Residents and colleagues at HC-One’s Rose Court Care Home in Radcliffe, Manchester, 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 Rose Court Care Home rolled up their sleeves to transform their outdoor space into a haven for wildlife. They worked on revamping an old shed into a new potting shed and created a memorial garden for staff who had passed away. The garden has been named "loved by all".
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 Rose Court Care Home did just that. Residents were joined by local volunteers, schoolchildren from St Mary’s School, and families of residents who all came together to contribute ideas, plant flowers, and build features such as a memorial garden and a potting shed. The collaborative spirit brought energy and connection to the project. The 12 children from St Mary’s School helped plant pots. Family members, including a resident named Peter Richard’s and his wife Lavina, spent weeks working on one of the gardens.
The team focused not only on creating an attractive garden but one that would support the health and wellbeing of residents. The new garden includes sensory plants such as rosemary, lavender, and eucalyptus. They also planted foxglove and wildflowers to attract bees and insects.
Residents have loved watching the insects on the flowers. The memorial garden includes a golden celebration rose bush. The maintenance staff has grown shrubs that have been replanted in the home, and two residents, Graham Marno and Allan Conchie, planted strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers in the re-vamped potting shed.
The design was tailored to meet the needs and preferences of residents, many of whom contributed ideas and selected plants based on fond memories or cultural traditions. Peter Richard’s and Irene Kennedy enjoyed planting and maintaining the window boxes on their floor, as gardening was a household job they enjoyed at home.
The care home also took steps to ensure the garden would remain a thriving space well beyond the competition. Eco-conscious practices were embraced, including reusing pebbles that were once at the front entrance and using weed supplement fabric to prevent weed growth. The project this year was about revamping areas and reusing existing materials.
Colleagues and residents have now set up a weekly gardening club to maintain the space and continue the engagement. The men, Graham and Allan, keep on top of the watering and weeding.
The sense of achievement at Rose Court Care Home 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.
Senior Wellbeing Coordinator at HC-One’s Rose Court Care Home, Allison Porter shared:
“Residents, colleagues, and the local community really enjoyed transforming the garden area of the home in a bid to enter this year’s HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition. The entire experience brought so much joy and connection. I’m incredibly proud of the creativity and hard work everyone put into the project and the lasting benefit it’s already having on our residents' wellbeing. This garden isn’t just about flowers and plants; it’s a reflection of our care, community spirit, and the vibrant life we nurture at Rose Court Care Home.”
As part of the judging process, HC-One selected five regional winners across England, Scotland, and Wales, with one overall winner crowned the overall winner, based on creativity, community engagement, and sustainable gardening practices. Regional finalists received a plaque and gardening hamper whilst the overall winner, judged and selected by James Tugendhat, Chief Executive Officer at HC-One, received a trophy, plaque, and gardening hamper plus a £300 gift voucher kindly sponsored and donated by Real Trade Supplies.
Residents and team at Rose Court Care Home are enjoying the fruits of their labour, a beautiful, calming garden space that will continue to grow and flourish, just like the community behind it.
To learn more about Rose Court Care Home or other HC-One homes in your area, visit: www.hc-one.co.uk/carehomes.