PATIENTS and staff are celebrating after Royal Bournemouth Hospital has become the first hospital in the country to receive a prestigious Green Flag Award.

The award, now celebrating its 20th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country and is a sign to the public the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

The estates team at the hospital developed the areas surrounding the hospital’s lake which is home to diverse plants and creatures from birds such as ducks, herons, moorhens, woodpeckers and kingfishers to koi carp and goldfish.

The hospital trust said maintaining the grounds are a key part of providing care to patients as research shows outdoor spaces not only improve mental health but support and aid recovery.

Green spaces also provide opportunities for exercise to aid recuperation and studies show gentle exercise outside can reduce the risk of heart attacks strokes and diabetes by 50 per cent, fractures of the femur, colon cancer and breast cancer by 30 per cent and Alzheimer’s by 25 per cent.

Trust Estates Manager Martin Lovell said: “We are so pleased to receive this award, which recognises the hard work of our staff to provide colleagues and patients a sanctuary for rest and recuperation. We want to continue to raise the awareness of the link between green spaces and their positive benefits for mental health and wellbeing.”