'Our goal has been to open it up to create a safe space used by whole community'

AN area of woodland at Queen's Hospital Burton is now fully accessible to patients, staff and the local community following a major regeneration project to bring health and environmental benefits and funded by the National Forest and the Rural Community Council.

- By MAIL REPORTER

Known as Badger’s Wood, the woodland area located behind the QHB facilities opposite the main hospital site, has now undergone extensive regeneration work to improve ecological diversity, increase accessibility,

It has also provided a safe environment for visitors by removing overgrown trees and hazardous branches, as well levelling and securing what was often steep, slippery terrain.

Originally planted around 28 years ago, the area had become overgrown and unsafe after decades of neglect.

In regenerating the area, the project has focused on making the woodland safe, open, and accessible, and a pleasant area for natural life.

This work is part of a wider project led by the Sustainability Team at the University Hospital of Derby and Burton to enhance the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and the local community through better access to green space.