Spirit Lifting. Blackthorn Blossom & Wood Anemone

Well the weather has not been kind lately, a freezing strong wind yesterday has 'burnt' the newly emerging leaves in the garden, so I've been looking back in my photo archives to sunnier, warmer Spring days. I photographed this beautiful Spring star on this day in 2018. It was the first Wood Anemone flowering in an ancient woodland on a wildflower walk at Hartland Abbey. I focussed on the petals and pretty yellow stamens and I love the bokeh effect in the background.

Behind the scenes, the spirit lifting Blackthorn blossom is appearing now, the photo below was taken in March 2014. No finer sight than Blackthorn flowering in an ancient Devon hedgerow. It's dotted along field margins and you see it in the hedgerows, green lanes, either side of major and minor roads. Unlike Hawthorne it flowers before the leaves. It also appears as white speckles on coastal cliffsides and in ancient woodland. The black fruit (Sloe berries) are used traditionally to make Sloe Gin. It certainly lifts the spirit 😊

Wood Anemone. Photo © Pat Adams North Devon Focus 

Blackthorn Blossom. Photo © Pat Adams North Devon Focus 

Focus Nature Notes: 

Back then I used the following equipment (both great little cameras at the time, easy, no fuss and light perfect for walking or travelling)

Blackthorn - NIKON 1 V1

Wood Anemone - Canon EOS M5

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"The Wood anemone is named after the Greek wind god, Anemos, who sent his namesakes, the anemones, in early spring to herald his coming. This legend gives the flower its other common name of 'Windflower'. " (Woodlandtrust.org)

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North Devon Focus. Watching the changing seasons throughout the year, looking out and photographing events, nature, wildlife and places while walking on the North Devon coast and in the countryside. 
All photos/articles copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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Sidmouth Care Home Keeps Active with Fitness Sessions

Sundial Care Home, which sits near the town of Sidmouth, has been enjoying regular exercise sessions with G-Fitness, helping family members (residents) keep moving and stay active.

Instructor Shannon, uses a selection of gentle exercises and games that encourage family members to keep moving and stay engaged. These include activities with red bouncy balls, which family members raise above their heads, throw and catch them, and pass them between one another. Shannon has a natural way of motivating anyone who joins in and often inspires the team to continue encouraging movement with family members even when she is not there.

The sessions are designed to support movement and mobility while also creating an enjoyable atmosphere. Exercise and keeping mobile can help people maintain strength, coordination and confidence, and the sessions offer a simple way for family members to remain active in a way that feels social and uplifting.

One family member who spent many years working as a PE teacher particularly enjoys the sessions, as they reconnect her with something that was once a big part of her life.

The residential care home in East Devon offers a range of regular activities to keep family members engaged in everyday life, including their gardening club, art sessions and community outings, as well as yearly community events held in the home’s three-acre grounds.

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/

 

North Devon Nursing Home Dresses Up for World Book Day

Edenmore Nursing Home in North Devon recently marked World Book Day by dressing up as well-known characters from books and sharing Harry Potter-themed cakes.

Team members wore costumes inspired by Where’s Wally, Little Red Riding Hood and Alice in Wonderland, and there was also a special visit from ‘Dino’ the dinosaur, a purple inflatable dinosaur worn by one of the team!

Those in costume visited all family members (residents) throughout the home, making sure that those who prefer to stay in bed, or are unable to move from bed, were included in the fun. Home Manager Gayle’s grandson, Flynn – whose mum Stacey is also a part of the team – joined in by dressing up and spending time saying hello to everyone. Some family members also chose to take part in dressing up by wearing themed hats.

A table in one of the lounges was set out with a selection of books, including classics such as The Lion King, Peter Pan and Harry Potter. For those living with a Dementia, books from earlier years can sometimes evoke familiar and comforting feelings around reading these books themselves or reading to their children.

Many family members at the home enjoy reading and appreciate simple moments such as a cup of tea and a good book while relaxing in their armchairs by a window in the lounge or conservatory, where they can catch views of the sea.

There were also Harry Potter-themed cakes made especially by the home’s kitchen team which everyone enjoyed.

Home Manager Gayle shared: ‘Everyone loved dressing up as characters, and Dino the dinosaur was a big hit. It was an afternoon of a lot of chatting and laughter!’

