Saving Paradise

Category: Heritage Gardens, Nature Seychelles | Date: Jul 09 2009 | By: savingparadise

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of showing visitors from the Regional Home for the Elderly at North East Point, Mahe, around the Heritage Garden next to our centre at Roche Caiman.

The home is a residential facility that provides care for the elderly. Caregivers at the home engage the residents in a number of therapeutic activities. One of them is gardening. They say gardening provides much needed relaxation and improves physical and mental health.

The home has therefore been very interested in our garden and plans are underway to help them create their own. The visitors engaged Lucina, our plant expert, in a steady stream of dialogue, asking about the benefits of various plants. Yesterday’s visit helped to identify different plants they would like to have.

Lucina told me later that one of the objectives of the garden is to rescue plants grown by older generations of Seychellois and use them once again in traditional ways. Many Seychellois have grown up around gardens. What a pleasure then it was to re-connect gardening with some of its friends.

About the Heritage Garden:

This demonstration Heritage Garden© at Roche Caiman has been designed by Nature Seychelles as a model to be replicated by Wildlife Clubs in schools and by the community at home. Not only do we collect plant species that are richly filled with historical value for propagation in the school- based clubs as well as to the adjoining communities, we also collect and collate their stories. We promote the use and value-adding of plants through exhibitions and learning programs. We encourage young volunteers to work with us in this Garden to gain skills and knowledge. We open up this Garden to the public to enthuse and excite people.

Tags: health, natural healing, plants, Seychelles, therapy

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