Residents and colleagues at
HC-One’s Sedgley Court Care Home in Brick Kiln Way, Dudley, are celebrating after being crowned regional finalist for the Midlands region in the national HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition.
The annual initiative encourages HC-One care homes across the UK to get creative with their outdoor spaces, highlighting the therapeutic benefits of gardening while strengthening ties with the local community and promoting sustainable practices.
Sedgley Court wowed the judges with its vibrant and inclusive outdoor space, designed for wellbeing, community connection, and biodiversity. The home’s garden earned them a special prize hamper containing a plaque, gardening gloves multipack, personalised gardening tools, personalised decorative garden sign (Gardens in Bloom 2025), In the Garden hand cream trio set, gardening tool tote bag, Lindt chocolates, gift wrapping wicker basket, flower seed sacks, RHS Gardening Through the Year guide, and a planting planner.
Throughout spring and summer, the team at Sedgley Court transformed their outdoor space into a colourful, dementia-friendly haven, featuring brightly coloured furniture, sunflowers, roses, petunias, hydrangea, clematis, lupins, windchimes, and new garden ornaments. Raised vegetable beds, wildlife-friendly bug boxes, birdhouses, and bird baths further enhanced the space. The garden promotes biodiversity through composting, peat-free soil, recycling materials, and reusing pots and garden waste.
Residents, families, local volunteers, and even visitors from Sandiacre Garden Centre all contributed to the transformation, donating plants, painting pots, planting seeds, and helping overcome the challenges of clay soil. Relatives also joined in, fostering a strong sense of unity. The home’s sunflower competition was a highlight, bringing joy and friendly rivalry.
The project has had a profound impact on residents’ wellbeing. Resident, Anne Cole, requested a cherry blossom tree in memory of her sister. Planted just outside her door, the tree has encouraged Ann to spend more time outdoors and brought her a renewed sense of connection and joy.
The design of the garden focused on accessibility, sustainability, and mental wellbeing, with features such as:
• A dementia-friendly sensory area with fragrant and textured plants like lavender and rosemary
• Raised vegetable beds for herbs and fresh produce for the home’s kitchen
• Wildflower patches to support bees and butterflies
• Shaded seating areas for peaceful rest and social time outdoors
• Wildlife habitats including bug houses and bird baths
A new weekly gardening club has now been formed to ensure the space thrives all year round.
Stacey Morrall, Front of House Manager at Sedgley Court Care Home, said:
“This recognition means so much to us because it’s a celebration of teamwork, creativity, and the joy that comes from being close to nature. Our garden has become a place where friendships grow alongside flowers, and where residents, families, and our community can come together. Watching the transformation, and seeing the smiles it brings, has been truly heartwarming.”
The HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition gave participants freedom to explore creative ideas, from wildlife gardens to sensory patches and vegetable plots. Five regional finalists as well as an overall winner were selected from across England, Scotland, and Wales, 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.