Facebook LinkedLn Flickr Instagram Youtube Vimeo
LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY – OUTDOORS
Donate
Back

Harvesting begins and flowers are blooming. Exciting times as patients begin to plant in the Village Green.

May 30, 2022

Visitors

We were pleased to welcome a visit by the Trustees of the Headley Court Charity earlier this month. Our Chairman, Executive Director, and the OT PLA were also present for the visit. We were able to provide an update about the service and therapeutic garden areas. Each Trustee was issued with a goody bag containing copies of our therapeutic benefits of HT poster, adapted gardening leaflets and two plants. We received positive feedback and comments from the Trustees about the progress and development of the service which their generous donation following the sale of Headley Court is helping to fund.

During the same week, we provided an in-service training session to members of the nursing staff. We were also involved in a Unit treasure hunt for staff where the Greenhouse was one of the clues. This was a good way to encourage staff to visit our area and to promote what we do.

Village Green

Work on the Village Green continues. We have started to move some of the gravel to make way for the pergola. The first raised bed has been filled with topsoil generously donated by British Sugar, We have started planting the bed out with Sunflowers soon to be underplanted by Nicotiana which will provide a cheerful summer display at the front of house. It’s exciting to see this area progressing and all the hard work put in by both staff and patients coming to fruition.

From seed to seedling

Although the seed sowing is lessening, we still have seedlings to prick out and plenty of plants to pot on and plant out. This has provided a wide range of therapeutic activities to work on upper limb function. It’s a good opportunity to work on one-handed and bilateral tasks. Having the range of size from the smallest of seeds to larger plants gives us the ability to grade tasks and move from fine to gross motor skills. Tracking the progress of plants particularly for our longer stay patients gives an added sense of pleasure as the harvest begins and the flowers bloom.

Follow us here and on Instagram

Jane

HG adheres to the latest government and unit policy in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

First roses of the year.

First 'Emile F1' cucumbers of the season thanks to Mr Fothergills seed donation.

Lupin seedlings growing away, seeds donated by a grateful patient as thanks for their sessions.

British Sugar topsoil delivery for village green raised beds.