Appleby House shows us that wildlife gardens boost wellbeing

Appleby House has been recognised as the winner of Care UK’s Biodiversity Summer 2025 review.  

 Appleby House’s submission demonstrated that even in a busy suburban location, nature can thrive and transform resident experiences.  

Care UK's judging panel praised the home for its complete approach to biodiversity, connecting nature with resident wellbeing and community engagement.  

Submissions were compared against five criteria – biodiversity impact, improvements made since 2024, community involvement, quality of documentation and plans for long-term sustainability.  

Celebrating excellence across all entries  

Judges were very impressed by the creativity across all the submissions:  

• Weald Heights provided strong evidence in its documentation, listing over 15 species of plants and animals in its garden. It even provided the Latin names and detailed wildlife observations that demonstrated genuine scientific engagement and impact.
• Invicta Court showcased exemplary visual evidence, with photos of residents in weekly garden talks and harvesting impressive crops including green beans and vegetables for use in the home’s kitchens.
• Carpathia Grange demonstrated systematic tracking, maintaining detailed records of observations and behaviours. The judges were impressed with the clear reasons this home gave for the changes they had made to its gardens to create positive outcomes for both wildlife and people.

The Care UK Sustainability team will continue to work with Sustainability Champions to share best practices. 

Care UK recently won the prestigious Leaders in Care award for the Wildlife Garden campaign, highlighting that the work of Care UK Sustainability Champions is gaining recognition beyond Care UK. The efforts make a real difference in the community and contribute to making Care UK a recognised leader in sustainable care.