Dino the Dinosaur visiting family members

Family Members & Team Members in Lounge & Harry Potter Themed Treats

Edenmore Nursing Home offers 24-hour nursing and residential care. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com

New exhibition opening at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

A new exhibition opening at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon on Saturday 21st March sheds light on the life and work of former Mayor of Barnstaple, Bruce William Oliver, who died 50 years ago this year.

The exhibition, Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple, has been created in collaboration with North Devon Athenaeum and paints a portrait of an accomplished local man as of many talents. In his professional life Oliver was a well-known local architect, but he was also an accomplished artist, photographer, musician, actor, historian, and sportsman.

Bruce Oliver was elected Mayor of Barnstaple in 1931 on the strength of his services to community, charity, and entertainment. He joined the North Devon Athenaeum in 1932 as a board member, and he became Trustee and Chair in 1951. Following his death in 1976, Bruce Oliver left the bulk of his estate to the North Devon Athenaeum – which includes notes, drawings, watercolours, photographic slides and more, including his house, Homestead in South Park, Barnstaple. Some of the items from his estate will be shown as part of this exhibition.

Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple. Photo copyright Bruce Oliver Exhibition (All Rights Reserved)

Bruce Oliver: A Grand Old Man of Barnstaple

21st March – 16th May 2026

All welcome | Admission FREE

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01271 388784 | barnstaplemuseum.org.uk

The Square, Barnstaple EX32 8LN

 

Planting project reaches its 250,000 tree target

A pioneering community tree project has surpassed its target of planting a quarter of a million trees in Devon.

Saving Devon’s Treescapes was established in 2021 with the aim of restoring huge losses of tree cover caused by the devastating plant disease known as ash dieback. It targeted the replacement of trees outside of woodlands – including hedges, individual trees and orchards. It’s estimated that Devon will lose more than 80% of the many thousands of ash trees, some more than 100 years old.

Saving Devon’s Treescapes was led by the charity Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Devon Ash Dieback Resilience Forum and was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, One Tree Planted, the Woodland Trust and other partners including Devon County Council, East Devon Council and FWAG South West.

Farmland, parks, gardens, school grounds and community spaces have all benefited from the free trees distributed by the project. All the young trees were native kinds including oaks, hazels, spindle and hornbeam among many other species. Many of the saplings were grown from wild seeds collected in Devon and grown in the project’s two volunteer run tree nurseries – one at Broadclyst in east Devon and the other at Meeth Quarry nature reserve in north Devon.

Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project formally closes at the end of March after the completion of its funding, but it leaves behind a legacy in the shape of more than 250,000 young trees which will grow to benefit people and wildlife for decades to come.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Michael Rogers has managed the Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project during its last 18 months. Michael said:

“I have worked on landscape-scale conservation projects for nearly two decades, from coastal grasslands on the north coast of Scotland to the dunes of the Carmarthenshire coast in south Wales – however it’s Saving Devon’s Treescapes that has had the biggest impact on me personally and has probably had the most impact on biodiversity too!  

This project has been an incredible success, nurturing and planting more than 250,000 trees, but the real impact will be in several years when those communities and landowners who have been inspired by us to plant or grow their own trees continue the work we started here. That is why this project will have a lasting influence – one that is invaluable in our constant efforts to preserve Devon’s habitats and the species that depend on them for future generations.”

Saving Devon’s Treescapes has touched the lives of hundreds of people having worked with volunteers and communities in every corner of the county.

Alongside tree planting, the project coordinated citizen science projects including an annual Devon Bat Survey and training more than 250 people to record lichens across the countryside. These projects have proved vital in providing important data about key wildlife which have been impacted by the loss of ash trees.

The project has also been able to show off its creative side. It staged public art workshops and commissioned photographer Robert Darch to create a unique photographic record of the landscapes affected by ash dieback and their regeneration through the project (see attached image).

Florence has been volunteering with Saving Devon’s Treescapes for the more than two years. Florence described the impact of the project on her:

“Before volunteering at Saving Devon’s Treescapes’ Broadclyst tree nursery, I had little experience in the nature sector and had never planted a tree in my life. Now I intend to make it my career!

At the nursery, I’ve seen trees go from seed to sapling and have helped them throughout. The nursery has provided the opportunity for me to learn new skills, both from other volunteers and DWT staff. I’ve met like-minded people, spent time outdoors, and cemented my career ambitions: namely, to work at a tree nursery in aid of replenishing our natural world with native tree species. I have found that I truly enjoy every part of the process. Now I’m excited to continue sowing, processing, and planting to aid nature’s recovery!”

