Next Tuesday 30 July is World Friendship Day and, as friends play an especially important role in later life (read about the research that’s been done here), it’s the perfect opportunity to show yours how much they mean to you. Here are three wonderful ways to do so.

1. Plan time together

Very little trumps quality time with your best friend(s), so diarise a date and think about how you’d like to spend the time. You could enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch together, go for a walk or watch a movie. If you’re an Evergreen resident, you may want to take advantage of the Lifestyle Centre in your village to invite a few close friends for a game of cards or a cup of coffee and some good conversation.

2. Send a letter

Snail mail may not be the quickest way to show a friend you care, but there’s something really special about receiving a card or letter in your post box. When it comes to what to write, think about your friend and how much they mean to you. Make mention of the qualities you love most in them and what you value about their friendship. You may even want to Google a quote to include at the end of your message. Here are a few to inspire you…

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” – C.S. Lewis

“One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss, but in the number of things they need no longer mention.” – Clifton Fadiman

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” – Tennessee Williams

3. Drop off a gift

Giving a friend an unexpected gift is a great way to show them how much they mean to you and it needn’t be expensive or even store-bought for that matter – gifts from the heart often mean so much more. If you’re a keen baker or love cooking, why not pop round with a batch of freshly baked rusks or biscuits or a meal that can be put into the freezer for another day? Or, how about a few cuttings from an especially pretty plant in your garden, or an item you’ve knitted or crocheted? The point is simply to remind your friend(s) how much you love and appreciate them.