Improving care home residents’ wellbeing through community gardens

When living in a care home, it is integral that residents feel safe and comfortable in their new home. For those with a love or fondness for gardening or the outdoors, having access to a space where they can interact with nature and continue a loved pastime can really enhance their quality of life and boost their wellbeing.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Plants have a magical way of transforming our surroundings and our minds. For residents in care homes in particular, connecting with nature can be both nurturing and therapeutic and can overall brighten their mood. Other benefits include:

• helps promote physical activity

• reduces stress and mental fatigue

• promotes blood flow

• stimulates the senses

• lowers blood pressure

• enhances sleep quality.

Contributing to improved emotional and mental wellbeing, a thoughtfully designed garden with accessible features promotes independence among residents and can become a sanctuary for those looking for tranquility or relaxation.

Biophilic design

Biophilia, the innate human connection to nature, has been widely recognised as an essential component of wellbeing. Creating somewhere meaningful that encourages residents to be outside and interact with nature can help empower them to do a little more with their days and feel more motivated.

Sensory stimulation

Spending time in nature also provides the opportunity to stimulate the senses, particularly with residents living with dementia. Whether it be the rustling of leaves, the smell of the fresh soil or the feel of the breeze, it can help trigger memories of times they’ve previously enjoyed. These reminders can help them relax, reduce agitation and engage more with the present, especially when having a task or something to focus on. Even an activity as simple as listening to the sounds of birds tweeting or watching the clouds move can help bring a sense of calm and have restorative effects on the brain.

Social interaction

Incorporating community gardens can inspire a sort of social hub - encouraging further communication between residents, their loved ones and staff members. The openness of nature and being outside can make it feel easier to start up a conversation or say a friendly hello, helping residents to form social bonds and feel more connected with each other.

Having access to outside space allows for social activities to be planned, promoting more local community engagement. This can foster intergenerational interaction, providing a sense of reminiscence for care home residents.

Participating in gardening and working with each other to nurture and tend to the plants can help provide a sense of accomplishment amongst each other. Residents can find themselves discussing their favourite flowers, sharing their best gardening technique or exchanging stories, helping them to feel connected to the wider world and increase their wellbeing.

Through sharing a community garden, residents, staff members and visitors alike can inspire each other to play an active role - no matter how small - in helping their spot of nature thrive.

Creating a vibrant living tribute: Transforming Clerkenwell Green

The way nature can transform urban spaces is not a new topic around here - however there is something particularly special about the power of nature when intertwined with historic urban landscapes. Our work in Clerkenwell Green, Islington, one of the oldest public spaces in London, is a prime example of honouring history whilst paving the way for a greener, more sustainable area.

Transforming CLERKENWELL GREEN

Dating back to the 12th century, Clerkenwell Green is surrounded by some of Islington’s most attractive and valuable historic buildings.

Meristem Design collaborated with Islington Council to improve the space through a diverse planting scheme, helping to create a more pleasant and greener local environment for those who live, work and visit to enjoy.

Environmental benefits

Not only delivering a more inviting area for people to appreciate the surrounding beauty and history, the planting project is acting as a natural filter by improving the local air quality. Helping to turn the grey green, the scheme boosts local biodiversity, attracts crucial pollinators and enhances the overall landscape.

Nature woven into history

Looking to honour the rich history of the green and accentuate the urban village feeling, we chose a planting scheme that weaves together plants varieties that pay homage to the heritage of Clerkenwell Green. Each plants tells a unique story, creating a vibrant living tribute and reflecting the deep roots of the community:

Hypericum inodorum Magical Beauty (St John’s Wort)

Plant qualities and care: deciduous, hardy, bushy, long flowering, attractive berries, full sun to part shade, well drained, cut back in spring.

Achillea salmon beauty (Woundwort)

Plant qualities and care: semi-evergreen, hardy, columnar, very long flowering, full sun, well drained, deadhead and cut back in winter.

Local connection: The St John’s Wort is associated with John the Baptist the namesake of The Priory of St John for the Knights Hospitaller dating back to the crusades. The religious order later became the St John’s Ambulance, the first international first aid charity.

Hypericum has a wide range of medicinal uses as well providing a nectar source throughout the summer months. Similarly Achillea has been planted - common name Woundwort which was used in the crusades for medical treatment.  

