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GUHD Contacts
Green UHD aka 'GUHD' Team Forum
Sustainability Champions from around the Trust are invited to join this group to share ideas, problems, facts, resources and get support from each other and the central Greener UHD Team.
The Green UHD email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
GUHD Calendar
2022 |
Date(s) |
Event |
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January |
Whole Month |
Veganuary Each year thousands take part in this event and many permanently go vegan afterwards. A plant based diet helps to reduce your individual environmental footprint and can be a very healthy diet too. |
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28th-30th |
Big Garden Birdwatch The Big Garden Birdwatch is asking you to spend an hour noting down every bird that you see in your garden, in a local park or from your balcony. All you need to do then is contact the RSPB and let them know what you saw. |
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February |
21st Feb - 6th Mar |
Fairtrade Fortnight https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get-involved/current-campaigns/fairtrade-fortnight/ |
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March |
25th March - 10th April |
The Great British Spring Clean Organised by the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, The Great British Spring Clean is going ahead in 2021 but no date has yet been specified. However you can still pledge to do a clean-up. Join a group to go litter picking or just go and clean up your local area yourself. |
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3rd |
World Wildlife Day |
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9th |
No Smoking Day https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/10-self-help-tips-to-stop-smoking/ |
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22nd |
World Water Day https://www.worldwaterday.org/ World Water Day is about what water means to people, its true value and how we can better protect this vital resource. |
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26th |
Earth Hour (big switch off) (20:30 – 21:30) Started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment. Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights to show support for our planet. |
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14th-20th |
Nutrition and hydration week |
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18th |
Global recycling day https://www.globalrecyclingday.com/ Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. |
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April |
1st |
Walk to work day |
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7th |
World Health Day |
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22nd |
Earth Day The Earth Day Network works around the world to work towards changing things for the better when it comes to: Climate Action, Science and Education, People and Communities, Conservation and Restoration and Plastic and Pollution. |
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May |
All Month |
No Mow May For the whole month of May don’t mow your lawn! Changing your mowing routine and allowing plants to flower can create enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators. You’re also more likely to spot a greater variety of flowers popping up in your garden. https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/about-us/news/how-to-mow-your-lawn-for-wildlife |
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1st - 7th |
International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) Seriously, get into composting! |
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20th |
World Bee Day In addition to being one of the major pollinators, thus ensuring food and food security, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity, bees significantly contribute to the mitigation of climate change and environmental conservation. |
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22nd |
International Day for Biological Diversity |
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6th - 12th |
Bike Week Bike Week is an annual celebration to showcase cycling and how brilliant it is. Thousands of people all across the UK take part to enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike |
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28th May - 5th June |
National Children Gardening Week Get your children or grandchildren interested in the garden and invested in nature. Children love growing plants, and love being in the garden but they're often impatient, wanting to see instant results. National Children's Gardening Week aims to capture children's enthusiasm at a time when results are immediate. National Children's Gardening Week takes place annually in the 'warm' week at the end of May. |
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June |
Whole month |
30 Days Wild The whole month of June is '30 Days Wild'. 30 Days Wild was created by The Wildlife Trusts to help everyone be more connected with nature by doing something wild every day. When you sign up you're sent a digital pack with ideas. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30-days-wild-individuals-pack |
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3rd |
World Bicycle Day World Bicycle Day draws attention to the benefits of using the bicycle — a simple, affordable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation. |
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5th |
World Environment Day The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, many of the medicines that save our lives and the climate that make our planet inhabitable, all come from nature. We are more reliant on nature's interconnected web and delicate balance than we can ever imagine. https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/ NHS Sustainability Day https://www.sustainabilitypartnerships.uk/day-of-action This day will now align with World Environment Day |
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8th |
World Ocean Day World Ocean Day is growing the global movement to call on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. This critical need is called 30×30. By safeguarding at least 30% of our ocean through a network of highly protected areas we can help ensure a healthy home for all! |
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14th – 18th |
BNF Healthy Eating Week Nutrition and hydration week |
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6th - 12th |
Carers Week Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. |
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16th |
Clean air day Air pollution causes heart and lung diseases, is linked to low birth weight and children's lung development and may even contribute to mental health issues. Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK. https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/ UHD is signed up to the Clean Air Hospitals program to help tackle this health threat. https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/clean-air-hospital-framework |
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19th |
National Refill Day National Refill Day is a public awareness campaign that aims to create a new social norm amongst the public for refilling on the go – to save money, keep us hydrated and prevent millions of single-use plastic bottles at source! |
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July |
Whole month |
Plastic free July Try to reduce how much plastic you buy during the month of July. Make a concerted effort to buy loose fruit and vegetables and the plastic free versions of things you would normally buy. |
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11th |
World Population Day |
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28th |
World Nature Conservation Day https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/world-wildlife-conservation-day |
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August |
4th |
Cycle to Work Day |
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8th - 14th |
National Allotments Week National Allotments Week started in 2002 as a way of raising awareness of allotments and the role they play in helping people to live healthier lifestyles, grow their own food, develop friendships and bolster communities. https://www.nsalg.org.uk/news-events-campaigns/national-allotments-week/ |
