Rain can't dampen the spirits of our gardening volunteers

Bringing the sunshine despite the rain

Grey skies and steady downpours aren't the ideal conditions for a garden makeover, but a team from Sorce didn't let the wet weather hold them back. Armed with tools and plenty of energy, five volunteers recently spent the day at Abbeyfield Winnersh giving our garden a major seasonal refresh.

The volunteering day was part of our milestone 70th anniversary celebrations. To mark seven decades of supporting older people, we have been inviting our corporate partners to roll up their sleeves and get involved with local community projects across the country.

Sorce, a Reading-based technology company that has provided our staff intranet since 2020, jumped at the chance to support their nearby home in Wokingham.

Mud, sweat, and fairy gardens

Led by Activities Team Leader and resident gardening expert, Rowena Lamont, the team tackled a massive to-do list. Over the course of the day, the volunteers mowed the lawns, weeded the flowerbeds, and jet-washed the patios to get them looking their best. They also planted colourful new flowers and even created a charming, brand-new fairy garden for residents and visitors to explore.

Despite the persistent rain, the team brought an incredible amount of good humour to the task. They worked tirelessly to revitalise the outdoor spaces just in time for a busy calendar of summer events.

A refreshed space for our residents to enjoy

The ultimate judges of the work were, of course, the people who live here. Several residents popped outside to inspect the progress and were delighted with the transformation. They are already looking forward to spending the warmer months relaxing, walking, and socialising in the refreshed grounds.

Louise Huguenot-Bhatti, Programme Manager at Sorce, said, “We had a fantastic day helping at Abbeyfield Winnersh, despite getting a little drenched along the way. The staff made us feel incredibly welcome and it was rewarding to see how much difference our efforts made.

“It was especially lovely to meet some of the residents and hear how much they enjoy spending time in the garden. We'd be delighted to come back in the future, continue the work and build on those relationships.”

Rowena Lamont added, “Our gardens play an important role in our residents' wellbeing, providing a space to relax, socialise and enjoy nature. Thanks to the volunteers' hard work, the garden is looking better than ever.”

A massive thank you to everyone from Sorce who swapped their keyboards for gardening gloves to support our home.

Your hard work has made a wonderful difference.

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