Whitegates Care Centre Wins Third Prize At Spelthorne in Bloom Award for Best Kept Community Garden
Whitegates Care Centre in Staines, part of CHD Living, is celebrating after being recognised in this year’s Spelthorne in Bloom competition.
The home was awarded third prize in the Best Kept Community Garden category, honouring the hard work, creativity and care that has gone into maintaining its much-loved outdoor space.
The announcement was made at an awards event held on Monday 3 November 2025 at Notcutts Garden Centre in Staines-upon-Thames, where Whitegates Care Centre was formally recognised alongside other local gardening champions.
The success is a true team effort, driven by the passion of Zofia Proctor, one of the care assistants at Whitegates, who worked closely with the home’s administrator and management team to design and plant the garden. The decision to enter the competition was led by Lynne Adams, Administrator, who saw the opportunity to celebrate the pride residents and team members take in their outdoor space.
The judging panel - Mary Jeffrey and Angela Cheeseman from Spelthorne in Bloom - visited Whitegates on 15 July 2025 to assess the garden, which features colourful seasonal planting, tranquil seating areas and a welcoming environment for both residents and wildlife.
Josh Barlow, Home Manager at Whitegates Care Centre, commented:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been recognised in this year’s Spelthorne in Bloom awards. Our garden plays such an important role in daily life here - it’s a place for connection, reflection, and enjoyment for everyone who lives and works at Whitegates.
“I’m especially proud of Zofia, who led the planting efforts with real enthusiasm and care, and of Lynne for putting us forward. This award is a lovely reflection of the pride our team takes in creating a warm, uplifting environment for our residents.”
As part of CHD Living, Whitegates Care Centre is rooted in the ethos of Creating Happiness Daily, and the garden project is one of many ways the home enhances wellbeing through meaningful spaces and activities.
For more information about Whitegates Care Centre or CHD Living’s services across Surrey and South London, please visit www.chdliving.co.uk.