A WILDFLOWER corridor is being created at Warwick Hospital.
Staff, patients and visitors will all be able to enjoy the wildflower area once it is created at the rear of the hospital, thanks to Warwickshire County Council’s Green Shoots Community Climate Change Fund.
WCC has shared its £1million fund between a range of small, community powered initiatives across the county addressing the climate change emergency.
And the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has been given £22,980 in funding for the wildflower corridor to boost Warwick Hospital’s biodiversity.
It will be the hospital’s first wildflower habitat and will provide a number of benefits from increased plant diversity – and in turn insect, bird and invertebrate types, a “palate of colour” in an urban environment, increased carbon and harmful particulate capture in Warwick and active involvement of the community in managing the corridor, as well as improved staff and patient well being as a result of access to greenspace.
Cristina Calleja, SWFT Sustainability Manager, said: “South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2040 and we’ve set out an ambitious plan to achieve this. As part of this work, we aim to enhance the quality of our existing greenspaces, whilst promoting their use to staff, patients and visitors. We have seen how access to greenspaces has positive mental and physical health impacts, including improving the patient hospital experience, promoting active recovery and reducing staff stress. This is without the benefits protecting our biodiversity brings. This project will only further prioritise the importance of retaining green spaces in an urban environment.”
WCC climate spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms added: “The Wildflower Corridor at Warwick Hospital is a superb example of an organisation using the space it has in order to make a difference to its carbon footprint and impact on the environment.
“Located in a heavily developed part of the town, the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has a ten year plan for future development of Warwick Hospital, but has had the foresight to retain this sizeable pocket of land at the rear of the site to develop this wildflower corridor.
“I look forward to this site being turned into a beautiful wildflower corridor and realising its benefits for the hospital, its staff, patients, visitors and the wider community.”
