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Train planter arrives at care home sensory garden station

BySam Schofield

Jun 8, 2020

A TRAIN planter has arrived in the sensory garden station at a Hebburn care home.

The dementia friendly train planter has been custom built for residents at Willowdene Care Home, on Victoria Road West.

It was created by the home’s maintenance man Nathan James, was painted by residents Margaret Branch and Eddie Hay in bright, dementia friendly colours, and resident Alan Dryan filled it with flowers.

The planter adds to the home’s sensory garden, which received a boost last year after North East Ambulance Service units in Hebburn and Newburn donated funds and pot plants.

Green fingered residents have been enjoying time in the garden during the warmer weather, tending to the flowers and planting in their new train planter. They have also been painting the raised planters and pergola.

One of those residents, Margaret said: “I loved painting the train. It was so satisfying. The finished train looks great. Especially with all the plants that Alan put in.”

Michael Beaney, home manager at Willowdene Care Home, said: “Our maintenance man Nathan did a fantastic job on the train planter. The residents love it.

“It adds to our dementia friendly sensory garden, which was installed last year, after fundraising by the North East Ambulance Service.

“Our residents have thoroughly enjoyed tending to this year’s crop of plants, as well as painting the planters and garden furniture in dementia friendly bright colours.

“Everyone is looking forward to making the most of the garden during the summer months.”