Residents and colleagues at HC-One’s Worsley Lodge Care Home in Worsley, Manchester, have been busy transforming 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 Worsley Lodge rolled up their sleeves to transform their outdoor space into a vibrant, colourful haven bursting with blooming plants and carefully cultivated garden areas for all to enjoy.
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 Worsley Lodge did just that.
Residents were joined by local volunteers and families who all came together to contribute ideas, plant flowers, and build features such as hanging baskets and a newly converted summer house bar. Residents shared their passion for gardening, passing on knowledge and enthusiasm to others.
Several residents took on gardening roles, watering and maintaining the plants daily. Chris, one resident, especially looks forward to tending the plants each day. 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 colourful planting areas replacing plain rockeries, hanging plants brightening window displays, and well-maintained flower beds lining grass edgings, making the gardens a truly inviting and sensory outdoor space.
The converted summer house bar has become a focal point, providing a social hub for residents and families to enjoy refreshments surrounded by nature. The design was tailored to meet the needs and preferences of residents, many of whom contributed ideas and selected plants based on fond memories and gardening passions.
The care home also took steps to ensure the garden would remain a thriving space well beyond the competition. Eco-conscious practices included diligent watering routines by residents, and the maintenance team worked hard to keep the space flourishing throughout the season.
Colleagues and residents have now set up a weekly gardening club to maintain the space and continue engagement. Residents enjoy tending to their assigned patches and watching their plants thrive, finding joy in the routine and seasonal changes.
The sense of achievement at Worsley Lodge 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.
Gareth Holgate, HC-One’s Worsley Lodge Care Home Manager, 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 Worsley Lodge.”
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, judged by James Tugendhat, Chief Executive Officer at HC-One, received a trophy, plaque, gardening hamper plus a £300 gift voucher kindly sponsored and donated by Real Trade Supplies.
Residents and team at Worsley Lodge 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. For more information on HC-One homes in your area visit www.hc-one.co.uk/carehomes.