FAIRIES are enchanting residents and staff at a Coventry care home.
A Fairy Garden has appeared during lockdown at MHA Allesley Hall care home.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, many residents would walk to nearby Allesley Park to look at the Fairy Village which has been created by local volunteers.
But some residents were not physically able to get out – so the home decided to create its own Fairy Garden for everyone to enjoy and to give residents a creative project to work on during lockdown.
Emma Dolby, activities co-ordinator at MHA Allesley Hall, found a tree trunk and suggested they use this to make pieces for the Fairy Garden.
Resident Jean Moore, 87, said: “I saw Emma coming towards me pushing a wheelbarrow containing a very large and ugly tree trunk. I asked her ‘What are you going to do with that?’
“Emma kept disappearing and coming back with piles of sticks and stones saying, ‘Right what shall we make today?’
“We’ve had a great time making everything – swings, slides, roundabouts, houses, the wishing well, the water rock pool and the picket fence complete with a grass arch.”
Jean even donated a small figurine of a collie dog that has special memories for her.
Residents and staff are delighted with what they have produced – with many residents saying it took them back to their childhood when they would make things from bits and bobs lying around.
Emma Dolby said: “Who would have thought that an ugly tree stump could turn into something so beautiful?
“Our residents have thoroughly enjoyed building the Fairy Garden – it’s helped us all get through this difficult time. It has brought back our creative sides too, that we thought had gone forever.
“Relatives coming for socially distanced visits in the garden have loved us showing them what has been made and have all said it is amazing. It looks really magical when we put the solar lights on at night-time.
“The problem now is the men at the home have asked for us to make a Troll Garden, which made us laugh!”
