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LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY – OUTDOORS
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Spring growth is helping to develop skills

May 14, 2024

A gloriously sunny day today and we are hoping this is a sign of a sunnier spring to come.  The greenhouse is rapidly filling up and space is at a premium until we are finally frost free and able to plant out. Keeping up with the amount of potting on and pricking out is a challenge but provides plenty of activities for patients.  We have been having regular mini plant sales hosted by Steve, our therapeutic gardens manager, in an effort to manage stock and raise much needed funds to help us provide resources to deliver the service. The plant trollies have proved useful to move plants in/out more easily for hardening off. Our garden volunteers continue to do amazing work with the endless stream of pricking out and potting on plants and seedlings and we are grateful for their ongoing support.

Dividing plants

Propagating plants by division is another method to create new plants which can be done in early spring. We created 20 extra day lilies by digging up and dividing four large clumps with 2 forks, back-to-back, and splitting up the plants into smaller clumps before potting on. This was a good activity for working on core strength, standing tolerance, balance, upper limb gross motor skills, and grip strength. Learning new skills can support development of a leisure interest.  The methodical nature of potting on can be a good activity to support mindfulness.

Seed sowing

Nothing unusual about doing lots of seed sowing at this time of year but we have been experimenting with a variety of drainage materials such as horticultural grit and vermiculite. This provides another opportunity for sensory stimulation for patients recovering from nerve injury and trialling different textures. Another opportunity for therapeutic application of horticultural activities.

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gritty growing medium

10/05/2024

Divided Day Lilies

10/05/2024

Plant trollies

10/05/2024

Natural plant supports

10/05/2024