Celebrate National Garden Month: Springtime Activities to Enjoy

April is National Garden Month, and it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and witness the bulbs blooming, bringing vibrant colour to the grey outdoors.

Here are a few activity ideas to share with your residents, encouraging them to connect with nature and enjoy the season:

1. Sowing the Seeds

April is ideal for planting certain seeds directly into prepared soil. If you’re planning a vegetable garden, now’s the time to plant garlic, onions, shallots, carrots, and potatoes. Fast-growing radishes are great for raised beds, alongside beetroot and salad leaves like spinach and little gem lettuce.

If you’re looking to start a flower garden, seeds such as marigolds and sunflowers can be started indoors on a sunny windowsill. Watching the seeds sprout is a joy, and when they’re ready, they can be potted up, labelled, and watered before being moved outdoors. Mixing herbs in with your flowers or vegetables will add an aromatic and sensory element to the garden.

To protect your young seedlings, place small windmills or thread old CDs onto twine and hang them from bamboo canes. These not only deter birds and insects but also create visual and sensory appeal in the garden. You can even add colourful wind spinners or bunting to decorate the space for upcoming summer events like sporting competitions and Eurovision!

2. Strawberries

Growing strawberries can be both challenging and rewarding. Whether enjoyed with cream, made into jam, or served as a treat while watching Wimbledon, strawberries are a delightful summer fruit. Birds love them too, so consider netting them if they’re in hanging baskets or use straw to protect ground-level crops in raised beds.

World Championship Snooker 2024

From 20th April to 6th May 2024, enjoy the skilled and relaxing sport of snooker with a themed treat. Bake some cupcakes and enjoy them with a cup of tea while watching the tournament.

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 110g softened butter
• 110g golden caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 100g self-raising flour
• 1-2 tablespoons of milk
• Ready-to-roll fondant icing in various colours (red, orange, black, etc.)
• Small and extra-small round cookie cutters
• Black icing pen for writing numbers

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/gas 4). Line a shallow muffin tin with 12 cupcake cases.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs and vanilla extract, then gradually mix into the butter.
3. Fold in the flour and add a little milk to achieve a smooth consistency. Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases, filling each no more than halfway.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until firm to the touch and golden brown. Cool the cupcakes in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
5. While the cakes cool, prep the icing by cutting out circles to resemble snooker balls. Decorate and enjoy!

The Clocks Spring Forward on 31st March 2024

Don’t forget to move your clocks forward by an hour at 1am on 31st March!

April’s Birthstone: Diamond The diamond, April’s birthstone, is believed to bring balance, clarity, and abundance to its wearer.

This Month in History On 12th April 1606, the Union Flag became the official flag of Britain.

April Birth Flowers and Their Meaning:

• Daisy: Innocence, purity, and true love
• Sweet Pea: Symbolising goodbyes, well wishes, or a simple thank you

In the Garden

• Feed the Hedgehogs: Put out hedgehog food or cat food to help hungry hedgehogs waking up from hibernation.
• Prepare for Planting: Remove weeds and turn the soil over to get ready for planting.
• Deadhead Spring Blooms: Keep your garden tidy and encourage more blooms by deadheading flowers.

Free Activity Downloads

Looking for more ideas? Check out our Free Activity Downloads section for creative projects and worksheets to keep your residents engaged.

This Month’s Activity Ideas: Sport, Sport, and More Sport!

April and May are packed with exciting sporting events, so why not decorate your home with flags, balloons, and festive decorations? For those who aren’t into the sports themselves, they can still join in by baking cakes, keeping score, or acting as umpires.

For sports enthusiasts, here are a few ideas:

• Golf Tournament: Hold your own ‘Masters’ Golf Tournament in the garden, playing a few holes each day and keeping score.
• London Marathon Fun: Let the staff do the running in your own version of the London Marathon! Residents can cheer them on with pom-poms, clapping, and water. Fancy dress for the staff can add even more fun to the event.
• Outdoor Exercise: Hold a morning session of yoga, Pilates, or gentle exercises outdoors. Breathing and stretching in the fresh air will lift everyone’s spirits.

Get Arty!

With spring in full bloom, it’s a lovely time to set up workstations for art and craft projects. Include materials like watercolours, gouache paints, canvas boards, clay, and easels. Paint-by-Numbers is a great activity for beginners, and Aqua Paintings are perfect for those who enjoy the act of painting without the need for colours.

For those who enjoy more tactile activities, air-dry clay is easy to mould and can be made into trinket dishes or tea light holders. Residents can also decorate the pieces once they’ve dried. If cross-stitching kits are complete, reuse the rings to make spring wreaths or garlands.

Monthly Round-Up

Keep an eye on our Spring Sale on the website, where you’ll find many items at less than half price. New items will be added daily, so be sure to check back regularly.

Georgia and Yvette wish you a very Happy Easter! We’d love to hear about the ideas and projects you’re working on, so feel free to reach out to us via email, Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp.

Products to Inspire You:

• SING: Sing & Play-a-Long Bundle, perfect for Eurovision fans.
  Product code: SING7
• Garden Icons: Mixed Wooden Garden Icons to decorate greeting cards, collages, or wreaths.
  Product code: ART315
• Recognii Treasure Box: A visual entertainment source for later-stage dementia, available as a USB or DVD.
• Parachute Play Bundle: Get outside and stay active with this fun bundle.
  Product code: PARAP2

Final Whistle: Dates for Your Diary

• 29th & 31st March: Easter
• 1st April: April Fools’ Day
• 11-14th April: Golf – The Masters
• 13th April: The Grand National – Time to organise your sweepstake!
• 21st April: London Marathon
• 7-11th May: Eurovision Song Contest – Get planning now! We’ll be posting a list of participating countries and activity ideas.
• 12th May: Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley