Children from St Martin’s Garden Primary School and Hopscotch Nursery in Bath have come together with residents at the UK’s first care home play garden.
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Enjoying the new care home play garden | Photo © Hallmark / Midford Manor
The recently opened space at Hallmark Midford Manor was inspired by residents’ memories of their own childhood experiences and designed by children in a school competition.
It was born out of a partnership between Hallmark Care Homes Foundation and the play charity London Play, with the hope that the garden will be first of many in care homes bringing wide-ranging benefits to young and old alike.
The garden features a play area for little ones, a storytelling chair and a seating area for outdoor lessons.
There is an adjoining gate so the neighbouring St Martin’s Garden Primary School has easy access to the space.
St Martin’s Garden and Hopscotch Nursery are making use of the area weekly, playing games and reading to residents, which is improving their literacy skills. More inter-generational activities are planned for the summer.
Hallmark Midford Manor resident Mary Jarman said: “I enjoyed seeing the children, all their energy and what fun they have. It makes you wish you were like them.
“They are good company and so happy, they are very good to talk to. It takes me back to when my three children were little and full of mischief.”
The care home’s wellbeing manager, Kerry Huggins, said: “It has been really lovely to see the bonds formed between our residents and the children.
“Not only do they come here and play, but we’ve had a teddy bears’ picnic in Victoria Park together and played games.
“They enjoy playing in the play garden at Midford Manor and bring such energy with them. They love to sit in the big chair and tell stories to residents and to each other which is great for developing their imagination.”
Fiona Sutherland, chief executive of London Play, said: “London Play is delighted to see that the first play garden in a UK residential care facility is already working its magic and bringing younger and older generations together around a shared language of play.
“We look forward to seeing the garden develop and bloom alongside new and stronger inter-generational relationships. Congratulations to all at Hallmark for having the vision to make this a reality.”
Deputy head at St Martin’s Garden Primary School, Joe Lund, added: “Our children have thoroughly enjoyed reading at Midford Manor; the links being created are most heartwarming. Long may this continue.”