Green fingered staff and residents at a Greenock care home are celebrating after digging their way to victory in an annual gardening competition.
Kincaid House Care Home triumphed over 22 other Meallmore care homes across Scotland, securing the top spot in the care provider’s “Meallmore in Bloom” competition with its creative nautical themed garden design.
Inspired by its proximity to the Clyde, the care home’s outdoor space now includes three boats filled with flowers and fishing accessories, a beach hut design windbreaker, a hanging display of buckets and spades and even a mini sand pit.
For its efforts, the care home receives a prize of £1000 to put towards gardening and activities, as well as the official “Meallmore in Bloom” plaque. George McDonald, who assists in maintaining the gardens of Meallmore homes across the Central West region, also receives the Area Gardener trophy and a £300 voucher.
Barbara Lawson, care home manager at Kincaid House, says: “We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support we have received from our staff and the local community for this project. Many staff came in during their own time and brought their families to help during their days off.
“We’d especially like to say a big thank you to students from the Community Links team at West College Scotland and Bright Sparks group, who have been visiting and helping out from the very beginning.
“The whole project has really brought the home together and there has been a real buzz of excitement over the last few months. Everyone has benefited and our residents have particularly enjoyed being outside in the glorious weather in our now completely transformed garden.”
The competition is now in its third year and is judged by Meallmore director and co-founder, Aidan Hennessey, who awarded Kincaid House an impressive score of 90 per cent.
He says: “I had a fantastic time judging all the gardens, but staff, family members and residents had absolutely transformed the outdoor space at Kincaid House and the efforts put in by everyone involved were evident for all to see.
“At Meallmore, we put a lot of hard work into ensuring the gardens of all our homes are bright, colourful and well maintained, as they can play a vital part towards improving residents’ mental health and general wellbeing.”
