Building With Nature – Larbert Woods
NHS Forth Valley has worked closely with Forestry and Land Scotland to manage, enhance and increase access to the woodland around Forth Valley Royal Hospital. This provides a great resource for local patients, staff, visitors as well as the wider community a access to beautiful greenspace which has a very positive effect on mental health and wellbeing. People of all ages walk, jog, cycle around the lochan and network of woodland paths. Many groups and organisations, including local schools, also make use of the hospital grounds for exercise, learning and a wide range of outdoor activities.
This work has been recognised with a Landscape Institute Building with Nature National Award and highlighted as an exemplar of how a shared vision for protecting and enhancing existing natural features can be achieved through collaborative working at all stages of planning, design and delivery.