Activities at Cherry Trees Care Home

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. 

A heart-warming day! Our residents Pat, Edith, Joan and Marj joined Years 5 & 6 at Our Lady's Catholic Primary School for a Fairtrade Tea Party.     

The children gave us a wonderful presentation explaining the importance of living simply and buying fair-trade products.    

Such a wonderful connection between generations! They learnt while enjoying a delicious tea and cakes.

We had an amazing afternoon when Cherry Trees presented the Highland Games event! Our residents had a blast playing toss the cabre, hammer throw, and toss the haggis.  

They enjoyed a little shot of whisky and some delicious shortbread prepared for by our fabulous chefs here at Cherry Trees, followed by a great performance from Emma Charlotte's Dance Academy, a local dance school where the girls did some amazing Scottish dancing. Jessie, one of our residents, even got up and had a dance with the girls.

Everyone had such an amazing time! 

National Chocolate Day was a sweet success here! 

Our residents indulged in melted chocolate with strawberries, a delicious array of chocolate cakes, comforting hot chocolate, and creamy chocolate milkshakes served right from the trolley. Some even enjoyed watching "The History of Chocolate" documentary. 

It was a day filled with chocolatey goodness and smiles all around! The joy was contagious, and the room was filled with laughter, stories, and the unmistakable scent of chocolatey goodness. It’s moments like these that remind us how simple pleasures can bring people together and brighten everyone’s day. Here’s to more sweet memories and even sweeter company! 

Fingal Brings Joy! Pet Therapy Visit Brightens Our Residents' Day!

Paws-itively wonderful! Our residents have a fantastic visit from Fingal, the pet therapy dog, every Friday. Fingal's gentle nature and wagging tail brings smiles, comfort, and lots of happy moments to everyone. Pet therapy is a fantastic way to boost emotional well-being, reduce stress, and provide a sense of connection for our residents.

The bond between our residents and Fingal is heart-warming to witness. From gentle pets to loving cuddles, the interaction brings so much joy and laughter. We're incredibly grateful to Fingal and his handler for sharing their time and love with us each week.

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 Local artists Joan and Marjorie have been recognised for their outstanding talent at the recent Forest Of Arden Agricultural Society competition, held at Ragley Hall. The event, a highlight for the local community, saw Marjorie awarded second place and Joan securing third place for their captivating paintings.

The day was filled with memorable moments. The artists enjoyed exploring the vibrant atmosphere of the show, meeting Joan's son and daughter-in-law for a delightful coffee and chat. Amidst the backdrop of impressive tractors and skilled woodwork displays, the highlight was undoubtedly the viewing of the art tent after the judges' deliberation. The joy and excitement were palpable as Joan and Marjorie posed for photos with their acclaimed paintings.

"It was a truly magical day," shared Marjorie. "Seeing Joan and Marjorie's faces light up upon receiving their prizes was incredibly heart-warming. Their passion and dedication to their art shone brightly, and their success is well-deserved," said Carly. The paintings stood out, capturing the essence of their talents. This achievement not only celebrates the individual talents of Joan and Marjorie but also highlights the thriving artistic community within the Forest of Arden. The Forest of Arden Agricultural Society competition continues to be a platform for local artists to showcase their work and connect with fellow enthusiasts.

Marjorie definitely has the bug for painting and, as it's national arts and crafts day coming up this Wednesday, we thought it would be a great opportunity to get the other residents involved in some crafting.

Our residents are absolutely loving the new French lessons!  What started as a small experiment has turned into one of our most popular activities. It's amazing to see everyone embracing a new language and culture. The benefits have been incredible – from boosting cognitive skills to building new friendships. Plus, learning French opens up a whole new world of travel, movies, and books! 

But most importantly, it's been so much fun!  We've had laughter, shared stories, and just enjoyed each other's company. A huge thank you to our residents for their enthusiasm and to our fantastic teacher Rachel for making learning French such a joy.

Our courtyard is blooming with beauty, and our residents absolutely love the floral theme and Alice in Wonderland vibes! It's heart-warming to see everyone enjoying the vibrant colours and sweet scents. We're committed to creating a sustainable and enjoyable environment, and we have lots more eco-friendly ideas in the works! Our amazing residents have been busy turning our care home courtyard into a sustainable haven—and they’ve done it using everyday household items! 

