Volunteers Week - Spotlight on Green Spaces Volunteers

Oxford Health as an organisation manages services located across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Swindon and BANES.

In all of these areas, many of the sites are fortunate to have outdoor areas that are managed overall by estates teams. 

For any gardens within the wards or outside, our Green Spaces Coordinator Laura McCarthy is year round launching projects, plans and initiatives to improve these areas for patients, visitors and staff.

We are fortunate and incredibly grateful to have a dedicated team of Green Spaces Volunteers that contribute their valuable time to support sites across Oxford Health. These wonderful Volunteers help maintain the outdoor areas and seasonally spruce up garden spaces with new plants, trees and even revamping the outdoor furniture.

One of these groups of amazing hands on Volunteers are based at Witney community hospital and Debbie Holman, Operational Support Manager has kindly shared some feedback about their Green Spaces Volunteers.

Recognition for our Incredible Volunteer Gardeners at Witney Community Hospital 

"We are profoundly grateful to our dedicated gardening team, led by Janet Boullin, Sally Kerr, Jane Clancy and Steve Lucas. Week in and week out, regardless of weather, they pour their passion into maintaining the hospital’s main garden.

Their hard work transforms the space into a vibrant, welcoming haven that brings solace to patients, staff, and visitors alike. We’d also like to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of Gill Davis, who diligently cares for the “Courtyard Garden.” Though this peaceful retreat is primarily enjoyed by hospital staff and often goes unnoticed, it offers an invaluable place of calm and relaxation during breaks—a facility as vital as the main garden.

The team’s commitment extends far beyond tending to plants; their kindness and devotion shine through in every flower they nurture, every landscape they shape, and every tranquil corner they create. Their work makes a remarkable difference, offering moments of joy and comfort to all who encounter these beautiful spaces.

On behalf of the entire hospital community, thank you for bringing these gardens to life with your time, expertise, and compassion. Your contributions truly matter and are deeply appreciated."


Debbie Holman, Operational Support Manager


We would like to say a huge thank you to Janet, Sally, Jane, Steve and Gill for all of your efforts at Witney and to all of our amazing Green Spaces volunteers making a difference across the organisation.
For patients staying in our hospitals, having access to outdoor areas away from the ward environment makes such a difference. Visitors can enjoy spending time in these areas and staff taking patients out or on their breaks can take some time out away from the busy clinical environment.

“There is a wealth of evidence to show that a person’s connection to nature is key to the physical and mental health benefits of nature exposure, and that interventions which facilitate nature connection have the largest and most sustained positive impacts”

www.rcpsych.ac.uk Nature matters in mental health



Green Spaces Coordinator, Laura McCarthy builds connections with local businesses and coordinates corporate Volunteer groups. These groups come in and Volunteer together particularly for project days. 

This can also mean some larger scale projects can have numbers of people willing to be hands on to achieve some of the landscaping and garden maintenance needs at their partnered sites.


“ Without such amazing volunteer support from our corporate and community partners we would not be able to create and maintain quality green spaces which deliver for our service users, staff and biodiversity.
As our green spaces continue to be improved for well-being, in line with local nature recovery strategies and biodiversity new gain requirements, they become more complex, with more diverse and therapeutic planting.
We really need, and appreciate the help of gardeners, and willing volunteers who can roll up their sleeves and lend a hand. We couldn’t do it without you!
Huge thanks to everyone for their time and effort! Particular thanks to Aecom, Laing O’Rourke, GoodGym and Chiltern Rangers ”
Laura McCarthy, Green Spaces Coordinator, Oxford Health Arts Partnership


These local companies also support Oxford Health Charity with their partnership and we are incredibly grateful to them for their contributions.

Many of these garden projects supported by Volunteers is thanks to Oxford Health Charity funding. 

Small and large scale grants have supported garden spaces across the organisation and are only possible thanks to ongoing fundraising.


To find out more about how you can donate to OHC and support projects such as these please visit

 

Green Spaces Appeal | Oxford Health Charity


If you are interested in supporting Oxford Health as a Green Spaces Volunteer roles we recruit all year round and advertise opportunities here - 
For more information please contact [email protected] 
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