Stafford Hall Care Home, part of Runwood Homes Group, was filled with calm, joy and purpose as residents and staff came together for a special in-house garden club activity, planting seeds of vegetables and flowers in preparation for the coming spring.
The activity, which took place on 26 January 2026, saw residents gather compost, gloves, spades, seed trays, watering cans and a variety of seeds including carrots, salad leaves and sunflowers. Together, they carefully filled trays with soil, planted seeds, created labelled signs for each pot, and gently watered them to begin their growing journey.
The session was supported by Catherine, Lifestyle Coordinator, alongside Patricia and Mattie, Care Assistants, who guided and encouraged residents throughout the activity. The atmosphere was relaxed, calm and playful, with gentle background music creating a warm and joyful mood.
Jean, resident at Stafford Hall Care Home, shared:
“It’s been a long-time, all-over Christmas, since we did the garden. This’ll be lovely when they start to sprout.”
Highlight moments included watching Joan carefully water the newly planted seedlings. Despite living with arthritis in her arms and hands, she was determined to hold the watering can herself and was thrilled to be able to take part independently.
The idea for the garden club came directly from residents themselves, reflecting Stafford Hall Care Home’s ‘You said, so we did’ approach to activity-based care, ensuring residents’ voices shape the experiences and opportunities available to them.
This meaningful activity not only celebrated the anticipation of warmer days ahead, but also supported wellbeing, independence, social connection and a sense of belonging within the Stafford Hall Care Home community.
