Wealden Times | WT261 | February 2024 | Education Supplement inside

Retiring Naturally
Jo Arnell speaks to Pegasus Homes CEO Steve Bangs and floral designer Jonathan
Moseley about the wellness benefits of interacting with plants, especially as we age
As we age, our need to connect
with nature and with plants
remains a key factor in
maintaining our wellbeing. The
health benefits of getting outside are
well known; experiencing the natural
world, exercise and fresh air are
important for us all, but many positive
effects are also experienced when we
interact with plants indoors too.
In many later living communities
there are accessible outdoor spaces,
the best of them even have allotments
or gardens where residents can grow
plants and vegetables, and interact with
nature in a practical and rewarding
way. A hands-on experience of
nurturing and looking after plants,
from growing crops outside to caring
for a houseplant or arranging a vase
of flowers, provides people with an
opportunity to be surrounded by
greenery, to actively connect with living
plants and gain those all important
health and social benefits too.
This is exactly the approach taken by
Pegasus Homes, whose latest retirement
development, Highfields in West
Byfleet ensured that the landscaping
reflected the needs of the residents
– they were ‘designed to promote a
tranquil environment to relax and
socialise in’ – along with providing
allotments for community gardening
and vegetable growing. Featuring two
south facing gardens, the beautiful
landscaping creates a meaningful space
to overlook and enjoy spending time in.
Steve Bangs, CEO at Pegasus,
comments on how Pegasus prioritises
wellness in its communities:
“At Pegasus, we believe a healthy life is
a happy one and the homes we create
reflect this. We recognise that many of
our downsizing customers are trying
something new after many years rooted
to a longstanding family home, and
the incorporation of wellness facilities
such as saunas, gyms and hydrotherapy
pools holds a lot of appeal.
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