We would like to say a big THANK YOU to the members of Warmley Men in Sheds who have created a fantastic large raised bed for us in the grounds of our Chipping Sodbury House. The residents are thrilled with it and are so looking forward to filling it with lots of colourful flowers.

The perks of gardening in later life

Gardening is beneficial for all ages, but it has many benefits for older people's health including:

• Increasing physical movement - which is important in later life as it helps to strengthen muscles and joints and can help to improve balance and is also a nice form of exercise.
• Reducing stress - gardening helps to reduce stress levels as the body is exposed to sun and exercise, and being outdoors can also help improve mental health. 
• Increased social interaction - community gardening projects are an opportunity for people to come together and help reduce isolation and loneliness.
• Can provide nutritious produce - by growing your own fruit and vegetables, you can have fresh fruit and vegetables on hand, which can also help with enjoyment of trying new foods and introducing more vegetables and fruit in your diet.
• Increases levels of vitamin D - spending time outdoors not only allows you to reconnect with nature, a few hours in the sunshine allows your body to naturally produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium and can help prevent osteoporosis.

The benefits of raised garden beds

Raised garden beds are wonderful for growing a wide range of vegetables and flowers and being raised means they keep pathway weeds away from the soil and can provide a barrier against pests like slugs and snails. Raised garden beds are also great for reducing back strain when you bend over which can be helpful for older people, people with bad backs or gardeners with accessibility issues.