Residents, volunteers and team members at Paternoster House are celebrating after being chosen as joint winner of OSJCT Trust in Bloom 2025, an accolade they share with Hartsholme House in Lincoln. The win celebrates the dedication of volunteers, staff, and residents who have worked year-round to create a vibrant, therapeutic and inclusive outdoor space.

The garden at Paternoster House is a source of pride and joy for the whole community. Designed and maintained by a committed team of volunteers, the space offers year-round interest—from snowdrops and daffodils in early spring to fragrant roses and blooming shrubs in the summer. The garden is divided into several areas, with three volunteers the front, side and back gardens, and everyone pitching in to support one another.

Paternoster House joined 51 OSJCT homes in the competition. As the South Division and overall Trust in Bloom 2025 winner, they received gardening vouchers from competition sponsor Maintel. 

Features in the garden include:

• Seasonal interest throughout the year, with snowdrops, daffodils, roses, and scented herbs
• Woodland area that marks the changing seasons and offers peaceful reflection
• Quiet spaces for residents to relax, reflect, and enjoy nature
• Sensory features that support wellbeing, especially for residents living with dementia
• Community events, including birthday celebrations and exercise classes held in the garden
• Volunteer-led design, with a strong sense of teamwork and shared purpose

The garden has become a place where residents and families create lasting memories. Such as choosing the garden to celebrate a resident’s birthday. Some relatives spend quiet moments together with their visitors where they can enjoy the sound of the wind, water and nature.

Lindsey Worthy, Home Manager, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our team and residents for what we’ve achieved together in the gardens. Trust in Bloom has given us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the creativity, care, and community spirit that makes Paternoster House so special. Our outdoor spaces are more than just gardens—they’re places where memories are made, wellbeing is nurtured, and everyone feels at home.” 

The gardens are nurtured by long term volunteers Carol, Daphne and Chris. They take a great deal of pride in developing the extensive garden areas at the care home, whether that flowering shrubs and creative tiles at the front of the home, planters in the back garden or the growing vegetable garden.

Carol said: “It’s nice for the family to turn up to visit, to come to somewhere that looks inviting. It’s an all-year-round garden, each month you can see something different, smell something different. I’m full of gratitude and pride that I’m helping residents.”

Daphne shared: “It’s nice to point out to residents like the woodlands, when that starts off the beginning of the year with snowdrops… and then green roses and daffodils and bluebells.”

Chris explained: “Everyone can enjoy the gardens, including residents with dementia. You can take them by the hand and take them for a walk round. If we can make their garden as good as we can for them, then it’s enjoyable. In fact, it’s very rewarding to me.”

Chris Weeden, Maintel Account Director, said: “I was very impressed by the ingenuity, effort and enthusiasm evident in Paternoster’s beautiful gardens. It was clear that everyone involved showed plenty of care for the home, gardens and residents. Maintel is proud to support OSJCT with their cloud telephony solution, and sponsoring the Trust in Bloom, is icing on the cake.”

The home runs regular gardening and community events at the care home. For more details follow the home on Facebook www.facebook.com/OSJCTPaternosterHouse.