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September |
All month |
Organic September https://www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/organic-september/ |
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6th – 11th |
Know your numbers Week |
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17th - 25th |
Great British Beach Clean The Great British Beach Clean is a week-long citizen science event, where hundreds of beach cleans take place up and down the UK. Litter data collected drives our conservation work and also feeds into the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC). |
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20th – 26th |
Recycle Week Recycle Week is Recycle Now’s flagship annual event which is a celebration of recycling across the nation. https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/citizen-behaviour-change/recycle-now/recycle-week |
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28nd |
National Fitness Day National Fitness Day is a chance to highlight the role physical activity plays across the UK, helping us raise awareness of its importance in helping us lead healthier lifestyles through being physical active |
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26th |
World Environmental Health Day World Environmental Health Day is celebrated to shed light on the important work of environmental health and the environmental health workforce around the world. |
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October |
Whole Month |
Unblocktober Unblocktober is the world’s first month-long national campaign and awareness month to improve the health of our drains, sewers, watercourses and seas |
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1st |
World Vegetarian Day Learn about the benefits of vegetarianism and help create a better world because vegetarian diet have proven health benefits, save animals’ lives and help to preserve the Earth. |
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3rd |
World Habitat Day Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world. |
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4th |
No Disposable Cup Day Every single day in the UK we use 7 million disposable cups, many of which are not disposed of responsibly. The aim of No Disposable Cup Day is 1. We STOP using disposable cups for one day on 4 October, and 2. We STOP using disposable cups completely. |
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|
16th |
World Food Day The food you choose and the way you consume it affect our health and that of our planet. It has an impact on the way agri-food systems work. |
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November |
20th - 26th |
World Recycling Week Recycle Week is an annual event designed to celebrate and promote the benefits of recycling. It creates opportunities for us all to implement positive change that will help protect our planet. |
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December |
5th |
World Soil Day Every 5 seconds, the equivalent of one soccer field of soil is eroded. Soil erosion can lead up to a 50% loss in crop yields. It can take up to 1,000 years to produce just 2-3cm of soil… Soil is a living resource, home to more than 25% of our planet's biodiversity. |
|
10th |
International Animal Rights Day Every year International Animal Rights Day is celebrated on December 10. This observance coincides with the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared in 1948. |
News
This weekend saw the launch of the 'For a Greener NHS' Programme - to engage and support all staff to play their part in tackling the climate and health emergency.
Climate change poses a major threat to all our health as well as the planet. The environment is changing, that change is accelerating, and this has real consequences for us all.
This is why the NHS has launched the 'For a greener NHS' programme, working with all staff, hospitals and its partners. It aims to build on the great work being done by trusts across the country, sharing ideas on how to reduce the impact on public health and the environment, save money and – eventually – go net carbon zero.
Therefore in order to answer this call, the Sustainability Team are asking for your help.
We want to hear all your ideas on how we can make our own Trust more sustainable to further reduce our carbon emissions.
Any idea, big or small, we would like to hear from you. Please email it to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
GUHD Waste and Recycling
Swap Shop
Before you dispose of an unwanted item, why not see if you can re-use it first.
The Trust have set up a FREE swap-shop that is hosted on the intranet as a place to buy, sell or give away any items.
The Trust is committed to continuously improving waste practices by working with staff, patients, visitors, contractors, and suppliers and taking steps to minimise the environmental impact of waste.
The Trust has a zero waste to landfill policy and our general waste stream goes to Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs).
Clinical waste has to be incinerated to a higher temperature than domestic waste and much of the Trusts clinical waste is processed on our Bournemouth Hospital site, avoiding considerable transportation and helping to heat the site.
Following the recent merger, the Trust is in the process of aligning waste contracts which in turn will allow for harmonisation of waste processes.
See menu for additional policies and guidance documents which are currently site specific.
GUHD Biodiversity
Greenspace and Biodiversity
The Trust recognises the importance of regular access to natural environments for its patients, staff and visitors, and will continue to work to promote these benefits for mental health and wellbeing.
The Lake and Grounds at Royal Bournemouth Hospital
The man-made lake was developed to act as a surface water run-off from the hospital site to reduce the risk of localised flooding.
The Estates Department have adopted sympathetic and sustainable approaches to their management of the hospital grounds, including log piling to encourage biodiversity and wildlife, limited use of pesticides, and recycling of waste plant material. Around 30 bird boxes have also been installed across the hospital site, as well as covered duck houses around the lake.
The lake has a mixture of coarse fish introduced over many years. The main species are koi carp, mirror carp, grass carp and ornamental goldfish.
An annual treatment of a very fine chalk is added to help improve the water quality and provides a natural breakdown of sediment in the lake.
It's approximately 600 steps to do one circuit of the lake, which should take less than 10 minutes. This will count towards the target for good health of 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on at least 5 days of the week. 30 minutes of exercise can also burn up to 165 calories.
In 2016 the Orchard Garden Project delivered a new therapeutic courtyard garden situated directly outside the chemotherapy suite and next to the pathology department. A sensory walkway was also established to link the courtyard to the lakeside, and a new garden decking area designed so patients who need medical equipment like drips etc. can also benefit from the gardens and give them a retreat from their treatment.
Green Flag Award
RBCH Trust became the first NHS Trust within the United Kingdom to gain the Green Flag Award in 2016. The Trust was also awarded the Building Better Healthcare 2016 award for Best External Environment - recognising the work that had been carried out in the hospital greenspaces.
The UHD Biodiversity and Greenspace Policy is being written but will build upon the good work already captured here.
GUHD Travel
UHD are committed to promoting and encouraging the most sustainable form of transport to staff, patients and visitors, whenever possible.
To support our Green Plan, the trust has developed its Strategical Travel Plan which outlines why we are committed to reducing transport activities at our hospitals and how we plan on achieving this.
The key objectives of this Travel Plan are to:
- To reduce the carbon and other emissions resulting from employee, patient and visitor travel.
- To minimise the traffic impact on the local community.
- To encourage and support sustainable travel to and from our sites and in turn deliver health and wellbeing benefits to staff, patients and the wider community.
