Work assignment 2021 in the therapy garden in Wedemark-Mellendorf

For the fifth year, students together with Dr Roswitha Kirsch-Stracke supported the association "Grüne Stunde e.V." in maintaining its therapy garden. In return, garden therapist Corinna Cieslik-Bischof showed how she encourages people with dementia to move, do things and communicate in her therapeutic hours.

In 2021, there were several daytime assignments: after teams of two had worked in the therapy garden in the first week of May, a group of 14 students was able to visit the garden together again on 2 July. A raised bed was replaced, a piece of hornbeam hedge was replanted, woody plants were pruned, paths were cleaned, vegetable fields, perennial and herb beds were weeded, berries were harvested and made into jam.

In addition to the joy of practical activities, there was also the learning effect: the students were able to refresh their knowledge of ornamental and useful plants as well as their knowledge of the species of wild herbs. Above all, however, they learned how to design and maintain a garden that is to serve therapeutic purposes. Information was also provided on further training opportunities in garden therapy. In recent years, the visits to Mellendorf alone have motivated four students to write their theses in the subject area of "garden therapy".

Another excursion day with work in the therapy garden will take place in September.