GREEN-FINGERED residents and staff at MHA Mayfields care home in Ellesmere Port enjoyed a week of garden-based activities as part of the care home charity’s Garden Week.

During a week of glorious sunshine, care home residents enjoyed gardening activities such as potting plants in the home’s gardens and planting flowers in sandcastle buckets to revamp their themed ‘beach garden’.

The beach-themed garden is a great talking point, encouraging residents to venture out into the garden.

Before the pandemic, the home has hosted themed open days around it with visiting donkeys. It has become a lovely area to welcome back visiting grandchildren to the home, whose laughter can be heard in the foyer, a sound much missed during the pandemic.

Local florist ‘Simply the Best’ generously donated flowers and plants to the care home, and families were invited to attend the Garden Week celebrations with many volunteering to help with the planting and weeding.

Residents of MHA Mayfields have an expanse of accessible garden space, which is also home to wildlife such as foxes, squirrels and rabbits.

In addition to the ‘beach garden’, the residents also have a peace garden which was made possible by a benefactor donation in September 2019. It’s been designed to give the residents and family members a special space to reflect and enjoy a time of peace in the garden. The path leads to a curved pergola and raised beds are planted with fragrant plants and season changing foliage.

Su Neill, home manager at MHA Mayfields said: “Our residents really enjoy being out in the garden and, as they are visible from each lounge within the home, we base activities around the changing seasons even when the weather is not so good.

“As well as our beach area we also have a beautiful peace garden and are currently working alongside MHA Communities Cheshire West to further develop other parts of the garden.”

Karen Slater, regional director at MHA, added: “Gardens play a huge role in life at our care homes, with residents and staff regularly planning activities to get them out in the fresh air.

“Particularly during the pandemic, they have been a boost to our residents’ wellbeing, offering a relaxing outside space and a safe place to meet visiting family members as the weather warmed up.”