Ready Steady Garden – Lilian Faithfull Care In Bloom
Lilian Faithfull Care have launched their very own summer garden competition across their five care homes and two adult day care hubs in Gloucestershire. And the care home Charity is on the lookout for donations of garden items and for people to judge the patches in August.
As the care sector steers it’s our way out of what has been surreal times during Covid-19, this garden project gives their staff and those they care for, the chance to have some fun together in their lovely green spaces.
The garden project competition will give all residents and day guests the opportunity to get green fingered and be outdoors. Including staff as well across all job roles – Carers, Activity Co-ordinators, Domestic, Catering, Maintenance and Management. The project was inspired and created by Rita Harris their new Care Quality Manager, and will be led by each Manager – with a little healthy competition.
Each of the homes and day care hub sit within beautiful grounds and gardens which give a lovely safe space for residents and day guests to enjoy. The gardening clubs are one of the most popular activities in the charity and with this in mind the gardening competition will create a new focus for the ongoing interest of residents, day guests and staff alike
The care homes and day hubs will create and grow a patch in their garden using everyone’s talents, skills and team work. There will be ways that everyone can contribute whether indoors, by helping with planning, research and seed sowing, or outdoors with planting, watering and nurturing. Those with garden experience will teach those that haven’t gardened before. Those that are creative will help design the garden patch. We know that there is a well-spring of knowledge and experience amongst our residents, day guests and staff.
Gardening is known to have many benefits including improved mental well-being, increased physical activity and a great way to bring people together.
The project is encouraging innovation and different elements of conservation; including wonderful plants, creative upcycling, and encouraging more birds, bees and butterflies into their beautiful gardens. The project also includes an edible element, with suggestions from their catering teams of vegetables and herbs to grow which can be included in future menus. Some are expected to be really competitive with trying to grow the largest vegetables.
