Just the thicket – Macclesfield care home unveils ambitious garden plans

A care home in Macclesfield is set to transform its garden after one of its team members secured a coveted nationwide scholarship.

Judges for the Elsie Wagg Scholarship were blown away by Care UK’s Hollins Park, on Victoria Road, plans to create a therapeutic garden space for residents.

 

The Elsie Wagg Scholarship, a programme created by the Queen’s Nursing Institute and the National Garden Scheme in 2021, is open to nurses in the community spearheading projects which promote the benefits of gardening. 

To secure the grant, Jasmin Lanzaderas, a nurse at Hollins Park, showcased her vision for the home’s garden, now set to include a greenhouse and a water feature, as well as a sensory path, which will especially benefit residents living with dementia. The garden will also feature ‘destination areas’, from a sweet shop to an outdoor pub, providing residents, relatives and team members with plenty of space for leisure and relaxation. 

Jasmin said: “I’ve always loved gardening and I even grow my own flowers at home. After speaking with residents and hearing how much they enjoy being outdoors too, I quickly realised we needed to make the garden accessible to all and bring the outside in where possible. 

“I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Tracy Norbury, Home Manager at Hollins Park, added: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the Elsie Wagg Scholarship – it’s a fantastic achievement and a true testament to Jasmin’s hard work putting together such a brilliant and innovative proposal. 

“Gardening itself has many therapeutic benefits for older people, especially those living with dementia, encouraging physical activity and also time spent outdoors, which can help to lower stress and anxiety levels. Our plans for the garden will also enable us to create a high-quality space designed to both enhance residents’ wellbeing using sensory items and provide a pleasant area for residents and team members to relax.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to Jasmin – we can’t wait to see our garden transformed!”

Care UK’s Hollins Park provides full time residential, nursing and dementia care. Rated outstanding by the CQC, the home is designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, and has plenty of space both indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.

For more information about Hollins Park, please call home manager, Tracy Norbury, on 0333 4343 042, or email tracy.norbury@careuk.com.

For general information, please visit careuk.com/hollins-park.

To find out more about the Queen’s Nursing Institute, visit: qni.org.uk.