Sandfield's Flower Show

Lana Skuse
22 hours ago
3 min read

To celebrate the spirit of the Chelsea Flower Show, Sandfields transformed into a vibrant hub of colour, creativity, and connection during our special Flower Show week from May 18th to May 23rd, 2026. From hands-on floristry and intergenerational projects to sustainable gardening and community outreach, our residents and team made it a week to remember.

Here is a look back at how we celebrated nature, community, and the simple joy of growing together.

Creative Floristry & Everlasting Blooms

We began our week with a serene morning dedicated to flower arranging. The room was filled with soft green foliage and bright pink roses as residents designed custom centre pieces. Engaging in floristry offers wonderful sensory feedback while encouraging focus and fine motor skills.

In addition to arranging fresh displays, we filled our shared living spaces with permanent botanical arrangements. These timeless faux blooms ensure every room retains a vibrant, close-to-nature atmosphere year-round without requiring ongoing upkeep.

Magic Potions at Forest School

Intergenerational connection brought extra vitality to our grounds when we welcomed the children from Little Pips for a Forest School session.

Residents and nursery pupils explored the garden paths together, collecting colourful fallen leaves, bright petals, water, and a touch of glitter to create "magic potions". While the children experimented with natural textures, residents shared stories of their own childhood gardens. Connecting generations through sensory outdoors play brings endless laughter and creates a heart warming bridge across age groups.

Sustainable Garden Clean-Up & Prep

Getting ready for a flower show requires teamwork! Residents and staff rolled up their sleeves for a full garden refresh aimed at sustainable outdoor management:

Bulb Preservation: We carefully lifted and preserved seasonal bulbs from our garden containers so they can be stored and replanted in future seasons.
Layout Refresh: Old planters were removed to open up the grounds, making the garden layout more accessible and clear for fresh seasonal displays.

Taking active ownership of our shared outdoor spaces gives residents a genuine sense of accomplishment and pride in their environment.

Sister Home Collaboration: Scarlet House Visit

Gardening is always better shared! We were delighted to host residents from our sister home, Scarlet House Care Home, for a joint gardening afternoon.

Together, we weeded raised beds and planted aromatic herbs while catching up over garden trowels. Collaborating across Care UK homes allows our teams to share fresh activity ideas while giving residents a chance to expand their social

circles and build meaningful friendships.

Elevated Haven: Launching the Rooftop Garden

Taking advantage of the sunshine, we officially launched our brand-new rooftop garden space. Residents potted a colourful variety of flowers and carefully planted sunflower seedlings, setting the stage for future giant blooms.

Gardening at any height offers ground-level therapeutic benefits—from physical fine-motor exercise to mindfulness and nostalgia. Watching these seedlings take root gives everyone a daily purpose as we head upstairs to water, tend, and watch our rooftop garden grow.

Community Connections: St Gregory's School Partnership

We closed out our celebrations with a thoughtful visit from St Gregory's School. Following their traditional May Procession, students brought a generous delivery of fresh flowers to share with the residents, instantly brightening our lounges and room spaces.

This special visit marked the official launch of a new intergenerational partnership with St Gregory's. Over the coming school year, we look forward to regular visits featuring shared arts, crafts, and storytelling sessions—further weaving Sandfields into the heart of our broader community.

A massive thank you to our team, visitors, neighbouring homes, and local schools for making our Flower Show week such a radiant success!