Residents from across our houses came together this week after being invited by The Gaia Trust to take part in a tree planting event as part of our Vocational Development Programme. Residents and staff enjoyed a day in beautiful surroundings helping to create a new woodland area on the Bodwannick Manor Farm and helped to plant several varieties of trees in the glorious winter sunshine.

Spending time in nature is excellent for our mental health and general wellbeing, but always more difficult during the winter months, when the urge to hibernate is strong! St Petrocs’ Vocational Development Programme helps residents and staff to carry on enjoying the great Cornish Outdoors, even when it’s a bit chillier. Luckily the weather was divine this time.

Our Vocational Development Programme events always provide at least a few of the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’:

• taking notice,
• connecting with others,
• giving,
• learning,
• being active.

This one provided them all! Three residents have already expressed interest in volunteering again.

We’d like to thank Matt and Sarah at the Gaia Trust for their warm welcome, and for showing us around such beautiful, wildlife friendly, premises!

We plan to continue to work with Matt & Sarah at the Gaia Trust and look forward to working with them again soon.