Although the Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project is now closing people can find out more about its work and that of Devon Wildlife Trust at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/saving-devons-treescapes

Florence, a volunteer at Saving Devon’s Treescapes Broadclyst tree nursery. Photo copyright Robert Darch (All Rights Reserved)

 Felling diseased ash trees at Devon Wildlife Trust’s Marsland nature reserve, north Devon. Photo copyright Robert Darch (All Rights Reserved)

Heanton Nursing Home: A Career in North Devon That Became a Place of Belonging

Sometimes the most important part of care is not what you say, but how well you can see the world through another person’s eyes. At Heanton Nursing Home in North Devon, that understanding shapes everyday life. For Pamela “Pam” Manning, working in dementia and complex care has taught her that distress often comes from fear, loss or confusion that feels completely real to the person experiencing it. Responding to that emotional reality, rather than correcting it, can be the gentlest form of care.

Pam did not begin her working life in social care. After many years working as a funeral arranger, she and her husband moved to North Devon, a place they had long loved from holidays in Croyde. “Retirement was meant to be the dream, but after a while we both realised, we needed a reason to get up, get out and meet people again,” she says.

Hearing about a nearby dementia care home, she applied for a part-time role despite having no previous experience. “I remember thinking, I’ve never done care before, how hard could it be?” she said with a smile. “I soon learned that care is one of the most skilled and meaningful roles you can do.”

Her motivation was deeply personal. Having seen how dementia had affected someone close to her, she carried with her determination. “My lovely uncle Bill had been in a Dementia Home the very year we moved and had sadly passed away, my cousin sent me photos of him, and he didn't look like Uncle, he was unshaven and unkempt with a blank expression. It broke my heart. He had been a proud smart man. After his funeral I vowed that somehow, I was going to make a difference and learn about Dementia in memory of my uncle. Hello Heanton.”

Pam remembers her first day as though it were yesterday. Among the first people she spent time with was Lillian, a resident whose anxiety and restlessness often led her to walk the hallways for long periods during the day. “We must have walked those hallways 15 or 20 times,” she recalls. “I remember thinking she must be as bored as I was, but there was something about Lily that kept me curious. That’s what made me come back.”

Then one moment changed everything. Lillian suddenly stopped and pointed towards the floor, admiring something Pam could not see. “Flowers,” she said, “beautiful blue flowers.” Instead of correcting her, Pam bent down, pretended to pick them up, and suggested they take them home to place in a vase before baking a cake for the children returning from school.

“The smile on her face and the warm twinkle in her sea-blue eyes melted my heart quicker than ice cream on a hot beach,” Pam recalls. “Then Lily reached out, grabbed my hand and said softly, ‘Come on, let’s go home.’ That was the moment I understood the word connection.”

That experience shaped the way Pam approaches dementia care. “I realised it was because I didn’t say, ‘There’s nothing there, Lily.’ I stepped into her reality. I lived those hours in her world, in her time, on her terms,” she explains. “That’s when everything changed between us. She trusted me. Over time, she became more relaxed, more confident and happier in herself. I would go home thinking about it, being in her reality was helping her feel calmer.””

It was through experiences like this that Pam began to understand what is often described in dementia care as the careful use of therapeutic lies.

The phrase can sound stark. But in practice, it is not about deception. It is about responding to the emotional reality someone is living in. Validation means acknowledging the feeling without correcting the belief, for example, allowing someone to talk about their mum without challenging whether she is still alive. A therapeutic lie goes further. It offers reassurance that may not be factually accurate, but prevents immediate distress, such as gently saying, “She’s safe, you don’t need to worry,” when someone is panicked or grieving.

The distinction matters. In dementia and complex care, repeatedly correcting someone who cannot retain new information can cause them to experience shock or loss again and again. In those moments, strict truth-telling can unintentionally cause harm. For Pam, therapeutic reassurance is never automatic. It is considered, proportionate and rooted in knowing the person. The question is always the same: what response will reduce distress and protect dignity right now?

Now, five years on from her first day at Heanton, Pam believes the most important lesson remains simple: meaningful care is built on connection. “This is not just a job,” she says. “Heanton to me is home. They don’t need me; I simply need them.”  

