Chatteris care home launches new sensory garden with community beach party

Residents at Swan House Care Home in Chatteris have celebrated the completion of their new sensory garden with a community beach party.

The home in Swan Drive welcomed family and friends to the event which was held in the rejuvenated garden that has been made accessible to all with raised beds and colourful sensory plants.

As well as a new pergola to provide shade from the sun, residents can also enjoy garden games with the addition of a pétanque court.

Guests at the beach party were treated to a barbecue and ice creams and performances from local entertainers, Boots and Strings and Jo Bondi, who had everyone singing and dancing along to hits from the 60’s and 70’s including a rousing rendition of ‘Sweet Caroline’.

The care home’s manager, Anne Hillary, said: “Our new garden has been a project of love. We were kindly given a donation by a family to spend on something that will benefit our residents’ lives and everyone here agreed we should make improvements to our garden as it’s a place we all enjoy spending time in.”

Katie Beaney, the home’s gardener, said: “It’s been wonderful spending time outside with our green-fingered residents, choosing and planting shrubs with vibrant colours, textures and aromas and we’re all looking forward to tending to our new garden throughout the seasons.”

Resident, Sheila Chandler, aged 92, said: “What a lovely day. I really enjoyed it and so did my family. The new pergola is wonderful and I thought the singers were great, they played just my type of music.”

Swan House Care Home is located in Swan Drive, Chatteris and is part of Four Seasons Health Care. The home provides residential, nursing, dementia, respite, intermediate and end of life care.