Edwardstow Court Care Home Triumphs In Trust In Bloom Gardening Competition

Edwardstow Court care home, in Stow on the Wold, has won the Trust in Bloom 2024 Award for Best Overall Garden in The Orders of St John Care Trust’s (OSJCT’s) annual competition

Edwardstow Court, located in the heart of the Cotswolds, competed with 54 OSJCT care homes to win this title, and will receive prizes from competition sponsors SpaGas who have donated £250 vouchers to the winner and UK Landscapes who have donated a garden bench.

The care home has also been awarded category certificates for the Best Hanging Baskets, Best Miniature Garden and Best Wildlife Garden.

Special features in Edwardstow Court’s competition entry included:

• A mobile Miniature Garden, created in a wheelbarrow, which can travel to each resident’s bedroom including those with mobility issues. The Miniature Garden features cork ‘toadstools’, a miniature ‘hot-air balloon’, flowers and a small water feature.
• A unique Woodland Walk, within the grounds of the care home, which is open every day to the general public.
• Details of the Big Family Plant Off day, which the home organised for residents and their families to create personalised hanging baskets for residents, each with a name tag and specially selected flowers so that each basket was individual.

Matthew Peach, Edwardstow Court General Manager, said:
“We are absolutely overjoyed with this win. Our garden project brought together residents, staff, volunteers, and the local community in a wonderful collaboration that has truly enriched our home environment.”

The competition entry was co-ordinated by Marion (Maz) Woods, Activities and Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Edwardstow Court, who focused on the impact of the garden on residents’ wellbeing. She said: “The changes to the garden this year have been invaluable. Residents can enjoy this safe, lovely space where they can freely interact with their families. We have a regular Garden Club, and even those who stay inside can enjoy the flowers and gardening in our mobile miniature garden in a wheelbarrow.”

“We focused on creating a beautiful, engaging space for our residents and their families,” Maz continued. “Being recognised as the winner is thrilling and validates the hard work and community effort that went into this project. Our gardens now reflect the brilliance of our home, and we are immensely proud.”

Kath Finch, one of the home’s dedicated volunteers said:
“We wanted to create a garden that would be ongoing, cost-effective, and deeply involve the residents. The theme of ‘vitality’ led us to focus on bright colours and elements that make the residents feel alive. Residents created their own hanging baskets and designed the miniature garden, complete with toadstools made from corks. It was crucial to make the garden safe and attractive because it is their home.”

Jill, a new volunteer, is using her extensive gardening knowledge to help the home to manage the Woodland Walk. Jill said: “The woodland area is designed to be interesting year-round. We want residents to look around and up, not just at the ground. This creates an engaging sensory experience that is especially beneficial for those with dementia.”