Care Home’s Open Garden Afternoon Blooms With £550 Charity Boost

An open garden afternoon at a Salisbury care home has raised more than £550 for the city’s hospice charity.

Residents at Colten Care’s Braemar Lodge became ‘garden ambassadors’, wearing name badges for identification and informing visitors about the flowers and plants on display.

Around 80 people, plus residents and staff, attended the family-friendly event in grounds that have been transformed under a recent refurbishment and extension of the Stratford Road home.

As they toured round and sampled homemade cakes and refreshments, visitors enjoyed live music from the Camerata string quartet, featuring four professional players who perform with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

A raffle of prizes held on the day contributed towards the funds raised for Salisbury Hospice Charity.

Among the resident ambassadors was Anton Prantl, who said: “The event was well organised and it was lovely to see our gardens being enjoyed by so many visitors and families.”

Fellow resident and ambassador Shirley Wyre said: “Visitors told us the gardens were a joy to behold and such beautiful surroundings.”

The event was held as part of this year’s Salisbury Hospice Open Gardens campaign which has Colten Care as headline sponsor.

Braemar Lodge Home Manager Jackie Cash said: “Our open garden afternoon enabled residents to get involved in what was a very positive and uplifting day all round.”

The open garden afternoon came just a few weeks after a summer garden party at Braemar Lodge raised more than £1,500 for city homelessness charity Alabaré.