TO celebrate summer and improve its outdoor spaces, Orchard Care Homes challenged its Warrington care home and 22 other care homes in the North and Midlands, to a garden make-over competition.
The group have revealed two worthy winners – Three Bridges Care Home, Warrington and Lansbury Court, Sunderland – who are each rewarded with state-of-the-art, activities tables by The Digital Rainbow – worth £5,000 each.
The group aimed not only to create winning gardens, but to encourage residents, their families, and staff to work together to create spaces to reflect, reminisce, grow vegetables, eat meals, and be close to nature. The benefits of outdoor spaces are well documented. Being in the fresh air can reduce stress, boost vitamin D levels (which helps to improve mood and well-being) and provide social interaction for everyone. Gardens can also help to encourage birds, bees, and butterflies to visit and offer sensory therapies for all.
Some gardens incorporated coloured flower beds such as blue and purple, to represent living with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Special Dementia gardens were planted which include favourite flowers donated by staff and families to help evoke memories and forge re-connection.
Wendy Allinson, Home Administrator, was also delighted with Orchard’s Three Bridges team’s win, saying, “We are thrilled to bits! Huge congratulations to Lansbury Court and every home that took part. It has been such a wonderful experience for us, the families, and most importantly the residents.’
The Orchard ‘Garden Inspectors’ will be returning to all 23 homes in the coming weeks to award further digital table prizes for the two best-maintained gardens across the group. This provides each of the homes the opportunity to make the most of their outdoor spaces over the coming months and involve everyone in maintaining all their hard work.
