On Friday 5 June, CW+ brought together clinicians, designers, researchers and creative practitioners from across the UK at West Middlesex University Hospital for its first Nature and Biophilia in Hospitals Symposium.
The symposium focused specifically on hospital settings, creating a valuable opportunity for organisations working across healthcare, the NHS and beyond to share learning and explore how nature and green spaces can support patient care, staff wellbeing and stronger hospital communities.
Bringing together leading organisations
The day featured contributions from leading organisations including the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), NHS Forest, Horatio’s Garden, Forestry England, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the European Centre for Environment and Human Health. Through keynote talks and project showcases, speakers explored the evidence behind nature-based interventions and shared practical examples of how these can be embedded in hospital settings.
Highlights included insights from the RHS Wellbeing Gardens Blueprint, the NHS Forest Healthy by Nature programme and Imperial Health Charity’s Creative Walking Group.
By hosting organisations from across healthcare, research, design and the environmental sector, CW+ is helping to shape national conversations around how hospital environments can support wellbeing and experiences of care.
Sharing learning and ideas
Trystan Hawkins, Director of Patient Environment at CW+, said: ‘This symposium brings together an inspiring mix of people and organisations who are all working to weave nature more meaningfully into hospital settings. 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, CEO of Horatio’s Garden, which creates and maintains gardens in NHS spinal injury centres, said: ‘It’s incredibly valuable to come together with others across the sector who are championing the role of nature in healthcare. 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.’
Why this matters now
Across the NHS and wider healthcare sector, there is growing recognition of the role that hospital environments play in supporting wellbeing and recovery. Nature-based approaches, including gardens, planting, biodiversity projects and biophilic design, are increasingly being explored as part of wider efforts to create more sustainable and therapeutic healthcare spaces.
The symposium provided an opportunity to share evidence, practical learning and new ideas, while strengthening collaboration between healthcare organisations, charities, designers and academic partners working in this area. Discussions ranged from the design of therapeutic gardens and green hospital streetscapes to participatory programmes that connect patients, staff and communities with nature, as well as creative and digital initiatives that improve access to nature in healthcare environments.
Looking ahead
The symposium concluded with a panel discussion on the future of nature in healthcare, highlighting the importance of collaboration, evidence and sustained investment to ensure nature-based approaches are embedded within hospital settings.
The event forms part of the charity’s wider Arts in Health programme, which uses arts, design and innovation to create hospital environments that support wellbeing and improve experiences of care.
