Right at Home Lymm and Warrington South, a local home care provider, recently brought together clients, carers, their families and the wider community to celebrate a dementia-friendly Big Green Picnic in Lymm.
The event took place on Saturday 16 August at Oughtrington Community Centre and formed part of a nationwide initiative led by Dementia Adventure. It was designed to provide an inclusive, supportive outdoor environment for people living with dementia, their carers, and loved ones to connect, relax, and enjoy nature.
Right at Home invited their clients and carers alongside families and community members to take part in the day’s activities. The event featured a variety of dementia-friendly, nature-inspired experiences carefully selected to encourage creativity, wellbeing, and social connection. Activities included:
- Rock painting, with participants’ creations later hidden around Lymm
- Bird feeder making to support local wildlife
- Nature palettes crafted from leaves, petals, and other natural materials
- Sensory trays and baskets designed to engage touch and smell
- A colouring station offering prizes for completed artwork
- Large lawn games for children, promoting active outdoor play
The activities supported the company’s commitment to enhancing quality of life for clients living with dementia through meaningful engagement and community inclusion.
Right at Home Lymm and Warrington South and their carers provided sandwiches and cakes for attendees, helping to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience for everyone. Additionally, several local businesses supported the event by contributing generously, including donating prizes to help raise funds for Dementia Adventure. Special thanks go to:
- Oughtrington Community Centre, who kindly donated their beautiful outdoor space and community hall for the event
- The Card Gallery, Stockton Heath, for a River Walk jigsaw puzzle
- Smith & Co., Lymm, for a bird feeder and bird bath set
- Pure, Stockton Heath, for a £25 gift voucher
- Tesco, Grappenhall, for donating a bottle of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey
- And to the many other kind supporters who chose to give anonymously
The event was further enriched by a live musical performance from Tony Crotty, a classically trained guitarist with over 30 years of experience performing across the UK and Europe and featured on BBC Radio Merseyside. Tony generously volunteered his time to perform, creating a calming and uplifting atmosphere for all guests.
“This event was all about bringing people together and creating a space where everyone felt welcome – especially those living with dementia and their loved ones,” said Clare Coke, Care Director at Right at Home Lymm and Warrington South. “We’re proud to support our clients not just through our day-to-day care, but by offering moments like this where they can connect, relax, and simply enjoy life.”
The Big Green Picnic in Lymm was one of many events held across the UK during National Picnic Week and Care Home Open Week (16–22 June 2025). Due to business needs, the Right at Home Lymm and Warrington South office organised their event later in the year. All Right at Home offices nationwide partnered with Dementia Adventure to provide similar inclusive experiences designed to promote connection and wellbeing in local communities.
Gordon Malcolm, Dementia Training and Partnerships Lead at Dementia Adventure, said: “The Big Green Picnic is all about helping people reconnect with nature, their memories, and their communities. Time outdoors has proven benefits for mood, motivation and brain activity – especially for those living with dementia. These events are a chance to enjoy a stimulating, multi-sensory environment, without pressure – just a brilliant day out in good company.”