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Hypericum inodorum Magical Beauty

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Achillea salmon beauty

Dianthus cruentus (Carnation)

Plant qualities and care: deciduous, hardy, columnar, long flowering, full sun to part shade, well drained, cut back in winter.

Local connection: The green was the site of Wat Tyler’s encampment during the Peasants Revolt and a meeting place for protest against the Corn Laws and Jamaican slavery. It also became the site of the Marx Memorial Library and Workers School, still there today which inspired the use of Dianthus cruentus - a symbolic Carnation flower of the Communists.

Pittosporum (Oliver Twist)

Plant qualities and care: hardy, bushy, evergreen structural, full sun to part shade, well drained soil, annual prune to maintain form.

Local connection: Clerkenwell Green was the backdrop to the Artful Dodger’s theft of Mr Brownlow’s wallet and the consequential capture of Oliver Twist. This impressive shrub is named after Oliver and provides evergreen structure and wildlife resources.

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Dianthus cruentus - Carnation

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Pittosporum Oliver Twist

Leontopodium alpinum (Edelweiss)

Plant qualities and care: hardy, mat forming, daisy like flowers, full sun, well drained sandy, mulch in spring.

Local connection: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is located on the green and this is reflected by the use of the plant commonly known as Edelweiss, a song made famous in the Sound of Music that is often played by the Orchestra.

Rudbeckia fulgida deamii (Black eyed Susan)

Plant qualities and care: deciduous, hardy, columnar, late flowering, full sun to part shade, well drained, cut back in winter

Local connection: Symbols of encouragement, motivation and justice, the Black eyed Susan is used in the borders outside of the Sessions House, the most imposing building on the green that was once a Sessions Court House built in 1780.

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Leontopodium alpinum - Edelweiss

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Rudbeckia fulgida deamii - Black eyed Susan

More than just a public space

This project is a testament to what can be achieved when history and nature are thoughtfully integrated. By improving air quality and adding vibrant and lush greenery, we have not only delivered a living tribute for Clerkenwell Green’s past but also created a more pleasant environment for the future.

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Clerkenwell Green is more than just a public space; it is a living link between the past and the present, a place where history and nature come together to create something truly special.

We look forward to continuing to work on projects like this and we remain committed to making urban spaces greener, more sustainable, and more connected to their rich histories.

Whether you live, work or visit Clerkenwell Green, we invite you to take in the beauty of the planting, and experience history and nature thriving together in the heart of London.

Summer plant mode activated: Help your plants survive the heat

With sudden heatwaves becoming more of a common occurrence, it’s important to know how to care for your plants and flowers so they are ready to handle the heat.

Whether it’s your back garden, potted plants on your balcony or vegetables in your allotment, protecting and nurturing them during extreme heat is imperative to them surviving and flourishing.

Keep reading to learn how to spot the signs that your plant is heat stressed and how you can combat this!

SIGNS THAT YOUR PLANT IS HEAT STRESSED

Just like people, plants and flowers can struggle to cope with very high temperatures, especially for a prolonged period of time. After a while, they will start to develop and exhibit symptoms alerting you that they are heat-stressed and you need to take action.

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Sun scorched Hydrangea

• Wilting leaves or flowers

• Leaves curling or dropping

• Brown scorched petals or leaves

• Yellowing leaves

• Healthy blossoms falling off

• Bolting - plants flowering prematurely

• Decrease in production of fruit/vegetables

• Blossom end rot - often seen in tomatoes or squash

Water wisely

Your plants will lose water from their leaves at a much faster rate during hot weather so it is important that you give them an extra drink.

Time of day is key! Never water your plants in the middle of the day. During peak temperatures, your plants will be using all their energy to try and survive the heat rather than absorbing water.

Try to water them either early morning or when it has cooled down in the evening - this will ensure that less water is lost due to evaporation.

Even when temperatures are high, take care not to overwater your plants. When in doubt, check whether the top two inches of the soil is dry before proceeding.

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Maintenance Operative Dean watering our SuDS planters down Villiers Street

Mulch around

Mulch is a key tool for your green spaces during dry or hot weather. Applying it on top of soil will help retain the moisture, prevent evaporation and keep the plants cooler.

As an added bonus, mulch also helps keep pesky weeds at bay, especially when fighting for water.

Hold off on the fertilizer

Just like us, plants only have a certain amount of energy. During hot weather, they will be using all their resources to withstand the temperatures rather than taking in fertilizer.

