Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown has partnered with Great Oaks care home in Bournemouth to donate houseplants for the residents.

Haskins' in-house plant expert, Alasdair Urquhart, visited the home and gave a brief presentation to residents on houseplants and the benefits these plants can bring. Alasdair explained to the residents that adding houseplants to a room is a simple yet effective way to boost physical and mental wellbeing.

The garden centre also donated a range of houseplants to the residents of Great Oaks. The houseplants, which include Areca Palm, Boston Fern, Peace Lily and Dumb Cane, will help to purify the air and eliminate any volatile organic compounds. Haskins gave advice on where best to place the plants in the home and also spoke with the management team about the care home's garden and the role it plays in improving residents' wellbeing.

Alasdair Urquhart, in-house plant expert at Haskins, said: "It was a real pleasure to be invited to give a presentation to Great Oaks' residents, who were keen to learn more about the plants we were donating. The home has extensive gardening opportunities for its green-fingered residents and we hope the plants we donated will be enjoyed and further improve their environment."

Ian McDonald, manager of Great Oaks, said: "The residents really enjoyed their visit from Haskins as many of our residents regularly help maintain our garden and have a keen interest in gardening. Alasdair's talk inspired residents to share stories of the gardens they once owned, what they grew and what they love most about the outdoors.

"We are so grateful for the generous donation of houseplants we received from Haskins, and the time Alasdair took to connect with our residents and offer them handy tips to help look after the plants."

Studies show that humans are generally happier when surrounded by a plant. Homes can be full of airborne pollutants, with carpets, paint and even people harbouring toxins - especially in the winter months, when windows are closed to the cold air outside and central heating is ramped up indoors. As well as cleaning the air, plants have been proven to reduce anxiety and brighten moods.

Haskins Garden Centre is located in Ferndown, Dorset. Visit www.haskins.co.uk for more information.