Care home residents have eagle-eye view in live drawing class

Home news

Feb 13, 2020

Forget Songs of Praise, this care home is all about Birds of Prey, after it welcomed a bald eagle and hooded vulture for a live drawing class.

Care UK’s Sherwood Grange, in Kingston Vale, hosted a live birds of prey art class, after one of the residents made a wish to see an eagle.

Sherwood Grange strives to give residents the opportunity to live active and fulfilling lives, and part of that is making the wishes of residents come true.

Marion Nevill, aged 81years, has always had a passion for eagles, in her younger days she even took her young children up a Scottish mountain to try and see the majestic golden eagles, known to hunt in the area, but unfortunately, they didn’t spot any. Marion had told her care team at Sherwood Grange that getting up close to a real live eagle has always been something she wanted to achieve, but she didn’t think she would ever get the chance… until they made her wish come true.

Sherwood Grange also worked to tie this visit in with the Marion and some of her residents’ love of art, by hosting a live drawing class so residents could sketch the visiting eagle and hooded vulture, Xavier and Mauve.

The residents are no strangers to artistic endeavours, having already taken part in the first ever nude art class in a care home, and even took a trip to France to try watercolour painting.

Rick Mayne, home manager at Sherwood Grange, said: “We’re keen to help residents continue to live active and fulfilling lives, and making wishes come true is an important part of that ethos. Marion has always wanted to see an eagle up close, and it was such a joy to see her eyes light up when Xavier entered the room.

“It’s not the first time residents at Sherwood Grange have put pen to paper and drawn a live object. In October last year we hosted a nude life drawing class, which went down a storm with everyone at the home. Now we’ve had the birds of prey, we’re going to have to try and trump this class too!”

Marion, resident at Sherwood Grange, said: “I thought it was amazing to be so close to something I have been trying to see for such a long time. Looking at the wingspan of the eagle and feeling the air movement as it flapped its wings was quite exhilarating and I was fascinated by its claws which felt like they would bring fear to anyone and anything. What was surprising to see was the instant understanding between the eagle and the handler as soon as the bird came out of its box. Such an incredible bond with something so magnificent must be an unusual experience. Being able to create a bond with a wild creature of that size and scale was amazing to watch.”

Sherwood Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.

To find out more about Sherwood Grange, please call customer relations manager, Tracey Fountain, on 0333 920 1017, or email tracey.fountain@careuk.com

For more general information, please visit careuk.com/sherwood-grange