On 15th January, residents and staff at Heron Court Care Home, part of the Runwood Homes Group, have spent the past three months transforming an unused greenhouse into a thriving space for gardening activities. The project, spearheaded by Lifestyle Coordinator Ariel Da Costa, involved cleaning, repairing, and organising the greenhouse, turning it from an overlooked structure into a vibrant hub for horticulture.
The initiative brought together residents Miriam, Joe, and Barbara, as well as carer Ganesh and Ariel, who worked tirelessly to achieve their goal. What started as an ambitious project became a testament to teamwork and determination.
Joe, a resident at Heron Court and avid gardener, reflected on the accomplishment: “This greenhouse still needs some improvement, but I think we did a great job, and now it’s time to enjoy it.”
The idea for the project arose when staff and residents noticed the greenhouse taking up space in the backyard without serving any purpose. Determined to make it useful again, they embarked on the challenging task of rehabilitating it.
Initially, some were sceptical of the effort required, but the atmosphere shifted as progress became visible. Ariel Da Costa noted: “At first, it wasn’t difficult to find people who laughed at us because there was a lot of work ahead. But as we cleaned and tidied up, the greenhouse transformed into what it once was—a place to care for plants.”
The residents and staff found immense pride in the completion of their work, especially during two standout moments: the daunting realisation of the challenge they had taken on and the joy of seeing it through to the end.
With the greenhouse now ready for use, Heron Court residents look forward to gardening activities that will foster creativity, relaxation, and community bonding. Ariel emphasised the significance of the project: “This was more than just cleaning and organising; it was about setting a medium-term goal and achieving it together. Now, we have a beautiful space to enjoy and be proud of.”
Heron Court’s greenhouse revival is a shining example of how teamwork and a shared vision can bring new life to forgotten spaces while enriching the lives of those involved.
