Fareham care home residents celebrate being fully vaccinated in their revamped garden

CARE home residents have celebrated are hoping their revamped garden will land them a win at a national competition following their lockdown handiwork.
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All of the residents in the 52-bed Fernes Care Home, in Samuel Mortimer Close, are looking forward to showing visitors around their upgraded garden.

That’s especially the case as all have received their second dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.

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Staff and residents turned recycled cable spools into multicoloured toadstools and pallets into a floral memorial for those lost during the pandemic.

The Fernes Care Home in Fareham, unveiled their new revamped garden on Friday, April 23.

Pictured is: (l-r) Ernest Snow (91), Emma Glanville, deputy manager, Zoe Freeman, activities co-ordinator and Mick Mist (82).

Picture: Sarah Standing (230421-7261)The Fernes Care Home in Fareham, unveiled their new revamped garden on Friday, April 23.

Pictured is: (l-r) Ernest Snow (91), Emma Glanville, deputy manager, Zoe Freeman, activities co-ordinator and Mick Mist (82).

Picture: Sarah Standing (230421-7261)
The Fernes Care Home in Fareham, unveiled their new revamped garden on Friday, April 23. Pictured is: (l-r) Ernest Snow (91), Emma Glanville, deputy manager, Zoe Freeman, activities co-ordinator and Mick Mist (82). Picture: Sarah Standing (230421-7261)

Now they hope to enter the garden into a competition organised by the home’s owner, Barchester Healthcare.

The celebratory reopening of the garden follows a difficult 12 months for the home, which suffered an outbreak of the coronavirus in January, according to activities coordinator Rachel Anderson.

She said: ‘We had Covid at one point and it was hard work. It’s been a struggle, but we got through it.

‘No one passed away from it – we were lucky.

‘So it’s nice we are getting back to normality.

‘The garden looks wonderful.’

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In agreement was 84-year-old resident Catherine Murphy, who was enjoying tea and cakes in the sunshine with her fellow residents.

Catherine, who helped paint some of the new stone ornaments around the garden, said: ‘It’s beautiful.

‘I can see the garden from my window – it’s lovely.’

And Catherine has felt nothing but safe during the pandemic: ‘Covid – I didn’t even think about it.’

Cutting the ribbon to reopen the garden was Rachel Rogers, a marketing assistant at Garsons Titchfield garden centre, which donated a £100 to the £500 project.

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She said: ‘We’re really glad we could help support the care home.

‘The garden centre has managed to stay open for essential shopping – it’s been a lifeline for many people in the community. Our farm shop has been providing people with essentials – and garden is so important for people’s mental health.’

Duncan Edwards, regional manager for Barchester Healthcare, said: ‘It’s great we can spring into spring and give our residents the chance to get into their lovely garden.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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