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Steve Reynolds, chair of NAPA with winning resident

The Fremantle Trust held a special 25th anniversary final of Fremantle in Bloom - an annual horticultural competition open to its older people and learning disability services.

The final took place at Burnham-based Lent Rise House nursing home and was judged by a panel including deputy chair of trustees at The Fremantle Trust, Alan Howard, and resident of Sir Aubrey Ward House, Margaret Field. The event was attended by chair of the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA), Steve Reynolds and trustee, Gloria Haynes.

This year’s Fremantle in Bloom competition involved over a hundred people across the Trust’s older people and learning disability services, with 19 services putting forward entries for consideration.
 

The winners were announced as:

 

Indoor Garden

Winner: Fremantle Court nursing home, Stoke Mandeville

Runner up: Meadowside care home, Finchley

 

Balcony Display

Winner: Sir Aubrey Ward House care home, Marlow

Runner up: Apthorp Care Centre, New Southgate

 

Vegetable Plot

Winner: Lent Rise House nursing home, Burnham

Runner up: Meadowside care home, Finchley

 

Floral Garden

Winner: The Heights nursing home, High Wycombe

Runner up: Lewin House nursing home, Aylesbury

 

Hanging Basket

Winner: Lent Rise House nursing home, Burnham

Runner up: Meadowside care home, Finchley

 

Sensory Garden

Winner: Mulberry Court care home, Chalfont St Peter

Runner up: Carey Lodge care home, Wing

 

25th Anniversary themed entry

Winner: Farnham Common House care home, Farnham Common

Runner up: Weedon Road supported living service, Aylesbury

 

Winners and runners up were presented with trophies and certificates by 100 year old Barbara Wilkins and Daphne Collins, both residents at Lent Rise House. The presentation recognised the collective efforts made by teams through the regional heats to bring spaces to life with vivid colour and beautiful blooms.

Commenting on the Fremantle in Bloom competition final Steve Reynolds, chair of NAPA, said:

“NAPA is proud to have maintained an association with The Fremantle Trust, which has for a long time been at the forefront of leisure and lifestyle provision. I’m delighted by the quality of competition entrants, demonstrating the wonderful benefits of nature, horticulture and flowers for older people.”

Andrew Paul, regional director of older people’s services at The Fremantle Trust, added:

“We were thrilled to see so many residents, tenants and team members working together to be a part of Fremantle in Bloom, which gives seasoned gardeners and complete novices the chance to be creative and bring areas of all shapes and sizes alive with colour.”

Attendees at the final all left with pots of home-made jam carrying the message ‘jam-packed with love’ on their labels, as well as sunflower seeds to ‘grow great memories’ of the event.