Residents and colleagues at HC-One’s Larchwood Care Home in Braintree, Essex, have been busy nurturing their green spaces in a bid to win this year’s HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition.
The initiative, a cherished annual event across the HC-One care home network, celebrates the joy and therapeutic benefits of gardening while strengthening community bonds and promoting sustainable living.
Throughout the spring and summer months, the team at Larchwood Care Home pulled up their sleeves to renovate their outdoor space into ‘Natures Embrace’ – a vibrant, dementia-friendly and sensory garden filled with bright, colourful flowers, fragrant herbs, and a wildflower patch designed to attract bees and butterflies.
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This year’s competition welcomed entries from across the UK with homes encouraged to showcase creativity, community engagement, and lasting environmental impact. One of the core values of the Gardens in Bloom initiative is to encourage community participation, and Larchwood Care Home did just that.
Residents were joined by local volunteers, families, and even their youngest visitors – ‘Grandfriends’ from local childminders – who helped plant seeds in hanging baskets and tended to the herb garden alongside the residents. The collaborative spirit brought energy and connection to the project.
Children helped paint plant pots and residents shared gardening stories and tips, fostering meaningful intergenerational interaction. The team focused not only on creating an attractive garden but one that supports the health and wellbeing of residents.
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The new garden includes a dementia-friendly sensory corner with fragrant herbs like rosemary and lavender, bright flower beds with varied textures to stimulate the senses, a wildflower area to promote biodiversity, and a vegetable patch supplying fresh produce for use in the care home kitchen. Comfortable seating areas and a newly refreshed balcony space provide residents with inviting spots for outdoor relaxation.
The design was tailored to meet the needs and preferences of residents, many of whom chose flowers and vegetables based on fond memories. Bill, a new resident and avid gardener, has taken pride in daily watering and caring for the plants, which has helped him settle in and find purpose.
Larchwood Care Home also embraced eco-conscious gardening practices, including using composted organic waste, rainwater collection, and pollinator-friendly plants. Residents enjoy tending their assigned patches through a weekly gardening club, finding joy in nurturing their plants and witnessing seasonal growth.
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The sense of achievement at Larchwood is already tangible. The garden has become a focal point for social gatherings, a source of pride for residents, and a welcoming space for visitors and families.
Donna Owen, HC-One’s Larchwood Care Home Manager, shared:
“Our residents, colleagues, and local community really enjoyed working together to improve the garden for this year’s HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition. It has brought a lot of happiness and helped everyone feel more connected.
“I’m very proud of the effort and creativity everyone put in, and the positive difference it’s already making for our residents. This garden isn’t just about plants – it shows the care, community, and lively spirit we have here at Larchwood.”
As part of the judging process, HC-One selected five regional winners across England, Scotland, and Wales, with one overall winner crowned based on creativity, community engagement, and sustainable gardening practices.
Regional finalists received a plaque and gardening hamper whilst the overall winner received a trophy, plaque, gardening hamper, and a £300 gift voucher kindly sponsored and donated by Real Trade Supplies. For more information on HC-One homes in your area visit www.hc-one.co.uk/carehomes.
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