Mental health and wellbeing in Kent & Medway
The Human Nature Partnership is proud to have begun a new project with the NHS – this time with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).
The project is looking at improving indoor and outdoor spaces for nature across the Trust – surveying a range of sites across the estate, engaging staff and patients, and building a case for new investment in nature and mental health.
Building on experience
The project builds on our experience of working with the NHS in East London, and Homerton Hospital. At Homerton, our work provided a foundation for a new ‘Nature Ranger’ – the first urban nature ranger established by the Centre for Sustainable Health Care.
The Human Nature Partnership will bring a range of skills and knowledge to the KMPT project. These include the science and psychology of nature connection, green space ecology, expert facilitation and engagement, and urban co-design.
We also bring our unique, modular ‘toolkit’ of installations – scalable, adaptable units for biodiversity, seating, meeting and play.
Delivering the ‘Green Plan’
The Trust has a visionary ‘Green Plan‘, that includes commitments for biodiversity as well as net zero. The Trust has a strong role to play as an ‘anchor’ in the wider community – so, in addition to finding ways of bringing nature into clinical work, and providing calm and restful spaces for staff, we will be exploring ways to enable local people and third sector organisations to benefit from the Trust’s green spaces.
Pathfinder workshop
Our work began in April with a ‘pathfinder workshop’ involving Peter Prentice, Director Estates & Facilities, senior estates colleagues, and other important stakeholders representing patients, staff, and community engagement and partnership.
As Peter said on the day, ‘If we get it right with our outside spaces, we can help the journey to recovery.’ We look forward to the journey continuing.
Find out more
If you would like to explore how your organisation may benefit from connecting with nature, drop us a line.
Whatever your company’s size or purpose, we’re confident we can help you make a meaningful contribution to sustainability, wellbeing and productivity by harnessing the power of working with nature.