Activities at Orchard House Care Home

World Bee Day is an annual global event raising awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping for the survival of our ecosystems. Residents had a bee-rilliant time in the afternoon learning about bee-keeping and having the wonderful experience of meeting local bee keepers, Carol and Terry, from Ark Park Bees. They explained what causes bees to swarm and showed us how they moved them when they do. They hold a basket under the swarm, bang the branch it’s on and it falls into the basket and can be transported to somewhere safer for them.

Residents at Orchard House were thrilled to welcome Isle of Wight Parrot Rescue into the home. Lorna and Nicky brought Red Fronted Macaw, Verdi, and Cockatoo, Ella, to meet the residents.  They were very friendly birds and were happy to allow the residents to interact with them. It was wonderful for residents to have the opportunity to have an up close meeting with these marvellous birds. Residents were able to stroke them and talk to them, and were also able to ask lots of questions about the parrots and how the rescue works. Residents were astounded to learn that over the last 5 years Lorna and Nicky have rescued around 500 parrots just on the Isle of Wight, who knew there were that many in the first place. These wonderfully caring ladies share their homes with many rescue birds and also have them in aviaries outside.  Sadly they are not a charity and rely on donations to be able to operate.  It costs around £200 per week to feed them all and this doesn’t include building the aviaries, buying the right size cages and vet bills. We were very grateful for these busy ladies to give up their time and share their wonderful parrots with our residents.

Orchard House celebrated World Cocktail Day being shaken not stirred. Mixologist, Connor Seddon, who is the Bar Manager at the Brunswick Hotel in Shanklin, visited residents and gave them a wonderful demonstration of his cocktail making skills. He amazed them all with his bottle throwing and catching, and wowed them with his use of a flame torch to make the herbs in the drink just right. They all got to sample 2 cocktails, a Bramble – which is a gin based cocktail and bright red in colour, and a Caramel Saltini – which is a coffee liqueur and Baileys based cocktail.  Residents loved them both but the Saltini was just that little bit more popular and they asked Connor make a second round for them!

Residents really enjoyed Easter this year, not only were their families and friends allowed in to see them, but the sun was shining, and many of them took full advantage of this and sat out in the garden.

The fun carried on with a visit from the Easter Bunny, who bounced around the home delivering chocolate treats to all. The selection of treats brought a smile to everyone’s faces. Our Head Chef, Claire Daffern, made the most delicious looking (and tasting) Easter Cake for the residents, who couldn’t believe their eyes!

In honor of the patron saint of England, residents marked the day by creating some lovely clothes peg dragons. They relaxed in the sun and joined in with a quiz about England and St George whilst making their cute dragons. They also learned some fun facts about St George, such as he never actually slayed a dragon. In Medieval times the Devil was portrayed by a dragon, and it is most likely that this is where the myth originated from. 

The home purchased 2 red squirrel feeders from the Squirrel Trust which residents painted to protect it from the weather. Since filling them with hazelnuts and walnuts many of the cheeky chappies have been spotted opening the lids and running off with their bounty. Residents have been absolutely thrilled to see the squirrels every day and have managed to differentiate between 5 of them, so they know they are feeding at least that number.