Padiham dementia garden opens

[annie]

A new garden designed to help residents with dementia in Padiham has been opened with a spot of afternoon tea.


The Memory Garden was created for sufferers and their families to enjoy in the town’s Memorial Park.

Volunteers with Age UK Lancashire transformed a disused patch of land into an attractive garden outside the day centre at Knight Hill House.

Around 50 people enjoyed tea and cakes in the sunshine at the grand opening of the dementia-friendly garden which includes a circular path, activity shed and sculptures.

The ribbon was cut by Burnley Mayor Coun. Andy Tatchell and Padiham Mayor Coun. Howard Hudson at the event which brought together sufferers, carers, hospital staff and charity workers.

Amanda Nowell, the project coordinator at Age UK Lancashire, hoped the garden would prove to be an asset to the town.

She said: “We are planning to do activities around the garden and shed to get service users to use it.

“We want to encourage more people to use the day care centre – it can be used by the community.

“The plan is to create an activity programme so people can get the best out of the garden – we want it to be well used by people with dementia , the community and other organisations.
“People can come up with innovative ideas that we will look at.”

Guests enjoyed refreshments at the opening and were given a tour of the garden and its dementia-friendly features.

Youngsters from St Leonard’s School who won a wind chime competition were presented with book token prizes by the Mayor.

Age UK Lancashire were given a grant by the Big Lottery fund and support from Burnley Council to complete the project.

http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/heal ... -1-6664014

[Rosalind]

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