To read the full story : Heanton Nursing Home: A Career in North Devon That Became a Place of Belonging - Heanton Nursing Home

 

‘A Roof and A Sky’ photography exhibition launches at The Burton at Bideford

A new photography exhibition launches at The Burton at Bideford with work created by individuals supported by The Pickwell Foundation.

 

‘A Roof and A Sky’ is an exhibition of work made by five refugees, under the guidance of socially-engaged photographer Jamie Dormer-Durling. The participants have attended 10 workshops at The Burton, where they have learned various image making skills, including alternative processes such as creating lumen prints alongside learning how to use digital cameras.

The Pickwell Foundation supports both people and planet, empowering communities to welcome resettled families, supporting those seeking asylum, and championing climate action.

This project has allowed the group to share their story with images, where words are sometimes difficult when there is a language barrier. The photographs in the exhibition are a peek into their domestic lives and the new landscapes they find themselves in. The group said the project “has helped us notice small details and to grow more confident in expressing ourselves.”

The title of the exhibition, ‘A Roof and A Sky’, reflects what the group hope for in their lives. A roof to give them safety, protection and the security of a sanctuary, and the sky which represents freedom and hope – the space to grow.

 

Carole Evans, Learning and Engagement Manager at The Burton at Bideford said:

“It has been brilliant to watch the participants grow in confidence over the last few weeks; through photography but also in telling their story. They have created work which shares their own perspective of North Devon; a place they now call home.”

 

‘A Roof and A Sky’ is part of The Burton at Bideford’s social practice work which develops collaborative and participatory projects with their local community.

It was facilitated by Jamie Dormer-Durling, a socially-engaged photographer based in Weston-super-Mare. He is a founder/director of Common Waves CIC, a community arts organisation supporting underrepresented people to build creative confidence and share stories, based at The Common Room, a community art space that he co-founded. Jamie is also the creative director of Photo Weston, a photography festival bringing international artists to the region, and a board member and regular collaborator with IC Visual Lab.

The project is run in partnership with The Pickwell Foundation and funding from The Foyle Foundation.

Lumen prints by Hiba (left) and Mohammed (right) Image Copyright (All Rights Reserved)

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‘A Roof and A Sky’ runs from 5th March – 17th May at The Burton at Bideford, Kingsley Road, Bideford EX39 2QQ. Free entry. 

For more details see www.theburton.org.

 

Opening Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday 10am–5pm

Sunday 11am–4pm

Free entry

Supporting Peter – A Valued Member of Ilfracombe Nursing Home’s Community

Long-term family member (resident) Peter is a deeply valued part of life at Edenmore Nursing Home. Known for his sharp wit and dry sense of humour, he is quick to share a laugh or smile, bringing warmth and character to the care home. At Edenmore, Peter’s care journey is centred on helping him continue to feel like himself, with a strong focus on maintaining his identity and staying connected to the things that matter most to him.

Peter’s Journey

Before settling in Ilfracombe, Peter lived a full and adventurous life. After a short stint in the army, he trained as a civil engineer, a career that took him across the world. He worked in Nigeria, where his daughters Sarah and Louise spent their childhood, and also in Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Mongolia and Kathmandu!

Throughout those years, Peter was known as a fun, generous father and very much the life and soul of the party. His late wife Ann, who he called Annapeg, was one of five children. Her large family meant lively and loud get-togethers, filled with conversation and Peter’s unmistakable, booming laughter.

Later in life, Peter and Ann chose to settle in North Devon, close to her birthplace of Braunton and the coast they both loved.

Around eight years ago, Peter was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. While he continued to live with support for some time, the grief of losing Ann in January 2023, who had been his primary carer, had a deep effect on him. Following a short stay in supported living, it became clear that full-time support would be a better fit for Peter.

Since moving to Edenmore, he has become a valued part of the home’s community. For a time, he took immense pride in his role as an honorary member of the maintenance team! When a position was advertised, Peter was keen to be interviewed and gave a fantastic interview. He regularly helped with small but meaningful tasks, such as sorting paperwork, supporting basic maintenance jobs and taking part in painting projects, including helping to paint a wall in Lundy House, one of the home’s households.

