March is here very nearly Easter we have loved watching our garden unfold from the winter. This has opened the location and enabled us to provide an even more enriched day for our members.
Our first theme of the month was Theatre and Movies. We were very lucky to facetime with the author of a series of books My Pet….Claire Bond, we spend the days leading up to this creating our own Pet… to show her, we had a whale, Dodo, elephant and many more. Members used how to draw books and surprised themselves how easy and effective it was other members preferred to sculpt with clay or air-dry clay and others liked to junk model theirs. Once we had created our animals, we showed Claire and had a Q&A with her on what inspires her. Next, she read her new book my Pet Dinosaur in the Park alongside our nursery friends from Bright Horizons.
During this week it was Pancake Day, some members used the public transport using all their interpersonal skills, paying for their trip and joining in the crowd that watched the Rotary Club Annual Pancake Races at the Cathedral it was such a mild day they stayed for lunch in the grounds. Whilst this was going on some other members ordered Pancakes from a delivery site, practicing life skills and enjoying each other’s company on their special decorated table.
Week two
Science and Sensory,
We have enjoyed everything from mud to shaving foam this week.
Members have planted their own bean to look after, experiments on how milk and food colouring react with each other and a lot of outdoor fun playing games in the garden. Hayley and some members have started a worm farm they are in the office covered in black paper with Warning worms at work sign on the outside, it’s quite a mystery and causing a little excitement what we might seen when Hayley tells us we can look.
Members took advantage of the lovely weather again and visited Itchen Valley Country park, they said it was an experiment in Mass distribution and forces but we know it was fun on the see saw and swings.
Friday this week was the start of another block of Munch Club this time sharing with Basingstoke James’ Place, we made meatloaf and tomato salad followed by a biscuit ball. A Vegetarian option was available there was no waste!
Week 3
St Patricks Day begun this week with leprechauns being crafted, and rainbows maybe they found some gold at the end Maybe Anastasiia hid some gold coins for the members to find. Member were tested in a quiz, ‘what can be recycled’ a timely reminder which bin to use in James’ Place as well as making us mindful of the impact of the waste we produce opening up discussions how to cut back on the single use plastics. We made a beautiful ‘green’ collage. Getting out and about to collect materials for our forest in a box being mindful to only collect materials that have fallen from trees and bushes.
Thinking of looking after our bodies, we blended up Vickie’ daily Green drink for a try, Spinach, avocado, cucumber and mint then members got to make their own smoothie from a list of green fruit and vegetables.
Thursday became James’ Place art studio, members enjoyed a very calm morning drawing ‘green’ still life such as kiwi and cucumber we were so proud of everyone and their art we have displayed them on the wall for everyone to enjoy.
Our final week of March was Kindness week which included Mother’s Day where we honoured all the important ladies in our lives. Members made cards and a gift for their special ladies.
We painted pebbles and wrote inspirational messages to leave in the community to brighten up the day of anyone who finds them.
Munch club continued with our friends from Basingstoke.
We pride ourselves on being kind and showing kindness everyday but extending the kindness to the wider community added a sense of deeper understanding for our members.
We have enjoyed yet more sunshine and making improvements to our garden sometimes just relaxing with friends under the sun is a perfect way to spend our time.