Residents at Ashley House marked National Garden Week by planting their own cress and mustard seeds in a simple and enjoyable gardening activity.
Using cotton wool and egg cartons, residents carefully sprinkled seeds into their homemade planters, giving everyone the chance to take part in the early stages of growing something from seed. The photographs show Jean and Violet adding seeds to cotton-padded egg boxes, while Barb carefully picked up seeds from a plate and placed them into her carton. Another image shows Maggie watering her seeds, with a final photo capturing the finished egg boxes all ready to grow. There is also a lovely picture of Violet, Jean and carer Archie working together to get everything prepared.
The activity offered a gentle introduction to gardening and gave residents the chance to enjoy the anticipation of watching their seeds grow over the coming days. It also brought with it a practical reward, as the cress and mustard can later be enjoyed as part of a meal with the promise of an egg sandwich making the project even more appealing.
Activities like this can support wellbeing in a number of ways, encouraging concentration, conversation and a sense of achievement. At Ashley House, it was a lovely way to celebrate the season, spend time together and enjoy the simple pleasure of growing something to eat.
