The Fremantle Trust held a special 25th anniversary final of Fremantle in Bloom - an annual horticultural competition open to its older people and learning disability services.
The final took place at Burnham-based Lent Rise House nursing home and was judged by a panel including deputy chair of trustees at The Fremantle Trust, Alan Howard, and resident of Sir Aubrey Ward House, Margaret Field. The event was attended by chair of the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA), Steve Reynolds and trustee, Gloria Haynes.
This year’s Fremantle in Bloom competition involved over a hundred people across the Trust’s older people and learning disability services, with 19 services putting forward entries for consideration.
The winners were announced as:
Indoor Garden
Winner: Fremantle Court nursing home, Stoke Mandeville
Runner up: Meadowside care home, Finchley
Balcony Display
Winner: Sir Aubrey Ward House care home, Marlow
Runner up: Apthorp Care Centre, New Southgate
Vegetable Plot
Winner: Lent Rise House nursing home, Burnham
Runner up: Meadowside care home, Finchley
Floral Garden
Winner: The Heights nursing home, High Wycombe
Runner up: Lewin House nursing home, Aylesbury
Hanging Basket
Winner: Lent Rise House nursing home, Burnham
Runner up: Meadowside care home, Finchley
Sensory Garden
Winner: Mulberry Court care home, Chalfont St Peter
Runner up: Carey Lodge care home, Wing
25th Anniversary themed entry
Winner: Farnham Common House care home, Farnham Common
Runner up: Weedon Road supported living service, Aylesbury
Winners and runners up were presented with trophies and certificates by 100 year old Barbara Wilkins and Daphne Collins, both residents at Lent Rise House. The presentation recognised the collective efforts made by teams through the regional heats to bring spaces to life with vivid colour and beautiful blooms.
Commenting on the Fremantle in Bloom competition final Steve Reynolds, chair of NAPA, said:
“NAPA is proud to have maintained an association with The Fremantle Trust, which has for a long time been at the forefront of leisure and lifestyle provision. I’m delighted by the quality of competition entrants, demonstrating the wonderful benefits of nature, horticulture and flowers for older people.”
Andrew Paul, regional director of older people’s services at The Fremantle Trust, added:
“We were thrilled to see so many residents, tenants and team members working together to be a part of Fremantle in Bloom, which gives seasoned gardeners and complete novices the chance to be creative and bring areas of all shapes and sizes alive with colour.”
Attendees at the final all left with pots of home-made jam carrying the message ‘jam-packed with love’ on their labels, as well as sunflower seeds to ‘grow great memories’ of the event.