St Catherine’s Care Home Wins Top Garden Awards

St Catherine’s Care Home in Nantwich has been awarded two top accolades from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for its stunning dementia friendly gardens.

St Catherine’s supports older people, including people who live with dementia. Their stunning gardens have been recognised by the gardening world’s most prestigious society – The Royal Horticultural Society, winning a ‘Thriving’ Award for the In Your Neighbourhood category at the Britain in Bloom North West Awards.

The judges were really impressed by St Catherine’s garden and invited them to host the Nantwich in Bloom awards on Tuesday 8th November. The home also picked up a Gold Certificate at the event, which was hosted by the Chairman of Nantwich in Bloom, Anthony Percival.

St Catherine’s went to incredible lengths to transform a traditional courtyard into a beautiful sensory garden. The outdoor space includes raised flower beds, fragrant climbers, a pond and fountain, a beach hut and secret hideaways for quiet reflection.

The garden is now an integral part of the community. Students from Reaseheath College – a local agricultural college – designed the garden and staff, residents, their families and members of the community help maintain and develop it, all under the direction of their activities organiser, Jean Chadwick.

Local businesses have also pitched in. In 2012, the Royal Bank of Scotland created a ‘Jubil-ympic’ garden in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee and the London Olympics, formed of red, white and blue plants arranged in the shape of a Union Jack surrounded by patriotic bunting. Now a themed pop-up garden is created every year by businesses or volunteers.

Carolyn Penfold, Service Manager at St Catherine’s Care Home expressed her delight in winning the RHS awards, saying: “It’s fantastic to have everyone’s hard work recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society. It has been a real community collaboration with students, community members, residents and families pitching in every step of the way.

Carolyn continues: “We are really proud of our beautiful garden and the way it has become a real sanctuary for the people we support. We do as much as possible in it – growing our own herbs, hosting barbeques and summer fairs, and simply enjoying the fresh air and changing seasons.”