Care home residents go wild for 30 days making daisy chains and counting bees

Last month, all ten of our care homes took part in a nationwide campaign organised by the Wildlife Trusts, challenging residents to complete one act of wildness per day.

These included nature journals, wild artwork and picnics in the sun, as well as plant potting, butterfly gardening and feeding the birds.

Residents enjoyed water fights, eating strawberries, making daisy chains, creating fairy gardens, dipping their toes into cool paddling pool water and bee counting, and met creatures and creepy crawlies they’d perhaps not have encountered otherwise.

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 ‘30 Days Wild’ with a renewed sense of excitement and purpose. Well, it's always nice to receive additional inspiration and reasons to be wild.

Dedicated care home pack to help residents access nature

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.

'The results have been heartening'

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.

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.

It has helped staff to 'get to know residents even better'

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 ‘the good old days’ 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.

It's not too late to go wild. If you’ve been inspired by this article please get in touch with your local branch of the Wildlife Trust to see how your home could embrace nature. It may be as simple as feeding the birds, wandering barefoot across the lawn or cloudspotting, or as adventurous as visiting a nearby reserve for some much-needed nature therapy.

Our residents have got so much out of 30 Days Wild and nature engagement beyond June, and we hope yours can too. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for 30 Days Wild 2020’s launch information, and be sure to register for your own care home pack.

365 Days Wild, we're ready for you!

click here for more details or to contact Your Health Ltd