A new dementia friendly garden has opened at Farmers Court Extra Care housing scheme in Rugby thanks to funding from Warwickshire County Council.Residents and staff at Farmers Court, which is owned...
A new dementia friendly garden has opened at Farmers Court Extra Care housing scheme in Rugby thanks to funding from Warwickshire County Council.
Residents and staff at Farmers Court, which is owned and managed by Housing 21, celebrated the garden’s official opening on Friday 24th May with representatives from the local authority.
The council’s capital grant enabled Farmers Court to improve the communal outdoor space to make it more dementia friendly. The changes to the garden include creating an easy to navigate space with plenty of opportunities for activity along with adding sensory plants and objects to enhance the users experience in the garden. The refreshed garden at Farmers Court now includes seating, a fish pond, a vegetable patch and a herb wheel.
Councillor Les Caborn, portfolio holder for Adult Social Care & Health attended the event. He commented:
“I am always pleased to support community events such as this that have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Warwickshire people. Capital funding has been used wisely to enhance the lives of Farmers Court residents who I’m sure will enjoy relaxing in this tranquil garden.”
Residents of Farmers Court have commented that the garden is the best it’s ever been, stating that the difference is amazing and the garden looks beautiful.
Victoria Sexton, Manager of the scheme added:
“The garden has had a positive impact on residents and their families as well as staff.
“Residents have even set up their own gardening club which is also supported by families where they share gardening tasks and fundraise to buy more plants, providing a great sense of community and allowing the residents to have ownership of this space.”
Farmers Court is one of six Extra Care Housing schemes (ECH) in Warwickshire that was awarded Capital funding by Warwickshire County Council to be used towards physical, environmental or structural changes that extend or expand the usefulness of a physical asset such a building or garden.