Gardening
Gardening has lots of health benefits and is a physical activity that can be enjoyed by older people. There are many activities that tending to and looking after a garden can be enjoyed by older people:
- planting
- watering
- collecting food and flowers
- being outdoors enjoying all the natural scents, touching plants, listening to the sounds of nature and can bring about reminiscence.
At Abbeyfield, our houses and homes have beautifully maintained gardens and private spaces for residents to enjoy, where they can spend time in nature or curate and grow their own flowers or vegetables.
Also in this section:
The health and well being benefits of gardening
From helping to reduce stress to perhaps even being the secret to a longer life, we take a look at some of the many health and wellbeing benefits of gardening.
Gardening tips
A beginners guide to gardening
Whether you have a small balcony or a large space, gardening can be a relaxing and rewarding hobby. It is the perfect way to connect with nature and truly reap what you sow.
Growing your own vegetables for better nutrition
As we age, a nutritious diet becomes vital for our wellbeing. Growing your own vegetables ensures a fresh supply of nutrient-rich produce, providing physical activity, mental stimulation, and nutritional benefits for older adults. We look at the benefits of growing your own vegetables and how you can start to grow your own.
LawnStarter: The Basics of Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening is a great way to keep the garden looking tidy, whilst protecting your back and other muscles that may be strained during a usual garden tidy.
Top gardening tips from green-fingered experts
Warm weather means one thing, it's time to get your gardening gloves on! In this blog we share some top tips from green fingered experts.
How to upcycle your garden furniture
It is nice to spend time in the garden in your favourite sunchair, but outdoor furniture can sometimes look a little worse for wear! Here we have some ideas for making your furniture look nearly new again.
Wildlife tips for your garden
A guide to encouraging wildlife in your garden
No matter how big or how small your garden is, you can do your bit to encourage and help the wildlife around you. Even if your 'garden' is on a balcony, there are plenty of ways you can encourage birds and bees with window feeders and bug boxes.
How to encourage bees into your garden
Bees play a vital role in pollinating plants, helping them to produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Without bees, our gardens and crops would struggle to survive, so it's important to encourage them into our gardens whenever possible.
Surviving the Heatwave: How to help wildlife in hot weather
Wildlife needs our help during scorching heatwaves. Learn how you can help birds, bees, butterflies, and hedgehogs from rising temperatures and support their wellbeing.
Read stories from Abbeyfield
Gardening stories from our residents, houses and homes.
Speedwell Court kitchen garden reaches new heights with the aid of Sky volunteers
Speedwell Court has recently been visited by a team of volunteers from Sky TV. The volunteers helped with the progression of a new kitchen garden, which the home is creating to encourage the residents to get more involved in the preparation of their meals as part of the 'Seed to feed' project.
Peter helps brighten up the community in Cowes
Keen gardener and Abbeyfield Clifton House resident Peter is using his passion for gardening to help transform the outdoor spaces at the house and within the local community.
Seed to feed project sprouts in Southampton
A new initiative is underway at Speedwell Court care home in Southampton to improve its green credentials and encourage residents to get more involved in the preparation of their meals.
Peter’s green thumbs brighten up Clifton House
Peter, resident of Abbeyfield Clifton House, is using his passion for gardening to help transform the outdoor spaces at the house and the local community – even creating a Hotel for Bugs!
Resident Frank picks up a Farnham in Bloom Gold award
Having won the Gold award at Farnham in Bloom for the third year in a row Frank is encouraging residents to enjoy relaxed exercise in the beautiful gardens. Frank hopes his passion for gardening will inspire generations to come.
Green-fingered residents recognised with regional award
The residents of Westfield House in Loughborough are celebrating receiving an award from the Royal Horticultural Society and East Midland in Bloom.
New memory garden for people with dementia
This magical memory garden has opened at Palmerston Care Home in Belfast to help residents who are living with dementia.
Earth Day 2023
Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22nd to raise awareness and appreciation for our planet's natural environment. We look at some of the ways our homes are making changes and things you can do to make a difference.
The Abbeyfield Society Marketing Team adds some colour to brighten up Winnersh’s fences
For Volunteers Week, The Abbeyfield Society's Marketing Team headed over to Winnersh to paint their fences before their Jubilee celebrations.