From upcycled teapots turned into quirky plant pots to old teapots turned into bird feeders, the courtyard is now bursting with life, colour, and personality. 

The best part? It’s been a joyful, laughter-filled journey. Whether it’s painting old boots to use as planters or crafting bird feeders from used milk cartons, every project has brought smiles, stories, and a sense of purpose. This isn’t just about going green—it’s about growing together. Come take a stroll through our courtyard and see how sustainability and creativity bloom when hearts and hands come together. Stay tuned for more updates on our green initiatives!  

Our courtyard is blooming with creativity! Residents came together to plant beautiful flowers in our upcycled chest of drawers-turned planters. It's amazing what we can create together! As well as the beautiful chest of drawers, our residents made some beautiful bird feeders using parts of the upcycled drawer and an old tea set we had lying about. 

Residents have really have some great fun getting creative and we have so many more ideas coming soon!  Keep an eye out for more fun sustainable gardening ideas!!

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."  

Residents had a fantastic day at Cherry Trees. In honour of London Fashion Week, our residents dressed up and strutted their stuff on the homemade catwalk. From pom poms to crazy hats, we had it all. Residents really enjoyed getting involved in the fun. Joan said, ‘I was expecting the staff to do a show for us. I laughed so much doing that, and we really are thankful for all the activities the girls do’. 

There was so much fun, laughter, Prosecco, and great music. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and made it such a memorable event!    

Our residents had a wonderful time as we celebrated Cowboy Day in true Wild West style!

Country music from Tennessee Tom and his Cactus Cutie Beccie Marshall cowboy hats a plenty, themed entertainment and delicious campfire stew made by our fantastic 2nd chef Ayshat along with other tasty treats, the day was filled with laughter, dancing and plenty of western spirit. Even our staff got involved – boots, bandanas and all. 

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a success! We all had the best time and we absolutely love it when families come together!! 

Did you know that nestled at the back of our beautiful home, we have some absolutely stunning back gardens? It's true! Many might not realise these tranquil spaces exist, but they're a true gem for our residents. Imagine stepping out into a world of vibrant flowers, lush greenery, and serene beauty – that's exactly what our back gardens offer.

Our residents truly make the most of these spaces. There's something special about having a place to relax, unwind, and connect with nature right at your doorstep. The laughter, conversations, and shared moments create a real sense of community and belonging.

And let's not forget the views! Our back gardens offer breathtaking views that are simply unmatched. It's a daily reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, a perfect backdrop for creating lasting memories. Come and see for yourself what makes our back gardens so special!  

Cherry Trees is committed to providing a stimulating and engaging environment for its residents. As part of this commitment, we regularly organize intergenerational activities that benefit both our residents and the younger generation. This case study examines the impact of a recent visit from students at St. Benedict's School, during which they interacted with residents and staff to learn about various career paths.

On 9th June, a group of 15 students from St Benedict's Catholic High School visited Cherry Trees. The visit was structured to include two key components: informal conversations between students and residents about their past careers and a career questions session where students spoke with staff members from different departments (Maintenance, Housekeeping, activities, etc.) about their roles, responsibilities, and career journeys. Following the career talks, the students were given a tour of the home, allowing them to see the various facilities and understand the daily life of the residents. The visit concluded with a relaxed session of word wheel, where students and residents worked together while enjoying refreshments. The goal was to provide students with real-world insights into a variety of professions while offering residents an opportunity to share their wisdom and experiences, and to foster meaningful connections between the generations.

The visit proved to be a resounding success, yielding several positive outcomes. The students gained valuable knowledge about different career paths, broadening their understanding of the possibilities available to them. Residents reported feeling a sense of purpose and fulfilment in sharing their life stories and offering advice to the younger generation. Staff members enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on their career paths and inspire the students with their experiences. The tour of the home provided the students with a better understanding of the environment in which the residents live, while the word wheel activity promoted teamwork and social interaction in a relaxed setting.