Over 100 Wiltshire Care Home Residents Showcase Homegrown And Homemade Goods

Some of Wiltshire’s finest arts, crafts and produce were on display on Tuesday 6 September, as 120 care home residents from across the county came together to share their homemade and homegrown items.

The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT), one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit care providers, hosted its annual Wiltshire Flower, Vegetable & Craft Show at Melksham Assembly Hall, with over 100 residents from its county care homes displaying a huge array of self-made goods and locally grown produce – from baked goods and ceramics to jams, floral arrangements and vegetable displays.

As part of the festival, all entries were judged and over 25 awards were presented, including a ‘Best In Show’ award for each category. First, second and third place winners were presented with a rosette and commemorative certificate to celebrate their hard work dedication.

Below is a list of this year’s winners:

Best Beetroot – Watersmead in Westbury

Best Peas – Athelstan House in Malmesbury

Best Runner Beans – Ashwood Care Centre in Warminster

Best Tomatoes – Athelstan House in Malmesbury

Best Small Floral Display – Brookside in Melksham

Best Buttonhole / Corsage – Seymour House in Chippenham

Best Lemon Drizzle Cake – Ashwood Care Centre in Warminster

Best Chocolate Brownies – Fives Court in Warminster

Best Eccles Cake – Bartlett House in Andover

Best Artwork – Hungerford House in Corsham

Best Craftwork – Fives Court in Warminster

Best Knitting – Watersmead in Westbury

Best Crochet – Bemerton Lodge in Salisbury

Best Needlework – Ashwood Care Centre in Warminster

 

In addition to resident awards, Brookside in Melksham was named 2016’s Trust in Bloom Competition winner for being home to the Trust’s best care home gardens in the county.

Chris Poole, OSJCT Assistant Operations Director for Wiltshire, said: “Not only did this year’s festival offer residents a chance to get back into an old hobby, like gardening, baking or crafts, but it also gave a chance to meet with and share their creations with residents from other care homes throughout the county.

“We often hear residents say they’ve given up an old hobby because they think they can’t do it well anymore, so events like our annual harvest festival offers the perfect opportunity for them to give it another go and see for themselves that they’ve still got the skills and knowledge to grow fruit & veg, to bake a delicious cake or make a cosy knitted scarf or blanket.

“All of our residents worked really hard on their displays this year, so we couldn’t be prouder of the effort and dedication they have shown getting involved and showing off their creations.”