Residents from Southern Housing’s care and support services on the Island were invited to pick up some skills in protecting the planet at a summer event on August 16.

Around 60 residents gathered for the day, which was focused on biodiversity and recycling. There were also fun family activities on offer, including lawn games, live music from Men in Sheds and animal therapy from Animal Antics, who brought along
miniature horses, a rabbit and guinea pig.

Connecting with nature, guests tried their hands at making bug hotels, whilst RSPB, Naturezone and Hampshire & IW Wildlife Trust were also in attendance, to offer some educational insight.

In the run up to the main event, residents were encouraged to get involved with several smaller eco-events, all intended to benefit the environment and inspire residents to become ecological experts.

These events saw residents providing food and water for birds, carrying out beach cleans and utilising green spaces to plant fruit and vegetables. Photos of the activities were displayed at the main event, reflecting and sharing their commitment to nature.

Naomi Keyte, director of Care and Independent Living at Southern Housing added: “It was great to see so many of our residents come together to both socialise and learn more about such an important topic. We all want to do more for our environment, and we hope we’ve given them some tips and ideas on small steps they can take to do their bit.

“I’m really grateful to our staff, who did a great job of pulling off a lovely event, and we’re looking forward to bringing everyone together again at our annual Christmas event.”