Putting nature at the heart of health

An artist’s impression of ‘Challenging public health inequalities across Bradford District’, winner of the ‘Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing’ and the ‘President’s Award’ at the LI Awards 2023. © Bradford Metropolitan District Council

The value of a landscape-led approach to healthcare facilities, and a look ahead to the LI Elections 2025

The health and wellbeing of people is fundamentally linked to the environmental health of nature and local communities.

By harnessing landscape in the planning, design and management of healthcare facilities, we can start to unlock a more strategic, systems-based approach to health and provide integrated, joined-up solutions to the challenges we face – not just in public health but by making the most of the landscape in terms of climate, biodiversity and delivering enhanced green growth.

In the budget unveiled by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves in the autumn, the government announced the continued delivery of the New Hospital Programme, albeit after a review has been conducted. This is encouraging news, but we argue that any review of the way we plan, design and deliver hospitals must seek to take this holistic, joined-up perspective into account, with early engagement of landscape professionals to enable a landscape-led approach that maximises value for society, nature and the economy. Early master-planning, particularly of larger healthcare facilities, will create peace and beauty as much as functionality - for patients, visitors, staff and volunteers alike: something so needed in a demanding work environment.

The evidence and case studies in this edition of the journal show the positive outcomes of quality, landscape-rich interventions. As well as providing therapy and care, healthcare facilities and their setting have the potential to help us decarbonise our built environment, boost biodiversity and kickstart urban regeneration.

A landscape-led approach, driven by landscape professionals, is essential for realising this ambition, ensuring multifunctional design and management solutions, and putting nature at the heart of health.

Looking ahead

These ambitions aren’t unique to the landscape sector. Building partnerships with the healthcare sector and across the wider built and natural environment is essential to maximise short and long-term benefits, and the Landscape Institute welcomes continued engagement and collaboration with industry, government and our members.

As we look ahead to the LI’s next Corporate Strategy, which will lead us up to our centenary, we’re making great strides to ensure the years ahead are full of opportunity and fuelled by a strong, stable and collaborative organisational culture.

Your voice in shaping the future of the profession is essential, and with the LI Elections 2025 coming up next year, I urge you all to consider the positive impact that you can make for LI members and the landscape profession. We need your voice and expertise to help lead on a range of issues, from the health of the nation to the health of the planet. There has never been a more important, exciting, moment to get involved.

Carolin Göhler FLI is President of the Landscape Institute