At Community Health Partnerships (CHP), we champion the role of nature and biodiversity in tackling climate change for a Greener NHS. We believe that enhancing green spaces offers a powerful, dual solution: it not only helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change but also significantly enhances the health and wellbeing of our building users and local communities.
Our commitment to a healthier, greener future underpins our partnership working with our tenants, LIFTCos, NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), and suppliers, to support the NHS’s goal of becoming the world’s first net-zero healthcare system. We recognise that healthcare estates and facilities contribute approximately 15% to the NHS’s carbon footprint, and focusing on robust carbon reduction strategies, innovative sustainability initiatives, and biodiversity enhancements across our portfolio.
At CHP, we are proud to support a growing number of green initiatives across the NHS estate through our Green Fund, a budget focusing on enhancing biodiversity, improving staff wellbeing, and creating more welcoming environments for patients and visitors.
Wildpods at CHP health centres across the South
At Brune Community Garden, volunteers built a Wildpod that now serves as a habitat for hedgehogs, amphibians, invertebrates, and more.
Eight sites in the CHP South Region have recently had Wildpod installed, thanks to the hard work of our Operations and Relationship Manager’s (ORM), local volunteers and the support of the CHP Green Fund.
The sites are:
- Oak Park Community Clinic, Havant, Hampshire
- Brune Medical Centre, Gosport, Hampshire
- Fareham Community Hospital, Hampshire
- Adelaide Health Centre, Southampton, Hampshire
- Rowner Health Centre, Gosport, Hampshire
- Gosport Medical Centre, Hampshire
- Praze-an-Beeble Surgery, Cambourne, Cornwall
- The Clays Surgery, Roche, Cornwall
What is a Wild Pod
WildPod is a planter that is designed to attract wildlife into smaller spaces – from patios and back yards to roof terraces and balconies. Anywhere that space is at a premium, WildPod can be added as a stand-alone feature or as part of a rewilding project.
The WildPod includes:
- Hedgehog house
- Bee hotel
- Butterfly house
- Amphibian refuge
- Invertebrate hotel
- Small mammal nest box
- Rot hole
- Wet habitat reservoir
- Dead wood zone
- Soil habitat and planting area
Wildpods are available in different sizes and are made in York, UK.
Find out more: www.bioscapes.co.uk/product/wildpod/
Biodiversity projects such as the Wildpods, align with our sustainability goals at CHP and the Greener NHS initiative. By creating green spaces and promoting biodiversity, we're not only improving the environment but also enhancing the wellbeing of our patients, staff, and the local community. We're committed to continuing our work in sustainability and creating a greener, healthier future for all.
Garden updates across the CHP Estate
The CHP Green Fund has also helped bring new life to several garden spaces:
- At The Energise Healthy Living Centre in Salford, the gardening group received new plants and seeds, facilitated by Zuzanna Kaminska (ORM).
- At Fareham Community Hospital, the Friends of Fareham Community Hospital (www.friends-of-fch.org) have adopted and revitalised neglected borders, internal garden areas, and raised planters. Lee Williams (CHP ORM) applied for additional funding to improve more areas, aiming to create a drought-tolerant haven for wildlife and a more pleasant environment for everyone on site.
- In Gosport, Lee also secured funding for plants and materials tailored to thrive in a compact courtyard setting.
- At Brune Medical Centre, the community wellbeing garden is flourishing with new plants, thanks to the efforts of the team at Loveoutdoors—a social enterprise focused on tackling isolation and mental health through nature-based activities.
Read more:
www.loveoutdoors.org.uk/projects/brunegarden/
Many CHP health buildings have community gardens supported by volunteers, local charities, social enterprise organisations and social prescribing teams.
CHP Green Fund: How CHP tenants can get involved
CHP needs your ideas to promote biodiversity
Have you got ideas or suggestions for gardens, planters and increasing green space at your site? Speak to your ORM and get in touch, and let us know.
Please email the description and photos to sustainability@communityhealthpartnerships and copy in your ORM.
The CHP Green Fund is a joint project between the CHP Sustainability and the Social Value teams.
Read: CHP Social Value Results 2024-2025: CHP generates £59m in social value (June 2025)
CHP's commitment to sustainability
Community Health Partnerships teams actively support biodiversity projects across its healthcare facilities. CHP has supported many gardening projects across our buildings, including raised beds, courtyard gardens, vegetable and fruit growing, and wildflower meadows. These initiatives not only enhance the environment but also foster community engagement and support social prescribing activities.
Operations and Relationship Managers are working with local organisations and tenants to enhance biodiversity and create sustainable environments that benefit patients, staff, volunteers, and the environment.
Contact the Sustainability Team at CHP
If you are a tenant, an ICS or Trust partner, and want to know more about how CHP can support your sustainability plans, please contact your local CHP Property and Operations team or our CHP Sustainability team.
If any tenants have questions about Sustainability at CHP or any other net zero projects please contact the Sustainability team via sustainability@communityhealthpartnerships.co.uk and copy in the ORM for your building.
Sustainability at CHP
As part of the NHS family, CHP supports the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net zero health system. Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims and Sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars. Aligning with the NHS target of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, the team at CHP are committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon for the LIFT estate by 2040 and 2030 for our corporate functions.
Recent Garden Projects at CHP Buildings
CHP Tenant Hub
The hub covers information for CHP tenants on health and safety, sustainability, facilities management including HardFM, and SoftFM, leases, charges and billing.
In addition there is information on bookable rooms and filming at our premises.
