Tree-mendous plan to boost Scanner Appeal

Tameside Hospital is about to take delivery of hundreds of trees, small native saplings of hawthorn, silver birch, rowan, wild cherry and oak, and staff have come up with a novel way to use them to support the £1 million Scanner Appeal.

The local NHS Trust is the first in the UK to be working in partnership with The Woodland Trust to help reduce the carbon footprint around its hospital grounds and the wider community. 

Tameside Hospital’s Chief Executive, Karen James says besides working to keep the people of Tameside and Glossop safe and well during the coronavirus pandemic, the Trust has two important campaigns underway.

She explains: “These are Save Planet Tameside and Glossop, working to make us more sustainable, and our Appeal to provide our doctors and nurses with a much needed CT Scanner.

“So, we have decided to combine our two campaigns… we are asking people to make a donation or a pledge of support for our Scanner Appeal and, in return, take delivery of one or more of our trees. 

“We particularly want to reach out to local schools, colleges and care homes and we have the support of our Civic Mayor, Councillor Janet Cooper, who has kindly chosen the Appeal as one of her official charities.

“Every year hundreds, possibly thousands, of people come through the doors of our hospitals with conditions caused or exacerbated by air pollution, including asthma, stroke, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, diabetes and premature birth. 

“We are determined to become a clean air hospital by reducing levels of air pollution and helping people protect their health. 

“We also desperately need a CT Scanner to prevent and detect illnesses and disease in our patients. We hope you will agree that this precious resource of native saplings, courtesy of The Woodland Trust, helps us go some way to achieving both ambitions.” 

Kate Leadbetter, head of fundraising at the Trust, believes that the local community will want to back the idea and is urging people to pre-order their trees, which are due for delivery early next month, to avoid disappointment. 

She says: “Tree planting is an incredible way for youngsters to connect with nature while helping the planet. 

“It links to many areas of the curriculum and it’s a fun, hands-on project for gardening and eco clubs. There is evidence to show that for older people too, looking out of the window onto green spaces can improve physical and mental health. And it’s a great way to re-connect with nature.”

To register to reserve a tree, you can email Kate at Kate.leadbeater@tgh.nhs.uk

Once your order is accepted then card donations can be made by telephone to the Trust’s Cashiers Department on 0161 922 6033, or alternatively payment can be either cash or cheque on collection.

The Woodland Trust have simple tips on how to successfully plant your tree(s).

Check out their website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk