PICTURE SPECIAL: Care home opens garden with party

Anchor’s Buckingham Lodge care home in Buckingham Park celebrated with a dog show, barbecue, musical entertainment, dancers and games from 2pm to 4pm.

Gardening expert Jim Webster has spent months helping the home to build an education and conservation garden, which will be a resource for schoolchildren and features a live bee colony.

The garden features new pathways, a potting area and hexagonal raised beds so that even residents with limited mobility can get involved with the gardening.

Carefully chosen plants mean that the garden is bee-friendly, and a sensory garden with strong smelling herbs adds interest for residents living with dementia.

Wendy Luck, home manager, said: “We were really looking forward to open our new garden after months of hard work, and I hope lots of local people come and see it progress over the summer.

“We had lots of suggestions from residents about what to plant and have tried to create something everyone in the home can enjoy, but it will also be a great resource for the wider Buckingham Park community.

“The world can be a confusing place for those living with dementia so we included features to make sure the garden is a positive experience for them - it seemed appropriate to officially open it during Dementia Awareness Week.”

Proceeds from the tombola, plant sale and games will go to the Buckingham Lodge Amenities Fund, which enables the home to organise meaningful activities for residents.