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LIFE BEYOND THE MILITARY – OUTDOORS
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With the cold weather continuing, patients and staff have enjoyed some creative workshops and propagation activites in the greenhouse.

February 28, 2023

The greenhouse is filling up rapidly as the seed sowing continues, and we quickly run out of room. Spring bulbs are making their first appearance but there’s still a chill in the air. The decking has now been laid on the Village Green. We are now on the last part of the project and excited to see the area in use.

We delivered our first staff wellbeing session on seed sowing and pricking out seedlings last week with a group of 6 members of staff. It was a really enjoyable session, and hopefully everyone went home with a few tips and goody bags full of plants and seeds. We will be delivering sessions every 2 months but may look at increasing this if the demand is there. I attended a stem vase arrangement workshop recently with a view to developing the range of activities available for patients and possibly staff. This will be great for creativity and upper limb strength and dexterity. You can see my efforts below.

Decorated plant pots

We’ve found a good use for upcycling a selection of different size plastic coloured plant pots. Cutting images from garden magazines and seed packets to glue onto the pots has updated the pots which we will then sell in the Farm Shop. Painting over with decoupage glue seals the pot to make it more waterproof and usable. This has been a good activity for working on upper limb strength, dexterity, fine motor skills and an opportunity to be creative.

Norton House

We made our first visit to Norton House this year to work on the SSAFA Chelsea Garden. The raised beds needed weeding and cutting back particularly some of the grasses, all of which could be done in sitting for wheelchair users due to the design of the garden. The roses needed pruning which was a good task for decision making, accuracy, following instruction and developing plant knowledge – the principle of pruning is always a useful topic for a variety of situations from taking cuttings to deadheading flowers and pruning fruit trees.

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Jane

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

Stem vase flower arrangement.

Decorating pots.

Pricking out seedlings.

Norton House garden in winter.

Finished decking on the village green.