Care UK’s Harcourt Gardens, on Harcourt Road, achieved the Silver Award in this year’s Harrogate in Bloom Awards, which judges entries across categories such as schools, community groups, residential gardens, businesses, allotments and public spaces.
The accolades commend enthusiastic gardeners who have used a breadth of flora and community involvement, with Harcourt Gardens entering as part of the residential community category.
The care home’s main garden has been thoughtfully designed to feature a display of spring daffodils, summer tulips and winter pansies. It’s colourful raised beds, filled with herbs and seasonal plantings, are a particular highlight and a true community effort.
Each year, residents play an active role in designing and planting the beds, ensuring the space reflects their creativity and love for gardening.
Lisa Addyman, Deputy Manager at Harcourt Gardens, said:
We’re thrilled to have been recognised in this year’s Harrogate in Bloom.
Our outdoor space has already been extremely impactful to residents, and we are so happy to have been able to honour residents’ choices in the garden design. It makes the space truly special and personal.
One resident particularly involved in the decision-making for the garden’s design was 96-year-old Jean Anderson, who previously owned a flower shop in Scotland.
Jean’s favourite flowers are roses, closely followed by bright yellow daffodils and pink tulips. As a result, the walled garden was adorned with yellow daffodils and tulips, and the raised beds were filled with roses as a nod to Jean’s love for the flower.
Judges at Harrogate in Bloom were particularly impressed to see that the orchard area produced its very first harvest of apples and other fruits, freshly picked and enjoyed by residents and chefs in the home’s kitchen to promote seasonal and sustainable eating.
Lisa added:
We’re delighted to bring beautiful flora and fauna to Harrogate. Well done to everyone who has helped create our award-winning garden – I’m extremely proud!
Designed to enable residents to lead active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Harcourt Gardens incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities and has its own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.
