A SPECIAL garden has been added to a care home as part of a national campaign.

Stratton Court nursing home in Cirencester have added a Dementia Garden with help of it's residents as part of Dementia Action Week.

The campaign is taking place this week and ends on Sunday, May 27. The goal of Dementia Action Week is to encourage people to take action to improve the lives of those affected by dementia, working to create a dementia-friendly UK where those with dementia do not feel excluded.

Lisa Strevens, homes manager for Aura Care Living and said: “Dementia is now one of the UK’s biggest killers and we want to do all we can to help raise awareness of the condition while helping our residents also.

“Care homes and communities can make a real difference in changing the way we deal with this disease.

“As well as giving exposure to natural light, vitamin D, a garden or outdoor space provides a place for familiar activities such as digging or cutting grass and a place for exercise and offers a unique opportunity to provide a feast for the senses."

Around 850,000 people in the UK are affected by dementia, with 40,000 of those under the age of 65, who suffer from early onset dementia.