Green fingered residents at a Lancashire nursing home are out to prove that being in a wheelchair is no reason to give up gardening as a hobby.
Residents of the St Wilfrid’s Nursing Home, in the village of Halton on Lune, will soon be able to grow their own plants and vegetables in a special garden, designed for people in wheelchairs. A grant via Lancashire County Council from the central Government Fund for improvements to quality of care for residents will also provide a new sensory garden in the nursing home’s five-acre grounds.
Nursing home manager Jeanette Bacon said: “We have several residents in wheelchairs that used to love gardening and would like to get back to it as a hobby. Gardening is a great pastime, which is not only enjoyable but is also a brilliant way for residents of any age to keep active and healthy. Being out in the sunshine also boosts levels of vitamin D which is important for keeping the bones of elderly people strong.”
The grant which will help pay for the new garden is Government funded and is available through local county councils for projects designed to improve quality of life for the elderly. Jeanette explained: “The residents identified this as something that would improve the quality of their lives at one of our residents’ meetings and we decided to apply for the grant with this in mind. Any help people from within the local community could offer would be very much appreciated.
“The new garden will have raised flower beds and pathways providing full access for wheelchair users. The new sensory garden will, meanwhile, provide opportunities for people with sensory impairments to enjoy the garden through smell, touch and sound,” explains Jeanette.
To get the project underway the nursing home is appealing for volunteers prepared to offer physical help or ideas on garden design. The nursing home is also appealing for donations of plants or paving slabs.
“Obviously, you cannot create a garden like this overnight but the more support we can get, the sooner our residents will be able to benefit. The grant we have received is unlikely to meet all the costs of the project so if there are any local firms who could donate materials such as garden slabs or plants that would be much appreciated.”
The nursing home is also interested in hearing from anyone who would be prepared to join the new St Wilfrid’s Garden Project Committee. To find out more contact Jeanette Bacon on 01524 811229.