Floral gift from school children to care home residents

A floral display that competed in the RHS Wisley Budding Gardeners Competition is set to take pride of place in its new home at The Grange Care Centre in Stanford in the Vale, Faringdon, thanks to the kindness of members of the local primary school’s gardening club.

Children from Stanford in the Vale CE Primary School created a display featuring two scarecrows and a wheelbarrow planted with sunflowers as their entry in the competition, proudly displaying their work to other schools and the general public, but when it came to finding a permanent home for the entry, they immediately thought of their elderly friends at The Grange.

“It has become a tradition that year 5 children from our ‘Orchid’ class visit The Grange with teaching assistant Sue Finney every week during term time, and gardening is one of the activities that they particularly enjoy with the residents,” comments head teacher, Amanda Willis.  “When they were looking for a permanent home for their display, it took no time at all for them to decide to donate it to The Grange, where it will provide cheer for the residents throughout the summer.”

The scarecrows and wheelbarrow were handed over to the home on Tuesday 22 July as one of the last activities for the schoolchildren before they break up for the summer holidays.

Manager of The Grange, Wendy Mead, was delighted to receive the gift.  “Our residents love having the children visit the home each week – they love to hear about what the children get up to in school, and the pupils are so enthusiastic, whether they are coming to sing to us at Christmas, reading a book or playing their instruments.  It is great to have such close links with the local community, and I really believe that both the children and our residents gain a huge amount from their visits.  They will certainly enjoy the extra floral display over the summer!”

 The Grange is a residential nursing home offering 24 hour care to elderly residents and younger people in need of round the clock support, whether as respite, post-operative or long-term care.  Part of the home is a 12thcentury vicarage, which has been extended to offer 44 rooms as well as communal lounges and dining areas. Managed by husband and wife team, Ian and Wendy Mead, The Grange is part of the Forest Healthcare family of homes, which includes 12 individual homes throughout the South East of England.  For more information on The Grange, please visit www.foresthc.com or call 08444 725 182.  Those interested in a place at The Grange are welcome to visit at any time, with no appointment necessary.

ENDS

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    jay@pyperyork.co.uk