News

Richmond Villages Painswick has welcomed 17 children from a local primary school for a special intergenerational gardening club session, bringing together young learners and retirees to share skills, nurture a love of nature, and strengthen ties with the local community.

Richmond Villages Painswick were delighted to open its doors to pupils from The Croft Primary School earlier this month, as part of a heartwarming intergenerational activity designed to connect generations and support the wellbeing of both residents and children alike.

During the visit, children and residents worked side by side to create bird houses, bug hotels, and bird boxes, as well as planting sunflower seeds together. The handcrafted creations and planted seeds were then gifted to The Croft Primary School for use in their forest school, with the aim of encouraging local wildlife into the area and inspiring a continued love of the outdoors in young people.

The session was designed with a focus on sharing skills across generations, fostering an interest in gardening, and building meaningful links between Richmond Villages Painswick and the wider local community.

Cheryl Cox, Village Manager, said: "It was an absolute joy to welcome the children from The Croft Primary School into our retirement village. Intergenerational connections like these are so valuable for our residents, who truly loved having the children here, and for the youngsters, who were able to learn new skills and take something wonderful back to school. Moments like this are a reminder of just how much we can give to one another when different generations come together."

Stephen Chamberlain, Activities Co-ordinator, added: "Our gardening club is a hugely important part of life here at Richmond Villages Painswick, and sharing it with the children from The Croft Primary School made it even more special. Watching our residents and the children plant sunflower seeds together and build homes for birds and bugs was truly heartwarming. We hope the gifts we've sent back to their forest school will continue to bring joy and encourage a love of wildlife and nature for years to come. We would love to make this a regular event!"