The cold, dry, sunny days of November have been great for patients to continue activities to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

November 30, 2021

This month has seen us make the most of the cold, dry, sunny days to tidy and clear the raised beds outdoors in the Pears Walled Garden and behind the greenhouse, ready for winter. We have planted bulbs and winter vegetables in place of the faded flowers and summer produce. The violas and nigella sown the previous month have germinated really well, so we can look forward to lots of new plants next year. The roses have been pruned and the willow has been soaking ready for wreath making next month.

Rose pruning

This is a really useful activity to talk about the principles of pruning for patients wanting to learn how to do this in their own garden at home, and so develop skills and a leisure interest. Cognitively it’s a considered process involving concentration, judgement, and decision making to choose which sections to keep and to cut, accuracy of cutting, and how much to cut back. For the lower body standing tolerance and balance are tested. For the upper body reaching, maintaining position of upper limbs, and gripping the secateurs all focus on movement and strength of upper limbs. Being outdoors has many known benefits for mental health and wellbeing and finally it’s an activity in which we can become engrossed, diverting the mind and helping us to be present in the moment.

Village Green

The raised beds are finished and ready for the next stage in the process which will involve putting down a level floor surface making it fully accessible for everyone. We intend to involve our patients as much as possible, making a good activity for assessing work tolerance.

Follow us here and on Instagram

Jane

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

Pricking out Viola seedlings.

Rose pruning.

Autumn clearance.

SHARE THIS POST