Celebrating life at Barchester

Today at Herne Place Care Home we were delighted to welcome Inclusive Sports, who led a fantastic session of armchair exercises for our residents. 

It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved, moving, stretching, and enjoying the activity together. Sessions like these are a great way to support wellbeing, keep active, and bring plenty of smiles and laughter to the day. 

A big thank you to Inclusive Sports for visiting us – we look forward to seeing you again soon!          

We had such a wonderful time celebrating Mother’s Day at Herne Place Care Home.

Our lovely residents enjoyed a relaxing and creative flower arranging session, filling the room with beautiful blooms, laughter, and special memories. Each arrangement was as unique and vibrant as the people who made them.  

The couple marked their incredible milestone with a big cake to cut, along with cards and gifts. It was lovely for everyone to come together to celebrate the many years of memories they’ve shared.

Congratulations Pam and David on 64 amazing years together! With love and best wishes from everyone here at home.   

We celebrated World Book Day with lots of smiles, laughter, and a little bit of dressing up! Staff who wanted to join in came dressed as characters from books, and the residents had a great laugh seeing the different outfits and guessing who we were meant to be.
Later on, we spent some time together doing a book reminiscence session, chatting about the stories everyone loved as children. It was lovely hearing about the books people remembered from growing up. 

We also had a short quiz and finished by chatting about who still enjoys reading now and what kinds of books people like today.
A really lovely afternoon full of memories, laughter, and a shared love of books!     

We had such a lovely time celebrating Mother’s Day with our special Afternoon Tea! Families who were able to join came along to spend the afternoon with their mums, enjoying a delicious selection of scones, cakes and sandwiches made by our chef. Residents and their families could relax with a glass of prosecco or a cup of tea or coffee while catching up and spending some quality time together.

There was plenty of good conversation and smiles all around, making it a really warm and joyful afternoon for everyone who attended. 

It was wonderful to see families sharing those special moments together and celebrating the amazing mums in our community.     

Nutrition and Hydration Week brought a burst of colour and joy to Cherry Trees as we set off on our “Eat the Rainbow” journey. Each day introduced a new theme, new flavours, and plenty of shared smiles as our trolley travelled room to room. We began with blue, a tricky colour, but one we embraced with blueberry shakes and blue-tinted treats that sparked lots of conversation. Godfrey, our clef doll for Good Nutrition and a Positive Dining Experience, joined us from the very start, helping encourage residents to try something a little different.

Green Day arrived just in time for St Patrick’s Day, complete with lively Irish music, fresh green snacks, and even a cheeky shot of Guinness for those who fancied it. The atmosphere was full of laughter and toe-tapping as we spread a little Irish cheer throughout the home.

Next came a bright burst of yellow, with banana smoothies, pineapple, and lemon water bringing sunshine to everyone’s afternoon. There were plenty of giggles too, especially when the bananas became “phones” for a bit of playful fun. Our orange trolley followed, packed with melon, oranges, mango, peaches, carrot sticks, and refreshing juices. Staff joined in as well, turning the day into a whole home celebration filled with colour and connection.

We finished the week with a vibrant red theme, offering cherry-topped cakes, fruity jelly, and cranberry punch. To make the day even more memorable, we celebrated Red Nose Day with fun photos and lots of laughter. As always, Godfrey was right there with us, helping deliver treats and joy in equal measure.

Nutrition and Hydration Week was a wonderful celebration of flavour, hydration, and togetherness, a colourful reminder of how small moments can brighten the whole home.     

Our lovely lady residents enjoyed a truly special afternoon in the café as they got creative and crafted their own beautiful flower arrangements for Mother’s Day. 

The room was filled with laughter, chatter and a wonderful buzz of creativity as everyone selected their favourite flowers and designed arrangements that were as unique as they are. Watching each display come together was a joy—every bouquet bursting with colour, personality and pride.

We were delighted to welcome some relatives who joined in the fun too, making the day even more meaningful. Seeing families gathered around the tables, sharing stories, smiles and precious time together, brought an extra layer of warmth to the celebration. 

A huge well done to everyone for their stunning creations. By the end of the afternoon, the café was glowing with vibrant blooms, happy faces and the unmistakable feeling of a day well spent.     

Some days remind us exactly why we do what we do, and this was one of those rare and beautiful moments. I had the privilege of accompanying Gwen to Greig Hall to watch her husband, Melvyn, perform with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra.

As the music began and Melvyn lifted his violin, Gwen’s face lit up with a joy that words can barely capture. It wasn’t just pride, it was love, memory, and connection all woven together in a single expression. Watching her take every note, completely absorbed in the moment, was truly priceless.    

At Cherry Trees, we always strive to make wishes come true for our residents, no matter how big or small. It was a perfect reminder of why that matters. This wasn’t simply a concert; it was a chance for Gwen and Melvyn to reconnect, to celebrate a shared passion, and to create new memories together.

I felt incredibly grateful to be invited into something so personal and meaningful. Moments like these are the heart of what we do, they stay with us, inspire us, and remind us that even the simplest wishes can hold extraordinary magic.

The last Friday of the month we host our High Tea Society here at Wheatlands Care Home in our cafe with beautiful views of the Shropshire hills. This free community event is a chance for our residents and members of the local community to come together and enjoy an afternoon of friendship, fun and laughter alongside freshly baked cakes and a pot of tea.

To make this month's High Tea even more special we celebrated Jill's birthday, a dear friend of the Wheatlands.