Bramley Court’s much-loved garden is a hit with community

The event marked Bramley Court Care Home’s second time taking part in Open Gardens and the grounds were a big hit among visitors. Our residents were proud to showcase their unique wrap-around garden, a space they have helped to shape and one which they enjoy every day.

Keen gardener and resident Jenny Phillips, 81, who moved into Bramley Court six years ago, was one of the founding members of Open Gardens when the event first took place in 2007. Also a keen sculptor Jenny’s sculpted cat and snails were on display at this year’s event in the Bramley garden. “It was wonderful to be part of Open Gardens again,” she said. “The gardens here are a joy and we were very pleased to share them with our friends and neighbours.”

Resident Brenda Dickinson, 91, who moved into our home four years ago, has also always been a keen gardener and our home supports her passion. Brenda’s room is on the ground floor where each resident has their own private patio. She has planted red geraniums in her window basket and has a ceramic fox by her door.

“Foxes used to visit my garden and I loved the glorious red geraniums that grew in the outdoor Lido where I swam as a child,” she said. “I’ve recreated those memories here with my own red geraniums and my pottery fox, Felix. It was wonderful to show our garden to visitors and see how much they enjoyed it.”

Jen Lumb has been our home’s gardener for five years and works closely with residents to ensure the garden reflects their personalities, memories and interests and uses traditional cottage garden planting to spark reminiscence and conversation.

“I get so excited about the garden and I love that the residents share that excitement with me,” she said.

“We’re all part of the Bramley family and the garden is very much a team effort. Residents regularly share ideas and memories, which often inspire what we plant and create.

“One resident told me how hollyhocks towered above them as a child, so we planted some here. It’s those stories that make the garden so special. We all loved hearing visitors’ compliments during Open Gardens and the residents thoroughly deserved them.”

Bramley Court Care Home, which is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is proud to have been shortlisted for The Living Well With Dementia: Co-Production And Partnership Award at the Dementia Care Awards 2026 and outdoor spaces play an important role in everyday life at the home.

Residents enjoy everything from feeding the fish in the raised pond and relaxing with a cream tea from the outdoor café, to taking part in seasonal events such as World Bee Day and our home’s annual sunflower-growing challenge.

Rather than having a formal gardening club, we encourage an informal community approach, with residents often walking through the grounds together with the home’s dog, Pip.

Designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind, the outdoor space includes wheelchair-friendly raised beds, sensory planting such as herbs and fragrant roses, and a series of mobile gardens in wheelbarrows which can be moved around the home, allowing residents to enjoy nature from their rooms, balconies or outdoor seating areas.

The grounds also feature a potting shed, a mini orchard and the Bramley Playhouse, which is enjoyed by visiting children and families.

Our home hosts regular talks and discussions with the retired Head Gardener of Anglesey Abbey, inspiring residents to visit local gardens and beauty spots across Cambridgeshire through their weekly walking group.

The Histon and Impington Open Gardens event was a huge success welcoming over 200 visitors. It is a biennial event and all proceeds are shared between several local charities nominated by the garden owners. Bramley Court raised over £300 through donations and by serving afternoon tea.

Guests who left comments in the home’s visitor book called the garden, ‘beautiful’, ‘tranquil’ ‘gorgeous’ and ‘absolutely stunning’, whilst others mentioned the ‘loving atmosphere’.

The home is led by mental health nurse and dementia interpreter trainer, Jade Hackett. “We are incredibly proud to have been part of this event and to have shared our garden with the local community, who are very much part of our home story,” she said.

“We have children and students who visit us regularly and have built strong community connections, so Open Gardens was a wonderful opportunity to bring people together through a shared love of gardening.

“The garden continues to have a positive impact on our residents and be a place for connection, reminiscence and shared experiences. It helps our residents stay active, engaged and connected with nature.”

Bramley Court is a 72-bedroom home, on Chivers Way, which provides high quality residential, nursing and specialist dementia care.