STAFF and residents at Cherry Trees Care Home in Alcester are celebrating after their gardens were crowned Garden of the Year for the North Division in the Barchester Care Awards 2026.
The annual awards recognise staff and teams who go the extra mile for the 14,000 residents living in Barchester’s 271 care homes and private hospitals nationwide.
This year, almost 6,000 nominations were submitted across the UK, with judges praising the exceptionally high standard of entries.
Cherry Trees beat dozens of other nominees to take the North Division title and secure a place in the national finals.
The Garden of the Year award highlights the dedication, creativity and teamwork that have transformed the home’s outdoor spaces into vibrant, welcoming areas for residents, families and visitors.
Colourful seasonal planting, wildlife-friendly features, peaceful seating areas, sensory corners and resident-led gardening projects all form part of a design that supports wellbeing, reminiscence, social interaction and meaningful time outdoors.
General manager Debbie Osborne said: “This is a fantastic achievement and everyone at Cherry Trees is incredibly proud.
"The gardens are at the heart of our home and play such an important role in enriching the lives of our residents.
"This award is a testament to the passion, dedication and teamwork shown by everyone involved.
"We are thrilled to represent the North Division in the national finals and look forward to celebrating with our colleagues from across Barchester.”
Activities coordinator Carly Marshall added: “Our gardens are so much more than beautiful spaces, they are places where memories are made every day.
"Residents help choose what we plant, enjoy spending time outdoors, watch the wildlife and take part in gardening activities throughout the year.
"Seeing the smiles the gardens bring makes every bit of hard work worthwhile, so to receive this recognition is incredibly special.”
Divisional winners from across the UK will come together at a special awards ceremony in October to find out which site will be crowned National Garden of the Year.
Cherry Trees is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, offering residential, dementia and respite care.
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