Celebrating life at Barchester

Creative Mojo and our residents have come together to create a beautiful collection of artwork, each piece individually capturing vibrant colours and heartfelt meaning. When brought together, the final display stands as a touching tribute to remembrance, reflection, and hope.

Blue butterflies are featured throughout the artwork, symbolising positive change, hope, and transformation in times of uncertainty and wartime. Their gentle presence reminds us that light can emerge even from the darkest moments.

Red poppies bloom across the display, representing the sacrifices made by military personnel and honouring those who gave their lives in service. They also embody our hope for peace and a brighter future for generations to come.

11/11, we proudly present Tracy Lea in our Remembrance Day commemoration, a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks to all who have served and continue to serve.

At Cherry Trees, our residents have a wonderful passion for crafting. It is an activity that brings joy, sparks imagination, and creates a real sense of community. Recently, they have enjoyed making seasonal pumpkin crafts to celebrate autumn, followed by thoughtful Remembrance crafts to honour and reflect on those who served. Crafting is more than just a pastime. 

It helps keep minds active, encourages conversation, and provides opportunities for residents to share stories and memories. The process of creating something with their own hands also supports their coordination, while the finished pieces bring a sense of pride and achievement. Most importantly, these creative sessions allow residents to express themselves and connect with one another. Whether it is a colourful pumpkin or a heartfelt poppy, each craft reflects the individuality and creativity of our Cherry Trees community. 

One of our lovely residents had a fantastic time watching the talented dancers from Lynnette Stephenson Academy of Dance take part in Tapathon – a nationwide tap dancing event for Children In Need and part of an attempt to achieve a world record too! 🏅
The song choice of Nutbush City Limits and cowboy hats were a great hit! We absolutely loved seeing everyone coming together for such a joyful occasion. The event brought back special memories of dancing days and an afternoon filled with lots of smiles!
Fingers crossed the record has been broken... we can't wait to find out! 🤞

Residents had such a heart-warming day recently when Jackie and Pat walked next door to Oversley Hill Farm and Forest for some autumnal pumpkin picking! They enjoyed a beautiful walk, soaking in all the nature around us and enjoying the beautiful colours of the leaves falling from the trees. 

The pumpkin picking was such great fun, and we topped it off with a yummy, cosy cup of tea whilst chatting with the farm owner and her two wonderful daughters, who were full of interesting facts about their farm and asked us if we might enjoy a visit in the warmer weather, which we would be very happy to do. It's amazing how much joy a simple activity can bring.      

Cherry Trees is bursting with pride as Donna Johnston has been named the divisional winner for Learner of the Year at the prestigious Barchester Care Awards! Donna’s journey with Barchester began in September 2023 when she embarked on her Advanced Care Practitioner course, and her dedication has been evident ever since. The entire team at Cherry Trees is eagerly anticipating the awards ceremony on October 22nd, where they'll be cheering Donna on.

For the past 14 years, Donna has been an invaluable asset to Cherry Trees care home in Alcester.  She began her career as a Healthcare Assistant and, through her unwavering commitment and NVQ achievements, steadily progressed to become a Senior Carer, then a Team Leader, and now an Advanced Care Practitioner.

Donna expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am incredibly thankful for the training opportunities provided by Barchester and the constant support from Debbie Osborne. Winning this award is a true honour, and I am excited for what the future holds."

General Manager Debbie Osborne added, "Donna's commitment to Cherry Trees and, most importantly, to her residents is truly unmatched. We are incredibly excited to support her as she continues her journey toward becoming a Registered Nurse. Her passion and dedication make her an invaluable member of our team."  

One of our most recent adventures on a minibus took us to Highfield Garden Centre. Our residents explored the various departments for gift ideas for Christmas, visited the lovely aquarium and, of course, the last stop was at the wonderful coffee shop which has the most delicious cakes to enjoy.  

We look forward to more adventures out in the minibus soon!

Staff, residents and families celebrated Bonfire Night with a bang when they wrapped up warm to watch a fantastic firework display and enjoyed lots of delicious food and hot drinks prepared by our talented chef.

Terry a resident said: “I have always loved Bonfire Night, it’s so lovely to celebrate these traditions all together. The fireworks bring back so many memories of Bonfire Nights through the years, these times are so special.”

Thank you to everyone who came to support this event and made it so successful.  

We marked the Festival of Lights with our very own staff this year. Our home was beautifully decorated with lights, fresh sweet smelling flowers, colourful scarves and fabrics. 

Our residents had the chance to taste a selection of homemade Nepalese dishes beautifully prepared by our chef and listened to traditional music and dancing. Our Nepalese colleagues dressed up for the occasion, and we all had a wonderful time.       

Armistice Day, later known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth and Veterans Day in the United States, is commemorated every year on 11th November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War 1 and Germany at Compiègne, France.

At Tyspane Care Home, many of our residents have served or have affiliations with the armed forces: the army, navy, and air force, as well as institutions such as marines, space forces, coast guards and border guards.

The Armistice Service was delivered by Reverend David Baker, St Brannocks Church, Braunton and a two-minute silence was observed at 11.00am to remember those who died in conflicts.

David Prior (Resident Ambassador), “I am so proud to be a part of this morning's Armistice Day. Thank you.”

Thank you to everyone who made this morning so special, it was a truly commemorative event.