Starting point
During 2019 and 2020 Cotswold Estates & Gardens were invited by a not-for-profit care home trust to advise on the modification and rejuvenation of their existing care home gardens with the aim of increasing the accessibility, sensory richness and attractiveness of their garden spaces.
The challenge /opportunity
Prior to joining care homes, many residents consider themselves to be active gardeners and many studies have shown a proven link between quality of life, health and wellbeing of elderly people and time spent in a garden environment. CE&G conducted a site survey and review of a large number of the trust’s care home gardens and from this drew up generic guidelines and advice for use across the trust as to how existing garden spaces could be managed and more effectively used in a safe way by care home residents.
A number of care home gardens were identified as being ideal to benefit from large scale modifications, the first of these being a care home located in the outskirts of Oxford. The client was impressed by our extensive knowledge of care home requirements and evident expertise in delivering design and build projects and we secured the competitive tender for the project. Further, our comprehensive range of in-house services and capabilities was attractive to the customer as this offered a simple one point of contact, low impact, client/contractor arrangement.
The commissioned dementia-friendly garden was to be built to a fixed budget. The brief was to enable all the residents of the care home (part dementia care and part residential) to use the garden throughout the year for social events, therapeutic activities and to improve general wellbeing. The design had to ensure easy connection with the buildings’ day room and be sensitive to neighbouring properties. The design and materials used needed to be suitable for people with reduced mobility and sensory impairments and be durable
More outcomes/
key successes
Despite the challenges of working through the Covid pandemic in 2021, especially in a care home environment, the CE&G team designed and constructed the new bespoke dementia friendly garden.
The transformed garden removes many of the barriers to use and enjoyment that previously existed. The garden offers excellent accessibility for all residents with easy transitions between the indoor and outdoor spaces, has level, firm and non-slip pathways and lawn areas and includes strategically placed handrails to aid independent resident access. Destination points with shelter are discoverable by both short and long routes allowing residents with differing abilities to enjoy the spaces, this also encourages a variety of garden journeys. The shelters provided include a large gazebo for social gathering, a small arbour set in a quiet corner and a sheltered pergola with plentiful seating and fun festoon lighting for enjoying the evenings. The seating chosen has comfortable back rests and arm rests and seats which are at a slightly elevated height to increase comfort and ease of use. Seating is positioned in both sheltered and sunny locations. There are spaces so that those in wheelchairs can be seated in the same areas.
Plants in this garden have been chosen to give year-round visual interest and those with sensory qualities are prioritised, plants that can cause harm are avoided. Ornamental sensory features are positioned around the garden to stimulate activity, interest and conversation, included handmade artwork and easy to see and access bird feeders.
This garden which was delivered on budget now looks and feels fantastic and has become a space that can be viewed, valued and safely enjoyed by all those who live in, work at and visit the home.
Before Images
After Images
TESTIMONIALS
See what our clients
are saying about us!
"Good morning Joe, Ann, Trevor and team
As you know, we had 12+ people here for last weekend who tested the new garden/grounds layout to the maximum. It was such a joy to see people wandering around the paths, walkways, bridges, steps and lawns without returning caked in mud. A relaxed time was had in the sunshine and there was great admiration for your collective work. We aren’t quite finished yet but so much has been achieved in the past year to such a high level and with such forethought and care that it made a huge difference. The whole new secret garden is practical as well as beautiful and, yes, fizz was drunk there in the early evening.
Thank you all and to Jasper and the rest of the Cotswolds team who have worked so very hard."
Sarah and Richard
Joe, I’m ecstatic I love the whole garden so much! Thank you, you and the boys always give me exactly what I hope for! It’s almost a shame there are no more projects!