The London supported and sheltered team’s garden competition launched earlier this year has produced a winner. The winning entry, managed by 2 Care, features a sensory garden with a water-feature to provide tactile sensation, scented plants, colourful flowers and bamboo to provide sound. In addition, part of the garden is a packed allotment that provides vegetables for the kitchen. The contest was held for agency managed supported properties to promote full use of their gardens and recognise new initiatives.

Many residents had gardens and allotments before moving to a care setting so the garden has given them continuity and reminiscence and their involvement has proved therapeutic too. 2 Careplans to research the therapeutic benefits of gardening in the care of elderly people with dementia. Patricia Johnson and Jon Burgoyne from the supported and sheltered team judged the competition.

First prize of a cup and £100 of gardening vouchers was awarded to Parkview House in Enfield, home to 45 frail, elderly residents. Second prize went to Seymour Gardens in Ilford, managed by Norwood for residents with learning disabilities. Two properties in Chesterfield Gardens in Haringey managed by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association won third prize and the most improved garden award.

Jane Crouch, lead manager for London, presented the award to Simon Pollit, 2 Care’s home manager, who explained how the residents loved being in the garden. Previously these were under-utilised and rather scruffy areas, but are now a real hub for the scheme.