On 13 April, members of the team and Chelsea Pensioners congregated in Ranelagh Gardens to sow the seeds that will turn a forgotten corner into a field of wild flowers.
World Mental Health Day is on October 10 and this year it feels more important than ever to recognise that it’s not just our physical health that’s important. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has had a huge impact on us all. And the Chelsea Pensioners are no exception.
On 6 May, Chelsea Pensioners and members of the Royal Hospital’s grounds team joined representatives from the Royal Parks, the Royal Parks Guild and the Friends of Brompton Cemetery to sow a patch of wildflower seeds in Brompton Cemetery as part of the Battlefields and Butterflies initiative.
Recent research backs up the anecdote that Chelsea Pensioners not only live considerably longer than their peers outside (by over five years, on average), but that their lifetimes once they come to the Royal Hospital are extending, year on year. This strongly suggests that the care and community here contribute to greater longevity – as well as improving quality of life.
