We enjoyed our very first in-house performance since lockdown, and it was definitely worth waiting for. The Chantry Dance Company did an amazing performance of the enchanted moon.

Both residents and staff enjoyed themselves and we finished the day with a delicious BBQ. Resident Brenda said it was wonderful and felt really touched.

Staff and residents were treated to an exciting live streaming tour of Knowsley Safari, hosted by Engagement Assistant, Verity Dann.

Knowsley Safari has been welcoming visitors for 50 years since it opened in July 1971. Situated in the Knowsley area of Merseyside, the safari park is home to 750 animals on a 550 acre site. It boasts the longest safari drive in the UK.

Verity’s workshop took a peek behind the scenes at Knowsley to find out what it is really like to work in such a demanding yet rewarding world. Residents discovered what a day in the life of a keeper entails, from feeding time with the giraffes and meerkats through to training sessions, and everything in between. 

Verity explained some of the conservation projects that Knowsley Safari is involved with and how this is positively affecting some of the world’s most endangered species.

Residents were treated to an interactive virtual floristry masterclass courtesy of Master Florist, Michal Kowalski, from Blooming Haus. Residents were invited to gather together flowers and foliage chosen by themselves the day before in the garden and follow Michal’s demonstration to create their own displays. 

Residents’ arrangements will be entered into a Facebook competition judged by Michal and Michael to win Love2Shop vouchers.

Pat, Ivy and Rose all took part in flower arranging and take a lot of our inspiration from our own garden.

To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, staff and residents were treated to an interactive virtual cookery demo, courtesy of chef, Alex Connell, from Vegetarian for Life.

Chef, Alex, whipped up some tasty, healthy vegetarian snacks in a live, interactive cookery demo. Much to residents’ delight, our Head Chef, Andrew Neave, had prepared the same recipes so that residents could try all the dishes. Residents sampled delicious, light and summery veggie dishes, including Borlotti bean and dill pate, Greek fritters with Tzatziki and coronation 'chicken' pastries, which was all finished off with a sweet and simple but totally yummy banana bread.

In the morning, residents were treated to an armchair work out, courtesy of the Green Goddess, Diana Moran, and Shackleton’s Furniture Company, followed by a mindfulness session led by Shackleton’s Emma Raybould.

The team at the home put together a tea party to mark the day, which falls on the Queen’s landmark birthday. Supplied with a tasty selection of biscuits, cakes, and, of course, teas for the event, the residents had lots of fun taking part in sessions, including themed quizzes and virtual tea celebrations.

The Teaspoon company in Grantham were also generous enough to donate some of their loose tea leaves. We had the Grantham tea, which was a mixture of black tea, apricot, pineapple and ginger. Resident, Iris, said that she really enjoyed the Grantham tea, as it was a burst of different flavours in her mouth.