With the range of greenspaces across our estate, we can make a real difference to biodiversity, while saving money and bringing health and wellbeing benefits to communities.
But how? The Grassland Management Report was produced by the Sustainability Action Programme to help boards increase biodiversity by taking action on one habitat type – grasslands.
No time like the present
With spring upon us – and No Mow May around the corner – now is a good time to look at grasslands.
The Grassland Management Report covers:
- why it’s important to take action – the wide-ranging benefits including environmental, cost and wellbeing
- how to take action – including tips and case studies from boards
- signposting to wider organisations with expert knowledge who can work in partnership to support initiatives
The benefits – why take action on grasslands to improve biodiversity?
Greenspaces make up just over half (52%) of the total NHSScotland estate – with the range of greenspaces we have, we can make a real difference to biodiversity.
Changing how you manage grasslands in your board can bring a wide range of benefits, including:
- environmental benefits – providing homes for plants, insects (especially pollinators like bees), birds, reptiles and mammals
- cost savings – spending less time and money on grass cutting, savings through not needing to buy synthetic fertilisers
- health and wellbeing benefits – improving local air quality, spaces for therapeutic and community use, the opportunity for patients, staff, visitors and the local community to connect with nature
Taking action on grasslands could also help contribute to biodiversity action plans, which will help you meet your statutory requirements for biodiversity.
The more boards get involved, the more we can deliver for biodiversity and for Scotland’s health.
The importance of biodiversity
In the UK, we’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1950s. This has a huge impact on the plants and animals that depend on them – biodiversity is critical to human survival.
The NHSScotland climate emergency and sustainability strategy: 2022-2026 sets out what boards need to do across a range of areas, including improving biodiversity.
For the first time, using geospatial software, we can now see the greenspace resource within the NHS estate in Scotland. Public Health Scotland’s Interim Assessment of NHSScotland Greenspace Report is an important first step which can help inform future planning and estate management to maximise the contribution of greenspace to biodiversity and health.
Find out more
You can read the Grasslands Management Report on the NHS National Services Scotland website and the Interim Assessment of NHSScotland Greenspace Report on the PHS website.
To discuss changing grassland management practices, contact nss.sustainabilityscotland@nhs.scot