Residents at an award-winning care home in Abingdon have created a sustainable garden, a space they are proud of and one which brings them joy.
The initiative began in March, when residents at Bridge House Care Home on Thames View cleared a section of the garden and started transforming it into a wildlife-friendly sanctuary.
Bridge House Care Home has 71 en-suite bedrooms and provides residential, nursing, specialist dementia care and palliative care. Residents have created a butterfly and bee garden, grown wildflowers and added bug houses made by the home’s repair cafe to encourage wildlife.
Resident Rosemary said: "I've enjoyed planting flowers and watching everything grow. It's lovely to spend time outside and see the garden becoming more colourful each week. I feel very proud of it, and I love showing it to my daughter and grandchildren when they visit. They are always very impressed by how much we've done."
“Weeds are just flowers growing in a different space,” said resident Honora.
The home supports individuals with their passions and the team have seen first-hand the positive impact the garden project has had on the residents. The team effort has seen residents living with dementia taking part in different ways depending on their interests and abilities. Residents who enjoy arts and crafts have even been involved by decorating the garden with homemade streamers. Participants have enjoyed connecting with nature and past interests and the project has also brought back many happy memories.
Resident Rosalind has always been passionate about gardening. “I've loved gardening since I was a young woman and I always had a garden at home”, she said. "I remember growing vegetables with my husband and every summer we'd have tomatoes, beans, and potatoes. We spent many happy hours together in the garden."
The garden is designed with inclusivity in mind and features an accessible path, seating areas and raised beds to make gardening easier for residents. The home also has indoor gardens and balconies ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy nature and get involved.
The home’s repair café has played an important role in the project, with residents creating the bug houses to add to the garden, giving insects a safe place to shelter which is part of the home’s wider sustainability efforts.
Resident John said: “I enjoyed putting the different materials together and learning about the insects that might use it. Even though I wasn't doing the planting, I still felt like I was making an important contribution.
“My mobility isn't what it used to be, so this was a way I could still be involved comfortably. I enjoy practical projects and working with my hands."
Resident Bob said: “I love DIY and I spent years fixing things around the house. I once built a treehouse for my children. It wasn't perfect, but they loved it and spent years playing in it."
"We need insects to help plants grow and keep nature healthy and I’ve enjoyed building the bug house, working with others and seeing the finished result take shape,” resident Bernard said. “It’s been great to contribute to the garden’s ecosystem and every time I see it, I think 'I helped make that.'"
The local community has helped the project grow by coming in to plant wildflowers and the Abingdon All Saints Brownies also created a new flower patch.
The home prides itself on its strong relationships with the Abingdon community. Their ‘Friends of Bridge House’ initiative is a pioneering project which has forged more than 70 partnerships with local businesses and community groups, ensuring that residents remain actively involved in local life.
Allison, a regular visitor to the home said: "I think the garden project is fantastic. It's given residents the opportunity to be active, creative and involved in something meaningful. You can see how proud they are of what they've achieved."Bridge House is wonderful. The staff are caring and supportive, and they genuinely encourage residents to stay engaged and independent. The garden project is a perfect example of that commitment."
The home’s lifestyle & Riverly Club manager, Chantelle Merritt, has helped lead the initiative along with Gary Hodson, head of maintenance at the home.
"The garden has become much more than a garden,” Chantelle said. “It's a place where residents can be active, creative, and spend quality time together. It supports wellbeing and gives people something positive to focus on."
"It inspires us all and everyone has played a part, no matter how small, which has made the project feel special,” Gary added. “Residents can see the results of their efforts, which gives them confidence and pride.
"Having the community's encouragement and support has been fantastic. Residents enjoy talking with visitors and showing them what they've achieved. It helps them feel part of something bigger."
Bridge House Care Home won the Team of the Year Award at the Oxfordshire Care Awards in 2025 and holds a Platinum Status in the Gold Standards Framework for end-of-life care, reflecting the highest level of quality in this area. They also have an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), a distinction achieved by only a small percentage of care homes in the UK.
Home manager, Marta Leszko, said, “With the gardening and the repair café, it has been a real joint effort across the home to care for the garden and its wildlife.
“The garden brings us all a lot of joy and purpose, and we can’t wait to see how it grows and develops.”
For more information visit www.bridgehouseabingdon.co.uk
