Staff and residents at The Rectory care home in Taunton have been busy creating a tranquil garden space - and are now opening it to local people living with or caring for someone with dementia.

The free dementia café will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm every Wednesday until September 25.

Abbie Foster, manager of The Rectory care home on Trinity Road, said: "Gardening is a wonderful activity to do with people living with dementia.

"Being outside in nature is calming, with lots of sensory rewards from the feel and smell of the plants and soil on your hands.

"It’s so lovely seeing our residents engaged in planting, weeding, deadheading, watering, or just having a cuppa and watching other people at work."

(Image: White Care Group)

The café provides a supportive and friendly environment for people living with or affected by dementia.

Visitors can relax, make new friends, and enjoy a chat with Ms Foster and her colleagues about available support and strategies to ease the challenges of dementia.

Ms Foster added: "As well as the memory café, people can also find out more about how to plan a dementia-friendly day at The Rectory’s summer fete on Saturday, August 31.

"This will run from 11am to 3pm and is always an event with lots of fun activities - a lovely opportunity to engage with the local community."

The Rectory is a specialised dementia care home with a capacity for up to 25 residents, located near Taunton town centre.

It is one of three homes run by White Care Group, the other two being St Benedict’s in Glastonbury and St Cecilia in Shepton Mallet.

The staff and residents have been growing vegetables and flowers in raised beds and have already harvested strawberries, various herbs, summer carrots, lettuce, and plums.

For further details about the memory café, summer fete, or care available at The Rectory, the number to call is 01823 324145 or email abbie@therectory.org.uk.