Celebrating life at Barchester

Many Families joined us for a special High Tea afternoon, which our talented chefs kindly prepared. It was a lovely occasion enjoyed by residents and their loved ones. Thank you to everyone who helped make Mothers Day such a special celebration!

A big thank you to ‘Flash Back’ celebrations for our wonderful Mother’s Day arch, kindly donated for the week. Beth Quinn came and set it up for our residents to enjoy, and gave them a wonderful photo opportunity, it received so many lovely compliments.     

One of our residents Joan, being a Liverpool lady, wished for The Beatles, bringing back fond memories of the fun times she enjoyed at the Cavern Club.

Although we couldn’t bring The Beatles themselves, our Mini Concerts certainly didn’t disappoint and blended beautifully into a fantastic performance by Shelly, who brought all the Beatles hits to life. It was a wonderful journey through the years, filled with music, memories, and smiles all around.           

We had a fantastic time playing a game of Giant Scrabble. We split into three incredible teams: The Roses, The Daffodils and The Dandelions. The competition was fierce from the very first word! Every team brought their A-game, keeping the scores tied all the way through. 

In a nail-biting finish, The Dandelions managed to pull ahead and secure the grand victory!                

We had a lovely afternoon at Hilliers Garden Centre. We spent some time exploring all the beautiful, colourful plants and wandering through the shop.

We then enjoyed some delicious coffee and cake in the cafe.           

We had a fantastic, informative talk from our Senior Head Chef on the importance of nutrition and hydration. We even got to sample some freshly prepared, nutritious smoothies—delicious and healthy!        

We were then joined by the talented Andy and his accordion whilst we enjoyed a homemade classic afternoon tea.  

For the third year, Mother Hope, that’s the name we gave to the mother duck, has flown in from the nearby river that runs behind the house, to lay her eggs into the Courtyard Garden! We keep her space as undisturbed as possible, and pass by her with a watch and an anticipating gaze! We wonder when the egg will hatch and who will see the little ducklings first! Once they have hatched, the news spreads quickly to everyone: “Have you seen the ducklings?” This news makes everyone rush to the Courtyard Garden, which is the safe place for Mother Hope, as it is completely surrounded by the building and safe from outside dangers.        

Residents, family members and staff all want to see the new arrivals. A container with water will now be available, so the ducks can have a drink and a bath. Food will be provided regularly and when we open the door, the ducks rush to see what they will get to eat!

The residents stroll through the garden, and the ducklings are all around with Mother Hope keeping an eye on her offspring. When we water the plants, the ducklings take the opportunity to be right next to the hose for a sip of fresh water. While weeding, they stroll all around, to get a nib off the plants or any insects. And afternoons are usually siesta time! This whole cycle of developing life has become an interesting and therapeutic experience for us all. We see them grow and trust and develop until the time comes, and they take their flight back to the river, having grown in safety, with love and care and kindness in the Courtyard Garden at Atfield Care Home. And we will await Mother Hopes return the following spring.       

Residents and family members and grandchildren enjoyed the outdoor experience at Atfield House on Bank Holiday Monday in our garden. Sheep, goats and their offspring, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs, two lovely black Labradors and a donkey visited us and enjoyed roaming around the garden and grazing on our green grass for the afternoon. The animals were admired, stroked and fed, held and admired by our residents and their visitors. Grandchildren were excited about attending the event and our staff members also loved the experience. The donkey surprised everyone when he walked down the corridors and through the lounge and dining room, to visit and also greet people in their rooms. 

The animals brought joy and laughter, gentle feelings to us all and also stirred up memories from past animal encounters. We were grateful and privileged to share this special event together that sparked joy in the present and created good memories for the future.     

Here at Crabwall Hall, we recently had the very talented Magical Mike come and sing for our residents. 

We had a lovely afternoon singing along.    

Easter celebrations in the home brought joy, laughter and togetherness for the resident and families. The home was beautifully decorated and residents enjoyed a wide variety of themed activities throughout the week.

Plenty of hot cross buns, Easter cakes and Easter eggs enjoyed all. We even had a visit from the Easter bunny who brought smiles to everyone’s faces, with chocolate eggs handed out to residents. Entertainment included signing and games creating a cheerful and festive atmosphere throughout the home.

We also recognised the true meaning of Easter with a religious celebration for residents who wished to take part, with prayers, hymns and readings. Easter was thoroughly enjoyed by residents and visiting families.