Care home residents enjoy health benefits of gardening

In honour of the National Gardening week, the residents at Field View care home have been getting their hands dirty in the home’s grounds and courtyard gardens.

As part of the activities programme at the home, residents enjoyed landscaping, growing seeds, potting plants and vegetables and picking out garden ornaments.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s annual celebration of gardening was the perfect time for residents to try out the newly built raised flower beds at the home, which were designed to help make gardening easier for residents with wheelchairs or restricted mobility.

As well as residents, the home wants to welcome families to join in with gardening activities with their loved ones and encourage residents’ grandchildren and children from local schools to join in for some intergenerational gardening projects.

Activities co-ordinator Janice Hardy said: “For many of our residents, gardening has been a life-long hobby and we like to encourage and assist people in continuing to pursue their interests and hobbies when they come to live with us.

“Gardening provides an excellent activity for residents, staff and families to share in and bond over and is something that people of all ages can get involved in and enjoy.

“Not only is gardening fun but it’s also very rewarding for our residents to see their efforts pay off and have our gardens looking so bright, welcoming and beautiful.”