Surrey Court Gardens (SCG), founded in 2022, is the name that the, mostly retired, residents of Surrey Court in Westbourne, Dorset have adopted for our voluntary gardening activities. The building ‘Surrey Court’ houses just over 30 elderly folk of both sexes and is one of the several Independent Senior Living schemes in the area run by BCP Council.
The ethos of SCG partly includes inviting residents to participate in a wide range of therapeutic and socially interactive gardening opportunities at every level, as well as providing places for all to just enjoy life in beautiful and peaceful surroundings whether sitting, walking or taking in the views from their windows. Of course, the usual range of visitors also benefit – family, friends, etc.. Close neighbours and the street’s passers by often express appreciation of what is being achieved here, some even walking around the gardens appreciatively.
So much for human enjoyment, our gardening activities encourage and support a wide range of wildlife, and we are very keen to encourage even more. Over the last five or so years we have seen deer, foxes, many types of insects, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, etc., and a wonderful range of birds.
SCG is almost entirely self-funded by residents so far and we are now looking for external sources of funding to help pay for the huge amount of work still required here. We are also looking for all manner of resources including items for maintaining the gardens and hard-landscaping items. This year, 2024, we have been successful in obtaining a £500 conditional grant from H.A.C.T, for which our thanks. Thanks, too, to all the residents who have contributed so generously.