the ward with like-minded people. I like being a part of maintaining the site because it gives me a sense of purpose and I know other people are going to be able to enjoy the space because of what I’ve done.

The Greener Communities Fund brings together health, environmental and community expertise to maximise impact. Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder at Hubbub, said:

“This fund has potential to make a positive difference not just to people’s wellbeing, but also to the environment. As well as the direct environmental impact of more green spaces, studies have shown that spending time in nature makes people more likely to make environmentally friendly lifestyle choices.”

Phil Peacock, Loyalty, Partnerships & Digital Lead at Starbucks, added:

“Starbucks is delighted to support the Greener Communities Fund. Green space can make a real difference for NHS staff, the patients they care for, and local communities across the UK, creating calm places for rest, recovery, and healthy lives. We’re proud to play a part in helping more of these spaces come to life.”

The 15 NHS Charities to receive funding in this round are:

· Berkshire Health Charity

· East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Charitable Funds

· Lanarkshire Health Board Endowment Funds

· Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust Charity

· Leicester Hospitals Charity

· North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust Charity

· Oxford Health Charity

· Sheffield Hospitals Charity

· St George's Hospital Charity

· Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund

· The Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust General Charity

· The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity

· Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Charity

· Western Health and Social Care Trust Funds

· Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund

Reference sources:

1. From a survey of projects completed from rounds one and two of funding: Of 103 patients surveyed, 96% said access to the funded green spaces had improved their wellbeing and Of 99 staff surveyed, 94% said access to the funded green spaces had made them more relaxed. 79% said it helped them to deal with problems they were experiencing at work

2. Research commissioned by the Greener Communities Fund in November 2023 found that: Eight in ten of us (80%) find spending time in green spaces makes us feel healthier and more energetic, while 70% of us report improved mental and physical health after spending time outdoors. Benefits include improved mood (75%), immune benefits (36%), sleeping more soundly (28%) and feeling less stressed (38%) . This online survey of 2000 UK adults (nationally representative was commissioned by Barley Communications and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected between 20th-26th November 2023.

3. Research from Friends of The Earth based on ONS statistics and public data on green spaces in the UK: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/access-green-space-england-are-you-missing-out