Peter also enjoyed accompanying team members on errands, such as pharmacy visits or supply runs. On one occasion, he joined a team member on a trip to Bristol to collect supplies in the work vehicle and was notably helpful throughout the day. Today, he continues to offer to help in the office with paperwork and administrative tasks!

Known for his famous cheekiness, Peter is quick to make others smile. A familiar exchange with the team involves him asking a question, listening carefully to the answer, and then responding with a cheeky, ‘No one likes a smarty pants.’ On another occasion, he surprised everyone in the lounge by speaking in a Yorkshire accent and greeting people with, ‘Ay up me duck.’ When asked if he had ever been to Yorkshire, he happily admitted that he hadn’t.

Being in Devon has remained grounding for Peter, offering familiar surroundings and a strong sense of place and belonging. The team have found that visits to the seaside offer a calming effect for Peter. Whether walking along the promenade, sitting quietly by the water or watching the waves roll in, time by the sea brings him a sense of contentment and focus. Team members have seen that he returns more relaxed and settled following these outings.

Peter also particularly loves when the home has visitors. Just this Christmas, children from the local school came into the home to sing carols and hand out handmade cards. Peter gave each of them a wrapped gift and sweets and thanked them personally for coming. For Peter, children have always brought joy into his life. He is now the proud grandfather to seven grandchildren!

Home Manager Gayle shared: ‘Seeing Peter feel settled, valued and purposeful – whether he’s helping with tasks around the home or enjoying time by the sea – is incredibly rewarding. He’s a real character, and we’re very proud to have him as part of our Edenmore family.’ 

Edenmore Nursing Home provides 24-hour nursing and residential care in Ilfracombe, North Devon. 

To read more stories about the people living and working at Edenmore Nursing Home, please visit https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com/latest-news/

Hedgehog Tales at Hatherleigh Nursing Home

Hatherleigh Nursing Home, near Okehampton in Devon, recently welcomed Greatfield Hedgehog Rescue into their home for an engaging presentation all about hedgehogs.

Although the hedgehogs themselves were unable to attend, the session offered plenty to spark interest. The talk covered fascinating facts about hedgehogs, including the different types of hogs and how our native species, the European hedgehog, lives and hibernates here in the UK.

The home's Belvedere Lounge was set up so family members (residents) could sit comfortably and watch the presentation on the projector, creating a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Many of the family members are animal lovers, and the session offered a relaxed opportunity to take part if they wished, and learn a few interesting facts along the way.

With Devon ranked among the top five counties in the UK for hedgehog sightings, the presentation prompted conversations about seeing hedgehogs in gardens and on local walks, with many sharing their own memories of the countryside.

Sessions like this bring familiar topics into the home, encouraging natural conversation and reflection. At Hatherleigh Nursing Home, these simple, thoughtful activities help family members stay connected to their experiences and the community around them — all within the comfort of home.

If you would like to learn more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, please visit https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/live-with-us/activities-in-care/

Heads up. Spring has sprung in my Bee friendly garden

 Spring has sprung in my #beefriendly garden today.

Featured:

• Hellebore 
• Three Cornered Leek (I didnt plant those 😳 and they have spread) - apparently all parts are edible but....)
• Lesser Celandine
• Dandelion
• Primrose (Cowslip)
• Euphorbia (Wood Spurge)
• Comfrey

Now all we need are the bees and butterflies

North Devon Focus. Watching the changing seasons throughout the year, looking out and photographing events, nature, wildlife and places while walking on the North Devon coast and in the countryside. 
All photos/articles copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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Holiday-Making Connections

Simply Owners was established in 2016 because of the changes large monopoly websites were forcing onto both holiday homeowners and holidaymakers.

At its core, Simply Owners connects holidaymakers directly with holiday-home owners, encouraging direct contact with 'no added fees or restrictions.' Rather than acting as a traditional 'middleman' that adds costs at checkout, the platform’s model is designed to help guests avoid booking fees and potentially save £100s on their self-catering holidays.

Simply Owners is a holiday cottage site where you can find self-catering accommodation (cottages, villas, apartments and more), contact owners directly, and book without paying extra booking fees. It’s built around verified owners and payment protection.

Advantages for holidaymakers

Booking direct changes the whole feel of planning a break. You can ask practical questions, clarify details, and get a more accurate sense of whether the place fits your trip (family logistics, accessibility, pets, parking, check-in quirks). Simply Owners is explicitly set up to enable that direct contact between holidaymakers and owners.

