A partnership between Henry Cornish Care Centre and Daylesford Organic is bearing fruit for residents and employees, as plans to transform the home’s gardens get underway.

Daylesford Organic is a leading sustainable pasture to plate produce and lifestyle brand with shops across London and Oxfordshire, with a base just a few miles from Henry Cornish Care Centre.  Founder, Lady Bamford, who has long supported the Order of Malta, one of the entities behind The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) who run the Chipping Norton care home, asked her team at Daylesford’s farm in Moreton-in-Marsh to explore the potential of the home’s green spaces, which were under-developed and under-used.  

Since February 2022, gardeners from Daylesford, led by Jez Taylor, Head of the Market Garden and an expert in the role of horticulture in occupational therapy, have been volunteering their time and expertise to improve the home’s gardens. The retailer has also donated plants and equipment. 

As part of their longer-term plans for the garden, the Daylesford team have already supported the home with revamping existing planters and creating a new vegetable bed in the rear garden.  Now that it’s summer, all of the care home residents have been reaping the benefits of the partnership, which include eating lettuce grown and picked by residents and prepared for the menu by the home’s kitchen team.

Tina Brain, the home’s Activities Coordinator, has been liaising with the gardeners and facilitates regular gardening sessions for residents.  She said: “A lot of residents love gardening and cared for their own gardens for many years before coming to live at Henry Cornish.  Here, they can continue that passion for gardening.  It’s their home and their garden after all.  There are also many known physical and mental health benefits to gardening, so it’s a great activity for engaging all residents.”

She added: “It’s been really nice working with the team from Daylesford. I’ve also learned lots of gardening tips from our own residents!”

Ron, aged 77, was among the green-thumbed residents who recently helped Tina with the vegetables planted in one of the raised beds.  He said: “I used to really enjoy gardening at home, so it is wonderful to plant and take care of the vegetables here too – I am particularly excited to try the tomatoes when they are ready!”

The local community is also set to benefit from the plans to transform the care home’s garden.  For example, local groups will be invited to visit the garden and use the space for outdoor meetings.