A new care home set to open later this year in Bath will feature a special play garden to help children and older people come together.
Children will be able to enjoy the garden while visiting their older relatives | Photo courtesy of Hallmark
Children will be able to visit the new garden while seeing older relatives at Midford Manor thanks to a partnership between Hallmark Care Homes Foundation and London Play.
The play charity will be unveiling what is hoped to be the first of many ‘Play Gardens’ at the care home on Frome Road when it opens in the autumn.
Announced to coincide with Global Intergenerational Week, the Play Garden will offer the chance for children and older people to unite following more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shaped by future care home residents and local children, the design of the garden will be inspired in part by memories of residents’ own childhood play experiences.
Children will also be involved, with a “Design Your Own Playground” competition for schools running throughout this spring.
Older people’s reminiscences will be captured in an illustrated ‘Book of Midford Manor Play Memories’, to be housed within the play structure for older residents to read to younger visitors to the play garden.
General Manager of Midford Manor Care Home, Carol Britton said: “A Play Garden will be invaluable to our residents and their families, it will encourage families to come more often and the visit will be a more pleasant and enjoyable one.
“We are delighted that Hallmark are pushing the boundaries and raising the bar and that we will have the opportunity to add a new and exciting level of innovative engagement to and with our local community.
“Making care homes accessible and inviting for all generations is absolutely imperative.”
Stephen Burke, CEO of Hallmark Foundation said: “We are delighted to fund London Play to create the country’s first Play Garden.
“It will promote intergenerational interaction in the new care home and encourage a family friendly environment where children will love visiting their older relatives.
“It’s a win-win for all generations and we hope it will encourage other care homes to use their outdoor space creatively.”
Paul Hocker, director of London Play, added: “Every future Play Garden will have the imprint of childhoods past while offering a new generation a place to create their own play memories, in the company of their much-loved older family members.”
