Paternoster House in Cirencester wins gardening competition

Staff and residents of Paternoster House - which is situated in Watermoor Road, Cirencester - were over the moon to have scooped up this accolade. 

More than 40 care homes entered the gardening competition this year, which was run by not-for-profit care provider The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT).

Established trees in the gardens at Paternoster House (Image: Paternoster House)

Paternoster House also won five of the other categories including best kerb appeal, best hanging baskets, best vegetable garden, best balcony/courtyard garden and best home garden.

This competition brought residents, team members and volunteers at care home together to plan, design and nurture their garden ready for judging. 

Daphne, who has volunteered at Paternoster for nearly 20 years, looks after the front garden which the judging panel particularly praised. 

In addition, volunteers Carol and Chris made each resident a bespoke window box filled with their favourite flowers and also helped attend to the back garden.

Example of a bespoke window box outside a resident's room in Paternoster House (Image: Paternoster House)

The care home's garden also encompasses a large vegetable patch and a memorial garden.

Elderly residents at the home were involved in all aspects of the garden, from planning projects to creating mosaics and watering hanging baskets. 

Paternoster's sensory walk (Image: Paternoster House)

Hannah Forsyth, manager of the care home, said: “Everyone has worked really hard to maintain our gorgeous gardens.

"Our residents enjoy spending time in the garden either relaxing or tending to our vegetable planters.”

Dan Hayes, OSJCT Chief Executive and Trust in Bloom Judge, said: “The small team of volunteers are a driving force at this home. 

"The various areas of the gardens are quite different in nature and use. 

"The scale of the vegetable garden and the amount of food it provides for the kitchen is incredible.”

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