Heath Lodge Care Home in Holt Crowned Champion in National ‘Danforth in Bloom’ Gardening Competition

Heath Lodge Care Home, Holt, Norfolk, is celebrating a magnificent win after being crowned the champion of the national ‘Danforth in Bloom’ gardening competition.

The competition, organised by Danforth Care Homes, was created to champion the profound well-being benefits of gardening and spending time outdoors for care home residents.

Heath Lodge impressed the judges with its exceptional dedication to creating a vibrant, sustainable and engaging outdoor space that involved residents at every stage.

The winning project was a true community effort within the home. The team and residents designed and built accessible raised planters, cultivated a productive vegetable patch yielding fresh produce for the kitchen and made a significant commitment to local biodiversity by planting a wide array of bee and butterfly-friendly flowers.

The ‘Danforth in Bloom’ initiative is inspired by principles of horticultural therapy, which emphasises the importance of connecting with nature for mental and physical well-being. The judges noted that the high quality and creativity of all entries demonstrated a powerful commitment to these values across the Danforth Care group.

This focus on home-grown produce is reflected in Danforth Care Homes’ ‘Ground to Plate’ initiative, developed in partnership with celebrity chef Theo Michaels, who presented the team at Health Lodge with their winners’ plaque.

The Ground to Plate is designed to enrich the culinary experience for residents by encouraging residents to grow and incorporate fresh, home-grown ingredients from care home gardens into seasonal menus, celebrating the journey from soil to supper.

“We are absolutely thrilled for the team and residents at Heath Lodge,” said Matthew Knott, Head of Hospitality & Lifestyle for Danforth Care Homes. “Their entry was a shining example of what ‘Danforth in Bloom’ is all about. It wasn’t just about creating a beautiful garden, it was about the teamwork, the sensory stimulation and the fun that comes with nurturing life from the soil. The benefits for resident well-being are immeasurable, and we were inspired by the passion shown in every home.”

Hazel Madden, Home Manager at Heath Lodge Care Home, added: “This win is a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone here. Our garden is a therapeutic space, a social hub and a source of immense pride. To see our residents planning, planting and then enjoying the fruits of their labour has been incredibly rewarding.”

A video tour of the award-winning garden at Heath Lodge can be viewed here: https://animoto.com/play/JJx3aeFpDieC6k7PLt6u2Q