Bury St Edmunds care home shortlisted in national awards

A care home in Bury St Edmunds is celebrating after being named as a finalist for a national award. 

The team at Care UK’s Glastonbury Court, on Glastonbury Road, has been shortlisted in the ‘Best Outdoor Environment’ category in the Caring UK Awards. The awards celebrate excellence across the care sector, and highlight the outstanding contributions made by care home teams.

Known for its beneficial impact on the health and wellbeing of older people, nature forms an important part of life at Glastonbury Court, and residents are encouraged to spend time enjoying the great outdoors. The home’s garden offers a variety of areas for residents and team members to enjoy, including a jubilee-inspired section and a tribute to a garden-loving resident.  

Glastonbury Court has been recognised for its dementia-friendly, award-winning garden which was named second best in the region in the prestigious flower competition, Anglia in Bloom. The home has also been awarded the local Bury in Bloom Gold Award for the second year in a row, as well as being shortlisted in the ‘Best for Indoor/Outdoor Communal Spaces’ category at the Care Home Awards.

Seeking to memorialise the past and celebrate the present, residents and team members worked together to create a jubilee section of the garden which has given children from the local community lots of pleasure as they pass by. Creations included an impressive willow-work, flowerbed shaped crown to pay tribute to Her late Majesty, a flowerbed transformed into a royal British train and a traditional style pram filled with hand-picked flowers. 

To honour the home’s late resident and avid-gardener, Peter Hobbs, the garden is also complete with an impressive water feature – providing residents with a tranquil space to unwind. 

Ana Mihai, Home Manager at Glastonbury Court, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the ‘Best Outdoor Environment’ category in the Caring UK Awards.  

“The team and residents here at Glastonbury Court put a lot of time and care into ensuring our garden looks wonderful, creating a welcoming and relaxing environment for everyone to enjoy. It’s fantastic to see their hard work being recognised on a national level. Our garden not only looks great, it improves the wellbeing of residents, is hugely beneficial for those living with dementia, and gives purpose – encouraging the continuation of hobbies, or even learning how to do something new. 

“I’m very proud of the environment we’ve created here at Glastonbury Court and hope we can build on our garden’s success with an award win later this year.”

Glastonbury Court is a modern care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its very own cinema and hair salon, and there is plenty of space both in and outdoors for relaxation and recreation.