Celebrating life at Barchester

Magnolia Court was full of feathered mischief last month when a parliament of Owls came to visit the home. Our residents were pleasantly surprised to see their new furry friends ‘hooting’ around their home as Colin, Dudley, Roger and Geoff paid a visit.

Senior General Manager Wayne Hughes added some light humour and said: “These fine majestic birds were an Eagle Owl and a White Barn Owl that enjoy coming to visit our residents at Magnolia Court and sharing fun stories and updates with each other. Indeed, our White Barn Owl spent time telling our resident Judy about how the Eagle Owl had recently snuggled a little too close to her in the Barn during one wet and rainy day and she wondered what the intention of the Eagle Owl was. Without hesitation the White Barn Owl put off the amorous intentions of the Eagle Owl but simply stating ‘Too Wet to Woo’.”

Resident Lucilla was especially impressed and excited by the visit from the Owls as they are her favourite animals: She said, “As a child I used to love to hear the calls of the Owls and was blessed to have one in a nearby barn. Today was very enjoyable and it was wonderful that the Owls were free to flutter their feathers amongst us and sit with us”

Animal Therapy is one of our resident's most treasured activities and is based on the scientific principle that human-animal interactions reduce stress, anxiety, raise oxytocin which helps you feel calm and is a great mood lifter.

We had a visit from 3 delightful Cavapoo puppies who bought adorability and fun to enrich our resident’s lives in the home. They were treated to a display and naughty antics from the furry trio, strutting their stuff up and down the corridors and in and out of the resident’s rooms

Resident Judy who has a wealth of experience with animals was particularly in awe of the playful puppies and stated that she wanted to keep them overnight for snuggles and cuddles.

We had an absolutely delightful afternoon here at Florence Court, as our residents took part in a wreath making workshop led by the lovely Ellen and her mum Liz from SimplySeasonal2023. The bistro was filled with laughter, warm conversation, and the calming scent of fresh greenery. Everyone got hands-on with ribbons, dried fruit, and beautiful decorative pieces.

It was lovely to see how engaged everyone was, helping each other choose colours, sharing ideas, and proudly showing off their finished wreaths. Each creation was unique, reflecting the personality and style of the resident who made it!

 

We enjoyed a delicious Community Lunch at our home. 

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us this afternoon for our complimentary fish and chips lunch!
Our amazing Head Chef, Amy, treated guests to a delicious homemade meal, and it was fantastic to see residents, families, and members of the local community come together for good food and great company.

Residents had a fang-tastic time at our Memory Lane Sensory Disco, with a spooky twist just in time for Halloween!

There were witches’ hats, plenty of laughter, and lots of singing and dancing to all the old classics. It was wonderful to see everyone smiling, moving, and making magical memories together!

Don’t forget; our Memory Lane Disco takes place on the last Monday of every month at 2pm, and everyone is welcome to come along and join the fun!

This Halloween we had some very special visitors! Residents were delighted to welcome local little trick-or-treaters who went door-to-door around the home, knocking on bedroom doors to collect their sweet treats! The smiles, laughter, and wonderful costumes truly brightened everyone’s day!

A huge thank you to all the children (and their parents!) who joined us and made this Halloween one to remember. Our residents absolutely loved seeing you all dressed up and sharing in the spooky fun!  

Residents had a very special visit for Remembrance Day, The children from ‘Little Bear Nursery’ joined us to learn all about the importance of remembrance. Together, they crafted beautiful poppies and listened with great curiosity as we talked about why we wear them each year.

Residents were absolutely delighted; enjoying cuddles, smiles, and giggles with the little ones, which made the day even more special. A particularly touching moment came when one child proudly brought in her mum’s army medic medals to share with everyone.

A huge thank you to this lovely little one and her family for allowing us to share in those incredible achievements, and to all the children and staff at Little Bear Nursery for helping to make the day so meaningful.     

At the very heart of community engagement, Sharon Osborne, Registered Manager of Ashlar House, shone with pride as she attended the inaugural Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2025. This year held special meaning for Ashlar House, as teams from several divisions came together to attend the event standing in unity, representing the home’s values, and celebrating local achievement.

Ashlar House was also honoured to be one of the event’s sponsors, a role made even more meaningful by the way Sharon’s staff offered their skills, dedication, and support throughout the evening. Their presence and teamwork reflected the spirit of care and collaboration they demonstrate every day.

With grace and sincerity, Sharon took to the stage to present an award, celebrating both the winner and one of the seven remarkable runners-up whose accomplishments reflect the vibrant strength of the Epping community.

The evening grew even more special as Sharon proudly witnessed Rita Green, Committee Member and Ambassador of the Chamber receive the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce. It was a moment filled with shared admiration and heartfelt appreciation.