The Green Health Walk is Shortlisted for Two Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2025
Pictured: One of the maps situated along the Green Health Walk.
We are thrilled to announce that GMMH and Sow the City have been shortlisted in the Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2025 for our Green Health Walk.
The Green Health Walk has been shortlisted in two categories:
• Placemaking for Nature Award: Multi-property
• Placemaking for Nature Award: Mixed Land Use and Ownership
The Green Health Walk is a nature-based therapeutic walking route based on GMMH’s Prestwich site. It is designed to encourage physical activity, connect people with the natural world, and foster community engagement.
Developed in partnership with Sow the City, it features native planting, wildlife habitats, and tranquil spaces for reflection—all within Prestwich grounds. There are seven differently themed areas to visit.
Pictured: Three moments along the Green Health Walk. (Credit: Pam Womack).
The walk is open to the whole community, including patients, visitors, and staff. Volunteers, including patients and community members, play an active role in maintaining it. This ensures that maintenance is not only ongoing but meaningful—providing participants with therapeutic engagement, purpose, and a deeper connection to the environment.
This double shortlisting highlights the project's innovative approach to integrating biodiversity into healthcare environments, transforming NHS grounds into therapeutic green spaces that support both the environment, and individuals’ wellbeing.
It is a shining example of how nature can support mental health recovery.
Pam Womack, Digital Learning Resources Officer at GMMH said:
“In my previous job, I wasn’t very good at ‘unplugging’ from work and that wasn’t great for my mental health. I learnt from that and so I always make time for the short Green Health Walk – whatever the weather!
“It’s uplifting to hear birds singing and notice how plants and trees change throughout the seasons. It really helps me ‘tune out’ work and pay attention to nature. It’s only 15 minutes out of my working day, helps me reach my daily step count and boosts my vitamin D.
“I occasionally see foxes along the walk, as well as grey squirrels, and rabbits. It’s great that there are resources for nature along the route, like bat boxes, bird boxes, fruit trees, and bug hotels. Near Junction 17 there’s even a bug hotel called ‘Bugingham Palace’. That always makes me smile when I walk past.”
Pictured: 'Bugingham Palace'. (Credit: Pam Womack.)
The Biodiversity Challenge Awards, hosted by CIRIA and the BIG Biodiversity Interest Group, celebrate outstanding efforts to embed biodiversity into the built environment. This year’s awards attracted a wide range of entries from across the UK, showcasing projects that go beyond compliance to deliver meaningful benefits for nature and people.
Robert Addison, Head of Estates at GMMH said
“We are delighted to see that the Green Health Walk has been shortlisted for not one, but two Biodiversity Challenge Awards.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to continue developing the walk since it was first launched in 2020. In 2021, we were honoured to represent the NHS at the COP26 – the world’s largest climate action event - where we unveiled a photography exhibition featuring the walk.
“Since then, it really has gone from strength to strength. With our fantastic partners, Sow the City, and a dedicated bunch of volunteers, it is bigger, better and more diverse than ever. Staff and patients alike tell us how much they value the green space, and we are proud to be doing our part to support a healthy ecosystem.”
Pictured: NHSE photography exhibition, “Care for the future: delivering the world’s first net zero health service,” unveiled at COP16. It was exhibited at The Curve following the event.
Winners of the Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2025 will be announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday 24 September 2025 at the WWT London Wetland Centre, where the Green Health Walk will stand alongside other inspiring projects driving change in biodiversity and placemaking.
You can read more about the Green Heath Walk, and download the map, here.
You can read past news updates about the Green Health Walk here.
You can read more about the Biodiversity Challenge Awards, and view the full shortlist, here.
