A group of residents at RMBI Care Co. Home Cadogan Court in Exeter taught children at West Exe Nursery School how to plant seeds in preparation for the growing season.
The home arranged a video call to connect both sides so residents could share their knowledge with the students who had received various seed packages from the nursing home.
Mary Skipworth, a 96-year-old resident, taught the children how to sow sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and runner beans.
Then she told them her secret: “These are pretty easy to look after as long as you water them. They are fun to breed. “
During the video call, Katharine Pringle, director of the kindergarten at West Exe Nursery School, urged the children to show residents what they had planted.
The children ran into their garden and reappeared, holding some flower pots to the camera. 89-year-old resident Paula Anderson was thrilled to learn that several children were helping their grandmothers in their gardens.
Residents of Cadogan Court and the children of West Exe Nursery School visited each other regularly prior to the pandemic. However, since the home and school were determined not to disrupt this intergenerational link with lockdown restrictions, they began arranging a series of video calls to keep both sides connected.
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Emma Allan, Activity Coordinator at Cadogan Court, said, “It is wonderful to see how different generations learn from each other and share experiences.
“Being with the children lifts our residents’ spirits and enables them to be playful.”
The RMBI Home Cadogan Court in Exeter is operated by RMBI Care Co., part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. The home is currently able to safely accept new residents. Further information can be found at: http://www.rmbi.org.uk/
Mary Skipworth, a 96-year-old resident, holds samples of the packets of seeds sent to the children in kindergarten
89-year-old Paula Anderson sows seeds in bowls and shows the students what to plant
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