A care home gardener at Oaklands Care Home in Scole, near Diss, has transformed the grounds into a vibrant sensory-rich space for residents.
Sandy Jones spent more than 20 years as a social worker before retraining in horticulture at Suffolk Rural College and joining the care home two years ago.
She said: “I have always loved tending my own garden and managing an allotment but with Oaklands’ five acres of grounds, this has been a project on an altogether bigger scale.”
Ms Jones has created a sensory garden, an interior courtyard filled with fragrant herbs, edible plants and bright flowers, all grown from seed with the help of residents.
Gardener at Oaklands Care Home in Scole transforming grounds (Image: Supplied) She said: “Everything is grown from seed with residents taking part at every step.”
Raised planters throughout the garden ensure residents can get involved in gardening activities.
Ms Jones said: “I put the residents at the heart of everything we do and, in this way, I am still using some of the skills I learned as a social worker.”
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