Gardening club: residents grow their own

Residents at Fieldway care home in Mitcham have banded together to raise flowers and vegetables in their garden.

Most club members were keen gardeners in their own homes – and now they’re teaching care home staff a thing or two.

A thriving garden

Residents at Fieldway put hours of time and effort into growing their own cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables.

“At its peak in the summer there is always something coming from the garden and onto the menu,” says Tony Easey, regional chef manager at Fieldway.

Sweet William, fuchsias and geraniums are also popular with gardening club members.

Care home staff helped the club get going by creating raised beds, putting up a greenhouse and buying essential equipment such as compost and cuttings.

“Residents lead the club and we just make sure the stuff is there for them. We find out what they like and get seeds in,” says Tony. “It’s their club and we help.”

All-weather activity

“When you’ve got a garden, there’s always something to do: something to move, something else to change and some plants that don’t make it.

“There are things to do all through the year,” says Tony.

At the height of the growing season, 15 to 20 club members will be out in the garden every Tuesday afternoon.

If the weather’s not good, they’ll sit in a lounge together and tend to cuttings and seeds.

Taking part in different ways

Some residents at Fieldway can’t easily get out into the garden but still play an important part in the club.

They grow quick salad crops on their windowsills – and everyone can enjoy growing mustard and cress for their sandwiches in only a matter of days!

A community concern

Tony admits that it’s the residents who “are teaching us and coming up with new ideas”. But Fieldway’s whole community still gets involved.

Fieldway’s maintenance manager put in a raised pond – complete with fish and surrounded by plants – to create extra interest in the garden.

He also brings in plants and cuttings from his own garden. Even Tony’s parents grow cuttings for the club.

Making it part of the Big 12

The gardening club also takes the spotlight during Community Crops week – part of the Bupa Big 12 – a year-round calendar of themed events for all Bupa care homes

Community Crops picks up on the popular revival of allotment gardening.

In Community Crop’s first year, Fieldway was one of 300 Bupa care homes that took part in ‘sow and grow’ events.

“It helps give us all a boost,” says Tony.

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