The people we support take great pride in gardening. With support from colleagues, they grow their own fruit and vegetables to cook and bake with, care for plants, flowers, and shrubs to create a haven for wildlife, and enjoy developing new skills and socialising.
In recognition of RHS National Gardening Week, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our horticulturalists and celebrating their gardening achievements.
A Haven for Wildlife
The garden at National Care Group’s 8 Acres attracts a variety of wildlife, including woodpeckers! Stephen is a person we support and enjoys feeding the birds that visit.
"Gardening is my favourite thing to do. I love keeping all the plants and vegetables watered. I really look forward to this every month. Julie, our activity coordinator, really helps with this."
The gardening club at 8 Acres empowers the people we support to work together and learn new skills, improves nutrition with easy access to homegrown fruits and vegetables, and above all have fun!
The Expert Gardener
Zack is autistic and lives independently with National Care Group’s Cornerstones.
Since moving into his new supported living home, he has enhanced his independent living skills and become the house’s dedicated gardener.
He ensures the lawn is mowed regularly, always finishing it with very straight lines. He has also helped to create some flower beds on the front of the house which are currently in full bloom.
Zack is supported to maintain a variety of appointments and interests, including his part-time job at a local garden centre, which he travels independently to each week. He assists with sweeping, weeding, and watering the plants. He continues to receive great feedback from his colleagues.
Click here to read his progression story.
Boosting the Butterfly Population
According to new data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, more than half of butterfly species across the UK are in long-term decline.
Every year at Regent College, learners take part in a butterfly conservation project. They are engaged in the full life cycle of a butterfly and enjoy seeing and learning about the process from larvae, caterpillars, and chrysalis to butterflies.
From larvae to butterflies, the process takes just over four weeks. Learners feed the caterpillars nettles, which are grown in the college’s sensory garden. Once fully grown adult butterflies, they are released into freedom from the garden.
“It really is magic!”
Creating a Garden for All
Reece is a star horticulturist at our Highlea Care services in the North East.
With an infectious passion for gardening and cooking, he rolls it into one by growing his produce in the garden to cook and bake with.
Reece takes great pride in the garden at Highlea Care. He has created an impressive space ‘for all senses’ as he believes a good garden should include things we can all see, smell, touch, hear, and taste.
