Care Homes Show How Their Gardens Grow
Care home provider Colten Care has continued its involvement with the National Garden Scheme (NGS), welcoming dozens of visitors and raising hundreds of pounds for charities.
Four public open days have just been held, two at Outstanding-rated Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, and two at Brook View in West Moors, Dorset.
The dates gave residents’ families and friends, other community contacts and members of the general public the chance to come in and have a look round the gardens and grounds.
On hand with advice and information were horticultural experts including Colten Care’s Head Gardener Charles Hubberstey, who said: “We’ve had such positive comments from visitors about our beautiful outdoor spaces.
“One visitor told me: ‘I never thought a care home would have such a garden’.
“Another said: ‘It has been so lovely. I’ll think differently about care homes from now on, and as for the cakes, teas and coffees, wow!’
“Based on visitor numbers and comments such as these, I believe our NGS days have once again been a definite success.”
Both homes have active gardening clubs, with residents putting forward ideas for garden design and plants, and helping with hands-on gardening activities.
Woodpeckers resident Molly Wolstenholme said: “I thought it was a very good event held by the home. I enjoyed seeing the public view our beautiful garden. We had perfect weather for it and delicious cakes too.”
Molly sentiments were echoed by Brook View resident Rosa Leicester who said: “Opening the gardens is a lovely idea. The more people who think and talk about our garden the better. It is lovely for people to see how we live here. This is my home and I am very proud of both my home and my garden. Things grow overnight and every day the garden looks different and the gardener is just amazing.”
Between them, the four open days have raised more than £1,300 for NGS charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and community gardening projects supported through the scheme.
