Monmouth Care Home Celebrates World Bee Day with a Buzz of Activity
Gibraltar Nursing Home in Monmouth recently marked World Bee Day with a day of gardening activities and bee-themed fun across the home. The day, which centred around raising awareness of the importance of bees, brought family members (residents) and team members together to take part in shared projects and spend time outdoors.
Some team members dressed as bees for the occasion, while others wore bright colours and floral patterns inspired by flowers and gardens. Home Manager Verity even dressed as a beekeeper!
Family members who chose to take part spent time in the home’s Pillars restaurant painting recycled bean and tomato tins from the kitchen after Maintenance Team Member Stephen carefully drilled drainage holes into them, transforming them into colourful garden planters. Bee and insect houses were also painted by family members and later placed throughout the home’s gardens and outdoor spaces, creating both decoration and new habitats for wildlife.
Anthony trying his hand at making some garden decorations.
In the home’s greenhouse, sweet peas have been coming along nicely. Planted earlier in the spring by family members during one of the home’s ‘Sunshine and Soil’ gardening sessions, they were grown with plans to form part of a sensory teepee in the garden throughout the summer months.
The teepee was completed by the team for World Bee Day, with the sweet peas planted at the base ready to grow up and around the structure, while bee and butterfly wildflower seeds were sown around the area to encourage pollinators and brighten the outdoor space for family members and visiting loved ones to enjoy.
By tying the activities into the home’s existing gardening club, the day became a continuation of something many family members already enjoy taking part in regularly. Gardening-based occupation can support wellbeing and help people feel connected to nature, while keeping hands busy with activities that engage the senses, encourage focus and offer a sense of purpose.
After the busy afternoon, everyone came together for music and singing alongside tea, honey sandwiches and cupcakes served as part of the celebration!
Honey sandwiches and cupcakes were served as part of the celebration!
Home Manager Verity shared, ‘It was lovely to see family members enjoying the bee-themed activities. The gardening occupation and projects run through our Sunshine and Soil gardening group are always a favourite weekly activity within the home, and we’re glad to be doing our small part to help the bees too!’
Gibraltar Nursing Home is a residential and nursing home in Monmouthshire, South Wales, offering 24-hour care in a homely environment. To read more stories about the people living and working at Gibraltar Nursing Home, please click here.