Residents of Dovecote Manor Care Home in Bletchley, Milton Keynes recently honoured the National Day of Reflection by planting some daffodil bulbs in their garden.
The National Day of Reflection is an annual day that encourages people to reflect and remember the important people in their lives who are no longer with us. This day also aims to start conversations about grief so people can share their experiences with like-minded others and experience the therapeutic benefits this has.
Set up by cancer charity, Marie Curie, there are lots of initiatives to help people honour the day. Some of these initiatives included shining a light at 8 pm in honour of people who have passed, creating a memorial ‘wall of reflection’ to share thoughts and memories, or a vast range of webinars and workshops hosted by Marie Curie.
The people living at Dovecote Manor decided to honour the lives of the people lost during the pandemic and at other times in their lives by planting some new daffodils in the garden. This activity not only had a symbolic meaning but also engaged residents in one of their favourite activities.
Residents started by turning over the soil in their flower beds, before digging small holes to make room for the daffodil bulbs. Whilst doing this, residents shared memories about the special people in their lives and also useful tips for planting bulbs.
Residents really enjoyed their time planting bulbs and being close to nature as they remembered their friends and loved ones. Just before they headed inside, one person said, “That was lovely, we can watch them bloom each year and remember”.