Monkscroft Care Centre, Cheltenham, has been chosen as the Best Overall Garden winner, South Division, in OSJCT’s annual gardening competition. This achievement reflects all the hard work and dedication by team members, volunteers and supporters in the local community, who helped transform the home’s gardens into vibrant and therapeutic spaces for residents and visitors.

Monkscroft Care Centre, which has an Outstanding CQC rating, joined 55 OSJCT care homes across England in the competition and as the South Division winner received gardening vouchers worth £250 from competition sponsor Ground Care Group. 

The care home has also been awarded certificates for Best Wildlife Garden Areas, Best Miniature Garden in the Trust’s South Division, and a Highly Commended Certificate. 

Special features in Monkscroft Care Centre’s competition entry included:

• A war-time themed greenhouse for residents and families to visit
• A communal balcony garden with drought resistant plants and grasses chosen by residents, suitable for the sunny area
• Several areas dedicated to wildlife planting, which attract birds, insects and hedgehogs
• An indoor miniature garden, complete with fish in a bowl, and fairy lights, at the end of one of the corridors
• A bright and blooming windowsill garden of pots managed by resident Judith Green

Doreen Paisley, Home Manager at Monkscroft Care Centre said: “I am so proud of the team and everyone who has helped to transform our gardens. There are many wonderful places to visit, including the first-floor balcony area, indoor garden spaces and the themed green house. These are fantastic places for our residents, their families and members of the community to visit and experience the natural vitality that surrounds us at Monkscroft.”

Patrycja (Patti) Chojnecka and Rachel Mechan, Activities Co-ordinators at the care home, organised garden plans and spent many hours working in the garden areas. They supported residents to share their ideas for the gardens and add their own plants into the displays. 

Patti said: “More than winning, the best thing about Trust in Bloom is seeing residents out in the garden or visiting the indoor miniature garden spaces, seeing their faces smiling, as they come out of their rooms, with joy and laughter. This is the biggest reward.” 

Watch an interview with Patti and Rachel, with views of the garden areas entered for Trust in Bloom 2024: https://youtu.be/JEIhYIOQ7pc