Celebrating life at Barchester

Flowerdown is getting into the festive spirit as we prepare for Christmas! 
Our wonderful gardener, Ian, has transformed the outdoor spaces with beautiful Christmas decorations, making the garden feel magical and full of holiday cheer. Residents have loved seeing the festive lights and displays come to life. 

Residents had a wonderful time decorating Flowerdown for Christmas!
From hanging ornaments on the tree to helping with lights and festive touches around the home, everyone got involved and brought the Christmas spirit to life. 
Smiles, laughter, and holiday cheer filled the day. 

Flowerdown Care Home in Winchester has presented the Winchester Go LD Charity with a cheque for £2500 to help fund it's Go Me programme.
The programe provides adults with learning disabilities with a safe and supported space to explore their strengths, set personal goals and build meaningful connections. It fosters a sense of belonging, imporving social skills and creating new opportunities for personal growth.

Our Bryn Ivor Bell Ringers Club has been bringing plenty of festive cheer to residents as part of our weekly activities programme. Playing along to a carefully chosen selection of well-loved tunes, residents enjoy the shared rhythm, teamwork and sense of achievement that bell ringing brings. Seasonal favourites are always popular with classic Christmas songs creating a wonderfully warm and nostalgic atmosphere throughout the home.

Bell ringing has a long and fascinating history dating back centuries. Traditionally associated with churches and community celebrations, handbells were used to teach musical skills and allow groups to perform together without the need for large instruments. Over time bell ringing evolved into a social activity enjoyed by people of all ages, valued for its ability to encourage coordination, concentration and connection.

At Bryn Ivor, our Bell Ringers sessions celebrate this tradition while supporting wellbeing, friendship and the joy of making music together. Our residents are practicing hard and getting ready to show off their new skills at Christmas with a special Bell Ringers concert so watch this space!

Over the weekend, residents  enjoyed a lively and heart-warming afternoon as pupils from George Abbott School joined them for a special visit filled with board games and laughter.

The atmosphere was buzzing as tables were set up with a variety of games, from Scrabble and dominoes to chess and draughts. Pupils and residents paired off or formed small groups, quickly finding common ground as they shared strategies and stories. It was wonderful to see friendships forming across generations, with residents delighted by the pupils’ energy and pupils fascinated by the residents’ experiences and wisdom.

The afternoon was filled with cheerful conversation, gentle competition, and plenty of smiles. For many residents, the visit brought back fond memories of playing these games with family and friends, while for the pupils it was a chance to learn new skills and enjoy the company of people from a different generation.

As the games drew to a close, everyone agreed that the visit had been a great success. The room was full of laughter and a real sense of community spirit. Residents expressed how much they valued the time spent together, and the pupils shared how much they had enjoyed the chance to connect in such a meaningful way.

Plans are already underway for another visit in the new year, with both residents and pupils looking forward to more shared activities and the chance to build on the wonderful connections made during this memorable afternoon.

We had a very special afternoon on Thursday as we were joined by the excellent choir from Huntingdon Primary School  for a beautiful carol performance.

The residents were absolutely transfixed and were full of voice, joining the pupils in singing some all-time classics along with some catchy new Christmas songs.

It was a truly memorable afternoon and we very much look forward to welcoming the choir back to Bayleaf in the very near future.

A spot of retail therapy at our local Christmas market 🎁 and what a treat it was! We couldn’t resist a photo opportunity or two… 😉