The Trust’s annual gardening competition, Trust in Bloom, took place this summer. Homes across all regions opened their grounds to judges from marketing to maintenance, department heads to directors and trustees. CEO Dan Hayes visited the four regional winners to judge on the coveted title of Best Overall Grounds. 

Planning and planting for OSJCT care homes’ beautiful gardens takes months, even years in some cases, and it is a real highlight in the Trust’s calendar. Trust in Bloom as an event embodies the Trust’s values, bringing together residents and care teams with dedicated volunteers and many local community members and groups who donate their time, money or support in kind to the homes so generously each year.

Boultham Park House, Lincoln, is the overall Trust-wide winner for 2022. The home came top in Lincolnshire in the Best Overall Grounds, Best Courtyard Garden and Best Rear Garden categories.   

Jo Johnson, Home Manager said: “I am absolutely thrilled to bits that this year our home won the Trust in Bloom competition for overall gardens, what an achievement. Boultham Park House has always had a lovely garden, we work hard every year to make the outdoors a pleasurable area for the residents and their families to enjoy.

“Residents and staff members share my joy at winning. I would like to pay special thanks to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly, growing, planting and watering. It has been a real joint effort and I am proud of how lovely the home looks.”

Dan Hayes, who judged the regional finalists, commended everyone at Boultham Park House for working together to create the beautiful outdoor space. He said: “The team at Boultham are everything we could wish for in terms of a group so devoted that they draw in the community and give the home and gardens a huge sense of belonging. Congratulations to Jo and her team, they are very worthy winners.”

Other regional winners were Marston Court in Oxford, Brookside in Melksham, and Monkscroft Care Centre in Cheltenham. Dan indicated that any one of the four homes could have won this year. The regional winners each demonstrated involvement from residents, volunteers, and colleagues’ loved ones. Deciding the overall winner was particularly difficult.

This year there were 83 finalists and 40 category winners across the Trust. Thirty-six Special Commendations were also awarded to homes and individuals – including residents and volunteers – where judges noted that their commitment and dedication exceeded the judging criteria.