North Devon is made for self-catering: beach days, coastal walks, and easy day trips between villages, without being tied to hotel dining times. 

We have featured a few real examples of the kinds of places you can book in on Simply Owners North Devon Cottages:

The Bakehouse (Bideford) - 19 Sandy Way (Croyde) - Lundy Light (Croyde) - Echium Heights (Ilfracombe) - Jeremy Fisher (South Molton)

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If you are a holiday-home owner or holidaymaker visit Simply Owners website for booking advice or further information about the company and variety of locations

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If you’re the type of traveller who likes to shop around, it’s also worth noting Simply Owners’ 'Best Price Guarantee' messaging on the site, which is designed to support price confidence when booking direct.

>About Simply Owners 

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Moor Photography. Land of myths and legends.

Robber's Bridge, another bridge associated with the 'Lorna Doone' novel. It's in what was once "Bandit Country"on the Somerset side of Exmoor just along from the Devon County border at Malmsmead. 

The ford beneath the bridge crosses Weir Water which winds its way down through the valley. It's described as a good picnic spot but I think photographers would prefer not to have that description advertised. It has to be one of the most photographed locations on Exmoor National Park below the bracken laden moorland above, surrounded by ancient woodland, the view enhanced by converging streams, lichen, mosses and old overhanging trees, the colour and light changing throughout the seasons. Click here to view a Short video and other North Devon Focus videos on Youtube

North Devon Focus. Watching the changing seasons throughout the year, looking out and photographing events, nature, wildlife and places while walking on the North Devon coast and in the countryside.
All photos copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

Join us on 

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Sundial Care Home Visits Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary

Sundial Care Home, based in Tipton St John, Devon recently enjoyed a day out in the community with a visit to Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary.

Family members (residents) travelled together to the next town over in the home’s eight-seater car, supported by team members and volunteers. The sanctuary, which provides lifelong care and rehabilitation for hundreds of rescued donkeys, is a familiar and much-loved destination for the care home, with them having arranged regular visits throughout the years.

Family members spent time walking around the paddocks, meeting the donkeys and learning about their individual stories. Being around animals can have a calming and therapeutic effect, which supports wellbeing by encouraging conversation, and creating relaxed opportunities for social interaction. No outing would be complete without time to enjoy a hot drink and sweet treat in the café, which looks out over the donkey paddocks and rolling Devon landscape.

At Sundial Care Home, supporting family members to remain active and engaged beyond the home is an important part of everyday life. Alongside outings to neighbouring towns such as Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary - which offer opportunities for family members to visit familiar places and enjoy local surroundings, the home also hosts annual events, welcoming the community into the heart of the home.

These opportunities are available for those who wish to take part and are a way to support wellbeing through social interaction, and shared experiences.

If you would like to learn more about Sundial Care Home, please visit https://www.sundialcare.com/activities-in-care/

Edenmore Nursing Home Celebrates Valentine’s with its Vintage Sweet Cart

Edenmore Nursing Home in North Devon marked Valentine’s Day with its much-loved vintage sweet shop cart. The traditional cart, a familiar feature within the home, was redressed for the occasion with red love hearts, striped paper bags, and jars filled with classic pick-and-mix favourites.

From jelly sweets to gums and chocolate treats, the selection was chosen with familiarity in mind, flavours and textures many of the family members (residents) would recognise from traditional sweet shops.

Throughout the day, family members were encouraged to visit the cart, fill their own paper bags and enjoy a little something sweet. The sweet cart created opportunities for movement, conversation and reminiscing about childhood trips to the sweet shop, which could evoke positive feelings or emotions.

In the afternoon, music filled the lounge with well-known tunes from the past. For those who wanted to, there was dancing together and holding hands, either up on their feet or from the comfort of their chairs.

Home Manager Gayle shared: ‘It’s lovely to see everyone choosing their favourites and chatting about the sweets they used to enjoy. A few even asked if they needed to pay, which made us smile – it felt just like a proper old sweet shop. Valentine’s Day for us isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about creating moments of comfort, familiarity and connection.’

Family members also enjoyed Valentine’s cookies and cupcakes decorated with pink icing and sprinkles for their tea which was prepared by the kitchen team!

Edenmore offers 24-hour nursing and residential care. To learn more about life at Edenmore, visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com