Our gardening competition winners are all blooming marvellous

We’re delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural Healthcare Homes in Bloom competition which ran throughout spring and summer.

It’s been wonderful to see the glorious colour that has been added inside and outside of our homes and branches as part of the competition and to see entries from homes with large or small gardens, lots of involvement from friends and family as well as those who may have chosen to do a display inside with cut flowers.

We had lots of entries from 19 different homes, and one of our Non-executive Directors Graham Lomer and his wife Karen had the difficult task of picking the winner and runners-up in our five competition categories.

And the winners are:

Best hanging basket, pot or container

Winner – Claremont House

Runner-Up – Park House

Highly Commended – Haughgate House and Walcot Hall

Best cut flowers display

Winner – Overbury House

Runner-Up – Foxearth Lodge and Kingsmead

Highly Commended – The Chase

Best community or family involvement

Winner – Ashley Gardens

Runner-Up – Foxearth Lodge and Beaumont Park

Best vegetable patch

Winner – The Chase

Runner-Up – Blandford Grange

Highly Commended – Sovereign Lodge

Best overall display or garden

Winner – Sandown Park

Runner-Up – Barking Hall

Highly Commended – Blandford Grange

Graham said, “What a superb collection of entries. It is obvious that much time, love and care has gone into creating and nurturing these displays, especially those outdoor plants in the incredibly hot and dry summer this year.

“It was very difficult to choose the winners and runners-up in each category as the quality of all the entries was so high. Indeed in two categories we felt that the runners-up places should be shared.”

Spending time outside forms an important part of daily life and activities in the garden take place regularly at our care homes. Lots of residents and clients will have loved spending time in the garden throughout their lives and it is important that we continue these hobbies and pastimes as long as possible.

Everyone can take part in garden-based activities including light digging, planting and watering and it was inspiring to see the number of homes who included all residents, many of whom may have reduced mobility or are bed bound, in our Healthcare Homes in Bloom competition.

Being out in the fresh air is good for wellbeing and growing something yourself can be a great boost for self-esteem. What’s more gardening –

• Reduces stress and can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Can make you happy and increase levels of serotonin in the body
• Improves hand strength and dexterity
• Gives you a boost of vitamin D helping your bones and immune system – just don’t forget the hats and sunscreen
• Is good exercise
• Stimulates conversation and memories– garden activity in the past
• Provides sensory enjoyment – smelling, touching, looking and listening

Congratulations again to our winners, roll on Healthcare Homes in Bloom 2023.

To find out more about the great activities which are on offer in our homes see our website www.healthcarehomes.co.uk

Pip Rich