Two garden open days at our Dorset care home have raised hundreds of pounds to help take local families out of hardship.
The public afternoons at Brook View in West Moors were part of the home’s ongoing annual involvement in the National Garden Scheme (NGS).

Admission charges, donations and proceeds from the sale of plants and craft items made by residents together raised more than £700.

Of this, £168 is for NGS charities with £534 going to STARF, the home’s main nominated community cause for this year.

Standing for ‘Stronger Together Across Ringwood and Fordingbridge’, STARF is a group of volunteers from the two towns who co-ordinate funding and support for families and individuals living with poverty, debt worries and mental health issues.

More than 70 visitors joined Brook View residents on the two open days, admiring the wide variety of plants and flowers on show in the home’s gardens.
Brook View Companionship Team Leader Lauren Parrett said: “It was a joy to open our beautiful gardens to the public once again, all in aid of charity.

“Our gardeners have been working tirelessly throughout the year to produce a wonderful and peaceful space for our residents, relatives and community to enjoy.

“Residents were proud to show off projects they have been working on such as outdoor decorations, hedgehog homes and hanging lanterns made in arts and crafts sessions.

“These items were set up on our craft stall where we sold them to raise funds for our charity.”
The garden experience featured the opportunity to sit down for afternoon tea and cakes prepared and baked by Brook View chefs.

The tasty treats included carrot cake, Victoria sponge, fresh eclairs and blueberry muffins made specially with blueberries grown in the garden.

There was live music too courtesy of accordionist Debbie Murphy on the first day and pianist Kevin Pritchard, a member of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, on the second.

Mary Angus, an assistant county organiser for the NGS in southeast Dorset, who was among the visitors, said: “When I get to be in a home, I wish I can come to a home like this. The atmosphere is incredibly warm and friendly.”

Brook View resident Rosa Leicester said: “The weekend was wonderful, there was something for everyone.”

The NGS gives members of the public unique access to more than 3,500 exceptional private gardens each year.

Admission charges, donations and proceeds from afternoon tea and cake sales help raise millions of pounds for nursing and health charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and Hospice UK.

As well as Brook View, Woodpeckers home in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, is taking part this year with open days on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September.

For more information on NGS garden openings, visit www.ngs.org.uk. For more details about STARF, visit www.starf.uk.

Two of our beautiful care home gardens are opening to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS), raising money for nursing and health charities
Our gardens at Brook View, and Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, will welcome visitors on the weekends of the 20th and 21st of August and the 3rd and 4th of September respectively.

In preparation, residents at both homes have been busy contributing to gentle gardening activities under the guidance of Colten Care team members including care companions and gardeners.

Colten Care’s Head Gardener Charles Hubberstey said: “Our residents, staff and volunteers take great pride in their gardens.
“Many of our residents have enjoyed gardening throughout their lives and we want them to continue to find pleasure in it for as long as they can.

“The beauty that visitors on the NGS days will see on display is a testament to the love of gardening cherished by our residents.
“We have active gardening clubs at both Brook View and Woodpeckers as well as our other 19 homes in the South.

“It’s our residents and gardeners who decide together on garden activities and priorities season by season.

“The Brook View garden features a fountain surrounded by mixed borders brightened with plants grown in the greenhouse.

“There is also a fruit and vegetable garden, much used by the kitchen.

“At Woodpeckers, residents have been involved in the planning of a wheelchair-friendly woodland walk amid wild flowers and bulbs.

“It leads to a beautiful oak gazebo and a courtyard garden under a pair of cream flowered cherry trees.”

Both Woodpeckers, which is officially rated Outstanding by the CQC, and Brook View also opened for NGS days last year.
Brook View resident Rosa Leicester said at the time: “Opening the gardens is a lovely idea. The more people who think and talk about our garden the better. It is lovely for people to see how we live here. This is my home and I am very proud of both my home and my garden.”
The NGS gives visitors access to more than 3,500 private gardens in the UK, raising funds for nursing and health charities through admissions and the sales of afternoon teas.

Teas and homemade cakes and scones will be on offer to visitors at both Brook View and Woodpeckers, payable by donation.

For more information on both homes’ NGS weekends, including opening times and entry fees, visit www.ngs.org.uk.

Creative residents ran their own craft stall at a church bazaar, raising funds to help young people
Seven of our lovely ladies who live  spent weeks preparing for the event at the village’s St Mary’s Church.

They knitted, felted and crocheted an array of seasonal gifts such as sock snowmen and penguins.

On the day,  resident Pamela Clark and young helper Meadow, the daughter of our Companionship Team member Rebecca Grimsey, ran the stall and chatted to the public.
Pamela said: “We explained to people that we were raising money for our chosen charity The West Moors Youth Group. It was lovely to integrate with the public while raising money for a local cause that we knew had suffered during the pandemic, as so many did.”
Jo Vardy, another of our Companionship Team, said: “Many visitors at the bazaar commented on how Christmassy, colourful and beautiful the stall looked.

“The most popular item, the first to sell out, were our woollen robins, but all the gifts were lovingly made by the residents, albeit with a little help from the team.

“On our return home we set up a table in reception and displayed our remaining items which were snapped up before the display was even finished.

“Nurses Anneka McQuirk and Sarah Ingram purchased the last of our snowmen and penguins along with other items.

“Sarah laughed when we explained she now owned a ‘waddle’, the collective name for a group of penguins on dry land. A great day was had by all.”

While total funds raised remain to be counted, residents were pleased with their immediate tally of £70 on the day.

Vicar Andy Muckle said: “We thank all the residents at Brook View who participated in this year’s bazaar.”

Residents spent Valentine’s Day reminiscing over their wedding day
Here at Brook View, team members decorated the in-home café with red and pink balloon hearts and table-top roses, enabling resident couple Audrey and David Vincent to enjoy a romantic lunch. It gave them the opportunity to reminisce about their 51 years of marriage.

They met while attending ballroom dance classes together when David was 37 and Audrey 39.

“It was love at first dance,” said Audrey, a former teacher. “He was quite a dancer and he continues to lead the way, even if I do ‘wear the trousers’ sometimes!”

Among other Colten homes, Fernhill in Longham, Dorset, staged a Valentine’s Day ball complete with live music, buffet and fizz.