Patients continue to develop skills as well as coping with the hottest July on record.

July 31, 2019

In contrast to June this month has been red hot. We have been very grateful to the members of staff who have kindly taken their time to help water the greenhouse and surrounding areas over the weekends. We have also made good use of the parasol for some welcome shade. Beans and tomatoes are appearing in abundance and of course the chillies. We have made tea from the fresh chamomile harvested. The thyme in the planters by the greenhouse are a magnet for bees and the other containers are filling out with flowers nicely. The sunflowers planted in the Pears Walled Garden are rapidly overtaking the 8ft canes put in for support and so far, two large pumpkins have appeared which will be useful for our harvest festival in the autumn. We are looking at making a plant creche as we encourage patients to take plants to grow on at home and want to ensure the right plants go to the right place.

Therapeutic benefits – seed saving

Seed saving has become a key activity this month which will continue as the season progresses. We have collected chamomile, chive, marigold and tomato seeds so far and several patients have taken seeds to continue growing at home. This has been a beneficial activity for upper limb patients working on fine motor skills, pinch grip and sensation and for all patients develops knowledge of plants and propagation techniques. However, done standing up, it was useful for another patient needing to increase standing tolerance. This activity can have a very meditative quality requiring concentration and focus. This demonstrates how one activity can meet a range of needs.

Neuro Group

We have started a fortnightly Neuro group for up to four patients with one of the Neuro OT’s. The first session focused on grip strength, pinch grip and hand-eye co-ordination to harvest broad beans from a raised planter and use secateurs to cut back the plants. The beans were then used for a lunch club cooking session. The second session used the senses to identify a variety of herbs and discuss ways of propagating them. This was helpful for retaining information, concentration and sensory stimulation.

In contrast, the larger monthly gardening group was very creative. We asked the group to produce and decorate two planters from recycled pallets. One for herbs to go in the Neuro garden and the other for succulents which has pride of place near the Village Green. The end results look great and enabled the group to work together, develop cognitive and fine motor skills as well as providing practical ideas for growing spaces at home.

Café Neuro was run by the patients recently: hot drinks, fresh lemonade and home-made cakes and savouries. We contributed onions for the sausage rolls and carrots for the carrot cakes. There were none left by the end which speaks for itself.

Belvoir Flower Show

HighGround had a stall at the Belvoir Flower Show during July to promote both Horticultural Therapy and Rural Weeks. The border gardens were also a feature of this show and gave us more ideas for our own border garden for next year.

I can’t believe it’s almost August time is running away!

Enjoying a cuppa whilst taking some cuttings.

Sunflowers planted in the Pears Walled Garden.

Two planters created from recycled pallets.

HighGround's stall at the Belvoir Flower Show.

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