About the Initiative
“Bringing Nature to Health Care, Inside and Out”
Nature plays a powerful role in human health. Research shows that access to green spaces can reduce stress, improve recovery, support mental well being, and strengthen community resilience while also helping to enhance biodiversity and climate action.
The Canadian Health Care Forests Initiative supports hospitals, long term care homes, and other health facilities in transforming underused spaces into living, restorative landscapes. This includes not only trees, but also pollinator gardens, food gardens, green roofs, wellness gardens, and indoor biophilic elements designed to support both people and ecosystems.
Over the past couple years, the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and its partners have supported nature based projects at more than 20 health care sites across Canada, including:
- Native tree and shrub plantings
- Pollinator gardens through partnerships such as the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project
- Vegetable and food gardens for care homes and community use
- Green roofs that reduce emissions and produce food
- Wellness and therapeutic gardens for mental health and recovery spaces
A tour of these different projects and more can be accessed through the interactive map below. To be added to the map or join the movement, contact Sama Hameed at sama@greenhealthcare.ca
We provide guidance, resources, and connections to expert partners to help facilities design, fund, and implement projects that fit their unique context.
Tree Plantings
Webinars
Canadian Health Care Forests: How to Bring Nature to Your Health Care Facility
On January 16, 2025 the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care and PEACH Health Ontario presented a webinar exploring how nature-based interventions can transform health care environments and promote well-being for patients, health care workers, and communities. This session featured three dynamic speakers who bring unique perspectives on the intersection of health, nature, and climate action: Michel Gauthier, Amelia Fletcher, and Darryl Quantz. Watch the webinar recording.
Collaborators
