Kingsland House, in Kingsland Close, is part of national care home provider Barchester Healthcare, which runs an annual Barchester in Bloom contest.

The competition, now in its fourth year, aims to promote the imaginative planting of flowers, trees and shrubs in the gardens of its homes.

The green-fingered staff and residents of the 71-bed home have been competing against 170 Barchester homes across the UK, and have now been whittled down to one of 26 semi-finalist homes.

One of the categories that have taken it through to the semi-final is its community vegetable garden – which pupils from Kingston Buci First School have tended to on a weekly basis, along with school governor and gardener Andrea Burton.

Kingsland House spokeswoman Karen Hilton said that as well as the school, there had been various visitors from the community helping to tend to the vegetable garden, including a member of West Sussex Fire Brigade, family members and even the home's window cleaner.

Team effort

"Although our residents are too frail to dig the garden we haven't left them out and they have created lovely hanging baskets during their weekly gardening club, the vegetables include 'round' carrots – ideally sized for the baskets."

The home now faces the anticipation of the final, which takes place on October 1. TV celebrity gardener Charlie Dimmock will be presenting the prizes at an awards luncheon at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham.

The categories Kingsland House is through to for the semi-finals are: best creative design and best residents' or children's garden or project.

First place winners in each category will win £500 to spend on gardening equipment, with runners up winning £250.
Each winner will receive a Barchester in Bloom trophy to display in the reception of the winning homes.

Fun of the fête

ALL the fun of the fête happened at Kingsland House Care Home on Saturday.

The summer event in the grounds of the home in Kingsland close, Shoreham, raised £400, which will go towards a laptop for "silver surfer" activity sessions for its residents.

The fête had stalls, entertainment, refreshments and a stocks where wet sponges were thrown at the victims.

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