A blooming great event

Residents at a Bupa Care Home in Ayr have unearthed hidden horticultural talents after hosting their own tallest sunflower contest.

The gardening enthusiasts at Bupa’s Claremont Care Home, located in High Thornyflat Wynd in Whitletts, planted a sunflower seed for each of its four units, with efforts monitored from the first signs of growth, in a bid to crown a winner by the end of the summer.

After months of expert care, the winning sunflower came in at a blooming marvellous 14ft tall, with the next best coming a close second at 12ft.

Kevin Pexton, Activity Coordinator at Bupa Claremont, said: “After the tallest sunflower contest was so successful with residents and their relatives last year, we decided to run it again this year – much to the delight of all our keen gardeners.

“Gardening has many benefits; as well as being a very therapeutic activity, the friendly competition also provides social stimulation for our residents.

“Everyone involved very much enjoyed watching the sunflowers grow and come into bloom, and they are standing very tall and proud in our garden.”

The Bupa Care Home underwent an extensive refurbishment in January 2015, which included full redecoration and new furnishings throughout, as well as creating a new landscaped garden with a water feature, a greenhouse and herb garden.

Kevin added: “Many of the activities at Claremont centre on our garden and we actively encourage our residents to make as much use out of the space as possible. The refurbishment has been a fantastic addition as we received new garden furniture and tools which have been hugely beneficial for our many green- fingered residents.

“With our expanding garden facilities, we look forward to running the tallest sunflower competition for many more years to come.”

Claremont offers specialist residential and nursing dementia care and short- and long- term nursing care.

Claremont also provides support for people with Parkinson’s or those who are in need of some respite care.