A new woodland trail has been created for staff in the grounds of Castle Hill Hospital to help them relax and recharge their batteries during their breaks.

(from left to right) Chief Executive Chris Long, left, with Castle Hill Gardeners Dave Baines, Andrew Eagle, Kallum Rilatt, Luke Whitteron and Richard Guest with Allison Coggan of the trust’s Up! health and wellbeing programme

Hull University Teaching Hospitals (HUTH) has opened the trail stretching almost half a mile and weaving through the grounds of the hospital in Cottingham.

The safe and tranquil haven for staff was created by Castle Hill’s Gardening team – Richard Guest, Luke Whitteron, David Baines, Andy Eagle and Kallum Rilatt – as part of a project with Up! – the health and wellbeing programme run for staff at HUTH.

Staff are being encouraged to use the trail for team meetings, lunchtime walks and breaks as part of the trust’s commitment to support staff’s health and wellbeing at work.

Chris Long, Chief Executive at HUTH, performed the official opening of the trail by unveiling a plaque to thank the gardeners for their work in clearing a trail through the woods.

He said: “Our staff work in a really high pressured environment as we recover from the impact of Covid-19 on all hospital services.

“This trail means our teams at Castle Hill can benefit from fresh air and exercise during their breaks, enabling them to return to their wards, departments, clinics and offices refreshed and refocused for the rest of their shifts.”