If you do decide to fertilize, it could:

• promote the plant to redirect energy to growth, rather than repair, causing the plant stress

• stay sat in the soil, potentially burning the plants

It’s best to wait until any extreme heat or sun has passed and when the plant has had time to repair and recover.

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Rain Garden at Forest Road

Think twice before pruning

Normally, pruning your plants of any damaged or deteriorating leaves would be encouraged - however in the heat, this can actually do more harm than good.

Already stressed from dehydration, your plants need all the help and support they can get. Often, foliage that is sunburnt, although it may not appear attractive, can actually help to protect the interior leaves and buds by providing some shade.

Also, pruning promotes new growth which will be much more vulnerable to heat. It’s best to wait until the weather returns to normal - you never know that leaf you thought was a goner might just rebound.

Shield with shade

It’s not just us that feel faint in the heat - plants feel it too!

If your plants are in any kind of container or pot they will be more susceptible to drying out than those in the ground. Be sure to move them to a shady part of your garden or home so they are more protected from any intense sunlight.

You can also provide temporary shade to your plant beds using a simple large cloth, towel or garden burlap - the darker the colour the better. Place this on top of your plants until the heatwave passes.

Want more tips on caring for your plants?

We hope incorporating some of these steps into your summer plant routine help your plants to stay healthy and lush when in hot weather.

If you’d like to keep up to date with more tips and advice then sign up to our e-newsletter and give us a follow on social media.

How to engage school children on the importance and benefits of nature

At Meristem Design, we are dedicated to nurturing the connection between children and nature through engaging and educational experiences. We strive to provide opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the world of plants, improving not only their wellbeing but the school’s environment.

HOW ARE WE ‘turning the grey green’ in schools?

• Delivering SuDS planters in schools to reduce surface water flood risk

• Conducting nature workshops to reconnect children with nature

• Installing green screens to improve air quality

BENEFITS OF Nature on young people

Natural England reflected; “We’ve known for over a decade how important it is that children learn about nature, for their health, happiness and their success at school.”

Children who spend time outside with nature benefit from:

• self confidence

• responsibility

• creativity

• exercise

• positive stimulation

With their vivid imaginations and keenness to explore, being outside and developing a relationship with nature will give them countless possibilities for fun, play and learning.

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Reconnecting children with nature

We have developed our flagship workshop Reconnecting Children with Nature: Growing Seeds Workshop to help kids learn about the importance of plants, heighten their senses through touch and smell and get their hands dirty through some seed planting.

Highlights of the workshops

Practical exploration

Our hands-on sessions empower students to explore the vital role soil, seeds, and plants play in our lives. Through sensory integration exercises, students become active participants in their learning

Seed Selection and Planting

This helps to encourage a sense of responsibility and connection to nature as students personally select and plant their own seeds. This interactive element ensures a memorable and impactful experience.

Cultivating care

Witness the magic of growth! Students will observe and care for their chosen plants, learning valuable lessons about nurturing life and understanding the delicate balance required for successful cultivation.

Do you want to position your school as a leader in sustainable practices and empower your students to make a tangible difference? If you’d like to know more then please contact us.

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Creating engaging ways for young people to explore and learn - GREENVALE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Working with London Borough of Croydon and funded by the Department of Education, we have installed four vibrant planters to help reduce surface water flood risk at local school, Greenvale Primary.

Our SuDS planters are a sustainable flash flood and stormwater management solution with an internal water reservoir and slow release drainage system. The installation features included rainwater planters, a gabion basket wall, channel drains and gullies.

“These look amazing and really improve the look at the front of the school. ”

— Dan Bowden - Greenvale Primary, Headteacher

fostering an environmentally conscious generation

Focused on fostering an environmentally conscious generation, our planters are adding new green and engaging spaces to school grounds and teaching the students how to care for their environment in a sustainable way. 

Working with the school and involving them in the design process resulted in the pupils helping to inspire the designs, creating fun and thoughtful moments for them whilst also affording them a sense of ownership.

“Everyone noticed the planters when they came into school today - they look fantastic and certainly create a lovely welcome to our school. Thank you so much!”

— Naomi Smith - Greenvale Primary, Office Manager

what are the Benefits of our AquaPlanter?

• Captures and stores rainfall 

• Enables gradual absorption into the ground

• Controlled release back into the piped network 

• Manages water quantity and improves water quality

• Provides amenity

• Enhancing biodiversity