Sutton Coldfield care home residents have a plant-astic afternoon with local school

Residents at a Sutton Coldfield care home spent an afternoon gardening with local school children.

Children from Little Sutton Primary School visited residents at Care UK’s Mercia Grange, on Lichfield Road, for an afternoon of daffodil planting to usher in the start of spring.

On the day, there was no mossing around as Pamela Long, a keen gardener and resident at Mercia Grange, enjoyed sharing her gardening top tips with the local youngsters. 

Pamela explained to the children and fellow residents how to put the bulb into the pot, how much soil to use, and how to cut back at the end of the season.

Another passionate gardener and resident, John Goring, also put his green fingers to good use, helping the children with the planting. John, who often helps out in the home’s greenhouse, has been busy sowing seeds for the vegetable patch, which once grown and harvested, will be used by the home’s Head Chef to prepare dishes in autumn.

Pamela Long said: “It was lovely to see the children planting daffodils – I am from Wales you know.”

Michael McNelis, Home Manager at Mercia Grange, said: “We always enjoy opening our doors to the local community, so it was fantastic to be joined by children from Little Sutton Primary School – the afternoon certainly ex-seeded our expectations!

“Intergenerational activities are incredibly enriching for all ages and provide a fantastic opportunity for residents and children to interact with one another, and grow new friendships! The daffodil planting activity worked well to combine the importance of intergenerational activities, along with the many benefits of spending time in nature to improve attention, mood, memory and emotional regulation.

“We are all rooting for some gorgeous daffodils to bloom in the coming weeks to welcome spring.”

Mercia Grange is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing, dementia, and short-term respite care. The three-storey care home, which features 67 ensuite bedrooms, has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.