Students from St Dominic’s College Transform Garden Space at Birchwood Grange Care Home

Birchwood Grange Care Home, part of Avery Healthcare, welcomed 15 students from St Dominic’s Sixth Form College for a full-day garden transformation and intergenerational connection, transforming the outdoor space into a vibrant haven for residents.

Staff and residents at Birchwood Grange Care Home in Harrow regularly welcome visitors from their local community, including local schools and nurseries, to the home for open days and themed events.

In July, they greeted students from St Dominic’s Sixth Form College. The visit was organised in collaboration with the charity Attend, which regularly supports Birchwood Grange Care Home with volunteer initiatives. This visit marked a special day as a new group of students rolled up their sleeves to rejuvenate the garden outside the home’s Ash and Beech units — even braving the rain to get the job done.

Speaking of the day, Kerry Richards, General Manager at Birchwood Grange Care Home, stated,
“It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and care these students brought with them. The transformation was incredible, and more importantly, the joy it brought to our residents was priceless. We’re so grateful to St Dominic’s Sixth Form College and to Attend for helping make this happen.”

Over the course of the day, the students created a sensory garden filled with lavender, rosemary, and other herbs and supported residents in participating in gardening activities.

The revitalised space has already made a big impact. It is now a designated area for outdoor dining and resident activities during the spring and summer months. The home has also purchased new watering cans to enable residents to participate in maintaining the garden, with many now proudly referring to themselves as part of the “gardening team.”

Naomi Ross, Assistant Principal at St Dominic’s Sixth Form College, said, “Thank you for such a wonderful day, which our students were able to have. Thank you so much to David for organising so much and for enabling our students to volunteer, and to Kerry and the team who made us feel so welcome. Our students gained a lot from it and were reluctant to leave.”

Resident, Patricia Hicks stated,
“It’s lovely to sit out here now. I helped plant the lavender, and I like watering it every morning. It’s peaceful and smells beautiful!”