The garden at the Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre in Drogheda is coming on a treat and for the past couple of months Louth County Council’s Age Friendly Louth initiative has partnered with local artist Aga Hutchinson to deliver a suite of arts and crafts workshops to clients.

The workshops, which took place weekly during May and June, involved objects and household items being reused and upcycled into useful items and decorations for the new garden project.

Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre provides dementia specific, person centred care to meet the needs of people with dementia in a warm, welcoming and safe environment while providing support and stimulation.

The dedicated staff at the centre work with each person to ensure they feel comfortable and supported and that their individual needs are met as far as possible. They offer a wide range of activities including reminiscence therapy, music sessions, gentle exercises, arts and crafts and personal care.

Local artist Aga Hutchinson facilitated a suite of arts and crafts workshops working with the clients to reuse and upcycle everyday objects and household items which were transformed into practical and sustainable items for use in the new garden that is currently under way at the lodge.

The first workshop saw China tea-cups and China saucers which were purchased in charity shops and collected from around the home transformed into bird feeders. These will be utilised in the new sustainable garden where it is hoped the amazing planting of flowers and shrubs will encourage birds of all descriptions into the garden.

Sustainable outdoor lanterns were created by the clients at the centre on week two, using jars and glass containers. These were covered in decoupage and battery-operated lights were placed inside to provide garden lanterns.

At the third workshop clients used a variety of fabrics and coverings to produce colourful bunting to decorate the garden.

Planters which were individually decorated by clients at the centre were created on week four of the series. Herbs were placed inside the planters which will be located throughout the garden for the benefit and enjoyment of clients.

The final workshop saw clients working to make bee hotels, which were individually designed and decorated. It is hoped these will encourage pollinators into the garden.

Each week the workshops encouraged discussions around simple everyday items and the stories and memories associated with these objects. From China cups and cracked teapots to the touch and feel of the fabrics used for the bunting. The scents and smells associated with herbs and the fragrances associated with flowers and plants provided opportunities for clients to reminisce and share stories and memories.

Sinead Reynolds Nursing Manager at Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre, said: “It was great to see our clients engaged in fun inclusive activities that will enhance our new sustainable garden which will be completed soon.” Helen Barron, Nursing Manager, added: “Clients really enjoyed the workshops, and there was something for everyone to do.”

Artist Aga Hutchinson, who facilitated the workshops, stated: “I really enjoy working with the clients in Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre. The Sustainable Garden project was a wonderful way to introduce the clients to simple arts and crafts. I hope they all enjoyed the activities as much as I did, and I would like to extend my thanks to the management and staff for making me feel so welcome.”

Louth County Council Age Friendly Louth Programme Manager, Sinead McVerry, said: “Age Friendly Louth has always been supportive of Tredagh Lodge Day Care Centre and its clients, we are continually looking for ways to enable people with dementia to remain engaged in their chosen activities of life for as long as they wish to and to help support a dementia inclusive and age friendly community in Drogheda for all.”