Our 30 Days Wild

We blinked, and all too soon June was over. What a wild, wild month it has been, though. 

During June all ten of our homes took part in a nationwide campaign organised by the Wildlife Trusts. Called '30 Days Wild' the initiative challenges participants to complete one random act of wildness per day, so that we might all access, and appreciate nature more readily. It's said that all of our lives are better when they're wilder, and we couldn't agree more. Accessing nature for just a short period of time each day can help to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of those taking part, and make a stark difference to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. During our participation in last year's '30 Days Wild' we noticed that residents were engaged and happy. They were often far more willing to take part in group activities and events, and one home noticed a marked difference in the number of falls that occurred. Residents and staff members chatted happily about wild, childhood memories, and everyone enjoyed gathering objects, identifying species and creating wild artwork. Nature enriched all of our lives, and we made a pledge to never look back.

Our wilder lives have continued, but we looked forward to June with a renewed sense of excitement and purpose. Well, it's always nice to receive additional inspiration and reasons to be wild. This year we were thrilled to discover that there would be a dedicated care home pack, which was filled with ideas specifically tailored towards staff members and residents. The elderly and vulnerable are often overlooked when it comes to wilder activities, and we were so heartened that our residents would be catered for with adaptable activities and plenty of amazing resources. Nature knows no age limits, after all. We were even more excited to discover that it was our group's own efforts last year that had inspired this brand new pack; our successes during '30 Days Wild' 2018 had motivated the Wildlife Trusts to look more closely at how the challenge could encourage even more care homes to go wild. But why? Well, nature provides a sensory experience for all ages, which can stimulate mind, body and soul in ways that other activities, however enriching, never quite manage. Nature is inclusive, and it doesn't care how old you are or where you come from. Put simply it provides an avenue for the elderly and vulnerable to express themselves, and stimulates a world of wonderful memories and experiences. It bridges all divides of age and upbringing, and gives everyone an equal opportunity to enjoy the same beauty. Those living with physical ailments, mental illness and conditions such as dementia are encouraged to interact with the world via experiences with wildlife, and the results have been heartening. Oh, the memories we were privy to!

This June has been no exception. All ten of our homes have once again embraced the challenge, and come up with so many wonderful - and different - ideas. They all received the care home pack, but still managed to adapt their own activities to suit residents and staff members:

Residents at Cedar Court Dementia Care Home planted sunflowers and scattered seed balls, and even found a bat nesting in one of their corridors. Barry was released later on that day. Everyone pledged to take more time to appreciate their surroundings, and listened to nature's many voices.

Staff and residents at Leaholme Residential Home made a flower bed for pollinators, and fed the birds. They spent more time enjoying the garden when the weather allowed, and spoke of their own wild memories from childhood.

Cedar Court Nursing Home is surrounded by gorgeous, unspoiled countryside and woodland. Residents and staff members took short walks down the lane to say, "hello" to wildlife, and spent time in the garden listening to bird song.

Residents at Willowdale Residential Home made wild pictures and decorated corridors with butterflies, as well as caring for newly-hatched goldfish fry and nurturing caterpillars that will soon cocoon. They care for a sleepy baby hedgehog in need of a nap, and used wildlife books to identify the species they saw. Residents even played nature-themed games, and danced in the rain armed with brollies.

Residents at Langwith Lodge Residential Home spent time planting in their butterfly garden, preparing it for the late summer arrivals. They saw bees, butterflies, damselflies and moths, and looked out over the lake towards ducks and waterfowl. They wrote poems, enjoyed eating outside, and talked about what they'd seen at great length.

Staff and residents at Redmount Residential Home noticed that the activities inspired by nature were engaging and inspiring more people than ever before. Those that are sometimes reluctant to join in have embraced new challenges, and have spoken freely about their memories. They played word games, made wild playlists and handled items collected from the lane, vividly remembering wild encounters from many years ago. They discovered the healing, sensory powers of nature.

Staff and residents at Summer Fields Care Home stood in the garden in the rain, created a wild banner and planted sunflowers. They took walks down to the seashore, planted seed balls and discovered a new kind of camaraderie inspired by wild experiences.

Residents at Rider House threw themselves into making bird feeders, and hung fruits, nuts and vegetables out for the wildlife to feast upon. The feeders attracted so much more than birds and butterflies, though! Staff and residents also created wild artworks with local school children, planted seeds and tended to their garden.

Residents and staff at The Grange and Elm Court created a noticeboard filled with wild paintings, inspired by their very wild month. They took time to appreciate every inch of the garden, and to listen to birdsong during different weather. They chased sunsets, watched the clouds and fed the birds, as well as building a scarecrow to keep seedlings safe.

Residents at Westwood House Residential Home scattered seed balls, looked out for birds and decorated every inch of space they could find with images inspired by nature. They sat in the garden in quiet contemplation, and took time to smell the roses - quite literally.

Each home has had its own stories to tell, but the overriding theme has been one of shared experiences and joy, and plenty of opportunities for reminiscence. Via their participation in '30 Days Wild' residents have been able to talk openly about moments from their childhood and beyond, while remembering skills and pastimes they may otherwise have forgotten. Activities inspired by nature have proven fantastic conversation starters, and have helped staff members get to know residents even better. There have also been opportunities for visitors to get involved in the daily lives and activities of the homes, and everyone has had a wonderful time. Often keen gardeners, and always happy to remember happy times our residents have been enriched by new interactions with nature.

We were thrilled to discover that 570 care homes had taken up the '30 Days Wild' challenge, tempted and inspired by a brand new pack that our marketing assistant had helped to create. 570 homes had allowed nature in, and experienced the overwhelming joy that wildlife has to offer residents. We can only hope that the number will rise next year, and that care homes across the country will continue to harness the healing powers of nature.

365 Days Wild, we're ready for you!

- Louise Baker, Marketing Assistant