Summer has been in full swing at Larks Leas, with residents and staff making the most of the warm weather and the wonderful opportunities it brings. From relaxing in the garden to enjoying outings, entertainment and community celebrations, the season has been filled with memorable moments and plenty of reasons to smile.
As a welcoming rest home in Blandford, we believe every day should offer opportunities for companionship, enjoyment and new experiences. This summer has certainly delivered all three.
Making the Most of the Sunshine
We’ve been fortunate to enjoy some beautiful sunny days, allowing residents to spend time in our lovely gardens. Whether chatting with friends, taking in the fresh air or simply relaxing outdoors, our garden has been a favourite place to gather throughout the season.
When the temperatures have become a little too warm, we’ve stayed cool indoors thanks to our air-conditioned lounge, plenty of fans, refreshing cold drinks and, of course, a selection of delicious ice lollies.
A Wonderful Garden Party
The highlight of our summer so far has undoubtedly been our annual Garden Party. With glorious sunshine providing the perfect backdrop, residents welcomed friends and family for an afternoon of celebration.
Guests enjoyed glasses of Pimms alongside a homemade Dorset cream tea – with the cream on top, naturally! The afternoon was brought to life with wonderful musical entertainment from Richard and Ellie Gracie, together with Gill and Alan MacDonald, who performed a fantastic selection of sea shanties and popular songs from the 1960s. Before long, everyone was singing along and enjoying the lively atmosphere.
Our manager, Becky, organised a grand raffle with an impressive selection of prizes generously donated by local businesses. We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Hall & Woodhouse, Sweetpea Florist, Sophie’s Ceramics, Realtime, Matos Butchers and Conyers for their fantastic support.
Following the raffle, residents and guests formed teams for a challenging Summer Quiz, which proved so closely contested that it required a tie-break to decide the winners. The day concluded with a delicious buffet supper, rounding off what was a truly memorable occasion.
As one of the leading care homes in Dorset, bringing residents, families, staff and the local community together is something we value enormously, and the Garden Party was a wonderful example of this.
Celebrating Dorset Traditions
June also saw us celebrating St Wite, the patron saint of Dorset. Residents embraced a full week of Dorset-themed activities, including making Dorset flags, taking part in quizzes, sampling local cheeses, enjoying talks about Thomas Hardy and watching adaptations of some of his best-known novels. Poetry readings featuring the works of William Barnes and Thomas Hardy completed the celebrations.
Days Out and Musical Entertainment
Our minibus has been busy too, with residents enjoying early summer outings to a local garden centre to choose hanging basket plants before sitting down to lunch together. Another popular trip saw residents enjoying a relaxing cruise around Poole Harbour aboard The Dolphin Boat.
Back at Larks Leas, we’ve welcomed a fantastic variety of entertainers throughout the summer, including The Shroton Ukulele Band, singers Debbie Butterworth, Dean Robbins and Mike Sidaway, together with the talented Andy Hague, whose accordion playing and singing always prove popular.
Today, many of our residents are gathering in the garden with members of Blandford Parish Church for hymns, readings and prayers, providing another opportunity to come together in peaceful surroundings.
As a trusted residential care home, and a provider of elderly care in Blandford, we’re delighted to have created so many happy memories already this summer. Whether through seasonal celebrations, outings or simply spending time together, life at Larks Leas continues to be filled with friendship, laughter and meaningful moments.
