A friendly gardening group run by Christina, a qualified horticultural therapist, who supports the group with gardening as a means to improve health and wellbeing, as well as making friends.
Maintaining physical activity, cognitive function and social interaction, all helps someone who has dementia to remain stimulated, feel valued and helpful.
Being involved in gardening can really contribute to a person’s wellbeing. Gardening is on-going and ever-changing., anyone who has a garden will recognise that there is always something to do!
Gardening can provide a fantastic opportunity for stimulation of all the senses. There are the sensations of touch – soil, flowers, bark (but mind the thorns!), and perhaps the feel of a gentle wind, of sun or rain. There is visual stimulation – an amazing range of colour and shapes, sunlight, as well as the wildlife a garden can offer. There are the smells of flowers and vegetables, of herbs or of a freshly mown lawn. And there are the sounds – birdsong, insects, and rustle of wind in trees; and of course, there is taste – eating fruit, vegetables, and even edible flowers such as nasturtiums or marigolds.
Who to contact: info@ageukberkshire.org.uk or 0118 9594242
Where to go: Friend Meeting House, 2 Church Street, Reading, RG1 2SB
Website: www.ageukberksire.org.uk
What's on in Reading
Click the button below to find out what else is on in Reading for people with dementia and their carers in our comprehensive guide.