Bupa The Booms Care Home residents celebrated Arbor Day by planting a new tree in their backyard.
The camellia shrub blooms with a single or double flower from mid-summer to mid-winter and were used as a symbol of the suffragette movement.
Resident Arthur Knight grabbed the spade and dug a hole twice as wide and deep as the pot the tree came in. The Thames care home held a special morning tea to celebrate the planting.
Care home manager Jade Monigatti says the best time to plant a camellia tree is in winter and are evergreen.
“The residents were very excited about choosing the best spot to plant their new tree.”
Arbor Day is held on 5 June and draws attention to the importance of planting and tending to trees in New Zealand.