The NHS Forest is an initiative coordinated by the charity, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. Established in 2009, the initiative aims to:
- Improve the health and wellbeing of staff, patients and local communities through increasing access to green space on or near to NHS land
- Spark projects that bring together professionals and volunteers to use new and existing woodland for art, food crops, reflective or exercise spaces and to encourage biodiversity
- Highlight innovative ideas to encourage the use of green space for therapeutic purposes, including social prescribing
Our partner, Lexmark has recently supported the NHS Forest by sponsoring the planting of 150 trees. This contribution has provided a huge benefit to the Cheshire and Merseyside ICS region in which the trees were planted. All 150 trees were planted at the Countess of Chester Country Park, a former hospital site which now provides community and environmental benefits. A third of the site is planted with NHS Forest trees.
Dave Sweeny – Associate Director Of Partnerships and sustainability at Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership said – “In Cheshire and Merseyside, we’re utilising the transition to net zero as an opportunity to work with our partners to adopt new innovations, that’ll help us deliver greener and more efficient services, for the 2.7m people we serve. Our ‘Greener FootPRINT’ Project with Lexmark is one such example of this work, which involved successfully implementing Lexmark’s Smart Managed Print Services at four Hospital Trust’s in our region, to reduce paper output, printing costs, and cartridge use. Whilst supporting the adoption of a paper-lite approach to printing and improving security, that’s fit for the future, and can be scaled to tackle climate change. This recent scheme to plant trees in the region is a testament to the commitment of our partnership.”
e18, as an ethical supplier to the NHS, is dedicated to supporting the net zero targets and actively collaborating with partners such as Lexmark to achieve this goal.
Louise Wall – e18 Innovation MD said – “We understand the significance of sustainable practices and their impact on the environment and public health. Our commitment extends beyond mere compliance, as we actively seek innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly initiatives. By working closely with Lexmark and the NHS we aim to develop sustainable strategies that align with the NHS Net Zero scheme. Through responsible sourcing, efficient logistics, and eco-conscious manufacturing processes, e18 is pleased to be at the forefront of the transition towards a greener and healthier future for all.”
More information on the Lexmark sustainable offering to the NHS.
