For many Gardening provides an escape from the world, the enjoyment of growing something from the beginning and watching it flourish can provide a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Not only this but gardening provides many health benefits for both young and older generations.

The 4 key benefits of gardening includes:

Exercise and burning calories. Planting and pulling weeds can help you burn 200 to 400 calories an hour. Gardening gets the body moving by requiring some bending, squatting, stretching and pulling.

Muscle-strengthening. You don’t have to push around a heavy wheelbarrow to keep your muscles from weakening. A few hours of gardening per week will give you the workout you need.

Vitamin D. While you don’t want to overdo it, a few hours of exposure to sunshine will give you more vitamin D than your nightly glass of milk.

Stress-reducing. Gardening increases hand-eye coordination, which helps to keep the brain and body in sync. It also lowers stress-producing cortisol levels and raises serotonin; a calming chemical in the brain that puts you in a good mood.

As a result of the ever-growing evidence for health and wellbeing Hazel End makes a conscious effort to include gardening in their weekly lifestyle programmes, during the winter months, residents can enjoy garden activities in our garden room, taking part in garden top workshops. This gets our residents as close to the outside as possible. Now the sun is shining, and spring is upon us, residents can use both indoor and outdoor facilities to take part in gardening activities and events.

This month gardening club has started in the home, where residents will be encouraged to get some vitamin D and fresh air whilst taking part in a fun and beneficial activity.

Lifestyle Lead Georgie King and Lifestyle Co-ordinator Emily McKeown came dressed to impress on Friday 16th April, in their best of British flowery dresses, residents designed garden cushions out of donated fabric and even enjoyed a coffee in the Hazel End coffee shop afterwards.

Georgie commented “It was as though we had spent the day at a garden centre, it was just lovely!”

Emily commented “Its so nice to see residents enjoying hobbies they’re passionate about. Where they can take the lead and share their knowledge with other residents.”

Hazel said “I loved doing gardening and getting involved as I didn’t think I would manage getting out in the gardens like I used to, but its so easy like this when we use the tables.”

Another resident said “Its good to get green fingers and have a fiddle around, it will be nice to see them bloom and the hard work pay off.”

Residents take part in all stages of gardening including ordering, planting, and caring for the plants and flowers.

Hazel End Care Home, operated by Halcyon Care Homes is a residential and dementia care home where residents and staff have started the process of receiving their second dose of the COVID19 vaccine. The home is currently welcoming new residents who can stay for both short- and long-term periods. Loved ones can visit following the current government regulations and guidelines, these visits are facilitated in COVID-safe rooms, plus nominated individuals can now see their loved one’s face to face with the correct testing and PPE in place. For more information about Hazel End please call 01279 925388 or visit www.hazelendcarehome.co.uk