Down to a fine art - St Ives care home resident wins local competition

Home news

Mar 04, 2021

A resident at a St Ives care home was delighted to be named the winner of a local art competition.

87-year-old Ann James, from Care UK’s Field Lodge on London Road, was crowned the winner of Hinchingbrooke Country Park’s creative competition, which invited local people to create works of art based on the wildlife, nature and surroundings of the park.

Ann, who takes part in Field Lodge’s weekly art session, was encouraged to enter the competition by the Field Lodge team, who have been supporting residents to develop their creative skills. Deciding to take the plunge, she was delighted to discover her robin painting had been voted as the favourite by the general public. 

Ann said: “I was delighted to find out I had won the competition – I had a wonderful time painting the robin, and I am thrilled that so many people enjoyed the finished piece.”

Linda Martinez, Home Manager at Field Lodge, added: “We are thrilled that Ann has been crowned the winner of Hinchingbrooke Country Park’s art competition.

“Creative activities play a big part of life here at Field Lodge, and we actively encourage residents to continue lifelong hobbies, or try new expressive pastimes. Drawing has a variety of benefits for older people, especially those living with dementia, as it provides an alternative way to communicate and express emotions, and an opportunity to relive happy memories.

“We look forward to visiting the park as soon as we are safely able, and finding new inspiration for our works of art.”

Teresa Fairchild, Café and Events Supervisor at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the response to our art competition, and were delighted to crown Ann as our worthy winner.

“We’ve been looking for alternative ways for people to enjoy the park from the comfort of their own homes, and this was just one of many activities we’ve organised for local people. All of the entries have formed part of a gallery through the woods, and we look forward to welcoming local people into the park to see them as soon as we are able.”

Field Lodge is a modern purpose-built care home providing full-time residential, nursing, and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has a choice of lounges and dining rooms, along with facilities such as an activity room, cinema and hair salon.

To find out more about Field Lodge, please call Customer Relations Manager, Jo Molloy-Cruden on 01480 877638, or email johan.molloy-cruden@careuk.com

For more general information, visit www.careuk.com/care-homes/field-lodge