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Bupa Care home call on gardeners to help create 90 sensory paradises across the UK
9 April 2003
Ninety Bupa care homes across the UK are developing sensory gardens for residents and relatives to enjoy. The homes are calling on green-fingered volunteers to roll up their sleeves and help create gardens specifically designed to stimulate the senses.
"Last year Bupa teamed up with national horticultural charity Thrive and over 80 community groups, from gardening clubs to Action for Employment, to create stunning sensory gardens at care homes across the country. We hope people will be as eager to get involved this year. Many people enjoy gardening - it's a great way to exercise, keep fit and healthy, and can be a good way to socialise," says Monica Owen, Bupa's community affairs manager.
For the second year running national horticultural charity Thrive is providing expert advice to the 90 Bupa care homes involved. "Sensory gardens can be enjoyed by everybody no matter how able-bodied they are. We are encouraging Bupa's care homes to be creative and develop gardens using sculptures, running water and plants with bold shapes, strong scents and bright colours to stimulate all the senses," says Kim Pierpoint, training manager of Thrive.
Thrive supports over 1,600 specialised projects that run programmes of gardening activity for training and employment, therapy and health. The charity also provides expert advice on easier and accessible gardening for everyone from the elderly to those with disabilities.
Anyone who would like to volunteer even a small amount of time to help transform a garden into a sensory paradise can find out the details of their nearest participating care home by ringing Bupa Community Connections on 020 7656 2063.
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