In 2023, over 1,000 trees were planted by healthcare professionals and volunteers at Edmonton’s Grey Nuns Community Hospital. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to harness the therapeutic benefits of nature, green areas, and forests, which are well-documented in promoting health and wellness.
The Healing Power of Trees
“Edmonton has an outstanding initiative called Root for Trees, aiming to plant 2 million trees throughout the city,” notes Mike Hurley, executive director of Trees for Life, a national charity with the mission of fostering a healthier, happier Canada by planting native trees in communities.
In collaboration with the city, Hurley’s organization played a role in planting nearly 20,000 trees around Edmonton in 2023, including those at Grey Nuns Hospital. “Now, the hospital’s staff, patients, and local community can enjoy an improved public green space,” he explained.
This project marked the charity’s largest tree planting endeavor to date, focusing not only on enhancing urban aesthetics.
“The concept was inspired by initiatives from the United Kingdom,” Hurley elaborates. “They have the national healthcare forest, a series of plantings similar to what we aspire to achieve in Canada, where trees are planted near or on healthcare facility grounds.”
This movement is gaining traction in Canada, fueled by the undeniable evidence showing how natural environments boost general health and well-being.
For instance, in a study by Stanford University, it was found that exposure to nature reduces the risk of mental illness—especially notable given that one in five Canadians faces mental health challenges.
Additional findings include:
- Employees with views of trees from their offices report fewer sick days and improved productivity.
- A comprehensive review of over 50 studies concluded that access to natural environments significantly decreases the likelihood of dying from heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases.
- Patients in hospitals who have views of trees recover more swiftly than those who don’t have outdoor views or have views of non-vegetated areas.
The benefits of trees include oxygen production, noise pollution reduction, and air purification. The connections between these factors are complex, yet the positive outcomes are evident.
“Healthcare facilities appreciate the dual advantage of enhancing their local communities while also recognizing the measurable health benefits that result from planting trees in and around their premises,” Hurley stated.
This trend is visible across the country.
The Expanding Initiative for Tree Planting and Health
In 2023, Trees for Life collaborated with 19 partners and 2,400 volunteers to plant 137,000 trees across Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick. Their previous endeavors include planting trees at Sunnybrook Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and Ottawa Hospital.
Hurley’s charity is among several that recognize the benefits that trees and nature offer to healthcare.
Other noteworthy initiatives include the Canadian Health Care Forests led by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care; Trees for Hamilton, which recently collaborated with St. Joseph’s Urgent Care; and the City of London’s Million Tree Challenge, which has teamed up with healthcare institutions like London Health Sciences Centre.
“From reduced hospital visits to decreased reports of stress and anxiety, these tree planting projects align seamlessly with the objectives of these hospitals,” says Hurley. “This movement is continuously gaining traction. Many communities and healthcare facilities are reaching out, eager to participate in tree planting for health initiatives.”
This article was originally featured in the April 2025 edition of Intomodel magazine.
