Posted on 16th Oct
Newark care home, Bowbridge Court, has been crowned the North Midlands winner of Ideal Carehome’s annual Gardens In Bloom competition.
The contest, which launched in June, encouraged staff and residents to work together to devise and implement a revamp of their outdoor spaces that everyone could enjoy during the summer.
The team and residents decided on the project theme during their monthly resident’s meeting, in which residents were able to put forward ideas for things they would like to be included in the final design.
Residents and staff created a relaxing seating area that has become an area to enjoy afternoon tea and worked together to introduce new flowerbeds, featuring their favourite flowers.
The team wanted to include lots of personal touches throughout their design, including a creative mural of framed photos of smiling residents.
Brightly painted ‘hand castings’ were added to the new flowerbeds.
Resident Frank Cavander said: “I am so proud of how the garden areas turned out. We had so much fun creating such relaxing, yet fun spaces.”
Home manager Claire Gordon-Rundle added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be crowned the regional North Midlands winner. All of the credit must go to our amazing residents, who embraced the competition with such gusto.
“We are extremely grateful to have had such overwhelming support from our resident’s families, our staff team and local businesses that generously donated to our garden project.
“It really has been a labour of love and we are so glad to see the judges were as thrilled with our garden creation as we are.”
Stacey Linn, Ideal Carehomes director, said: “Our wonderful team and residents at Bowbridge Court should be very proud to be our North Midlands winner.
“Our judges were astonished at just how much effort and thought had clearly gone into their project and how much our resident’s families and friends rallied together to bring plans to life.
“We know that our residents take huge pride in their garden areas.”
Bowbridge Court, operated by Ideal Carehomes, is a residential care home, boasting a hair salon, cinema room and lounges overlooking landscaped sensory gardens. All 54 bedrooms are en-suite.
Holmfirth care home, Greenacres, was crowned the 2020 national winner of the competition and residents andstaff were surprised with a special video message from celebrity gardening personality Alan Titchmarsh.
