Our residents and staff travelled back in time to enjoy a medieval-themed summer party held within our 9 acres of picturesque, landscaped gardens on 30th June 2021.
Staff pulled out all the stops to ensure our residents felt like they had stepped back in time for a unique and authentic experience. All team members fully embraced the event by dressing up in period attire and themed entertainment including a medieval banquet, loot music and traditional pork hullis was offered.
Our garden was transformed into a real-life castle, which had been carefully crafted by our talented staff and their families along with a makeshift ‘hog roast’.
A large gothic table dressed in ivy filled the lawns of the care home. Residents were treated to a historic spread of vegetable pottage, pears in red wine, pulled pork rolls and custard tarts. All served by our care home chef, Anne. While the residents sipped from goblets and enjoyed the surroundings, staff got into the spirit by having rotten cabbages thrown at them in the stocks. Hobby horses, jousting and a pork jester were on offer for all to enjoy.
With the lifting of COVID restrictions now slowly coming into force, our residents can begin to look forward to many more events and hopefully with loved ones joining in with the fun.
“We are so pleased to be able to hold these events for our residents. To be able to enjoy some socialising whilst getting into the spirit of theme; gives us all something to look forward to. The team here at Birchwood, always give their all to make sure the event is a success. After such an incredibly difficult year for all the residents and staff, it feels extra special now we can all celebrate together and enjoy the beautiful gardens along with the amazing attention to detail of our medieval themed summer party.” Niral Patel, owner of the care home, comments.
Claire Tye, Deputy Manager at Birchwood House, adds: “We had such a lovely day for the medieval garden party! Staff once again got fully into character and had such fun recreating scenes from the dark ages. The event lifted the spirits of our residents who have faced such a challenging year. To see them getting involved with the theme, enjoying the loot music and dining on the hog roast was great. It provided an opportunity to bring us all together and it finally feels like life is returning to some normality. We love to put on an event for the residents and like to think we go above and beyond to make sure its extra special.“
Find out more about Birchwood events and download a typical activity schedule in the home here.
If you’re looking for a residential home for your loved one, please complete our online enquiry form, call us on 01892 863559 or email us at birchwood@birchwoodhouse.org.uk.
Other articles you may like
- Gluten free chocolate cakes
Gluten free chocolate cakes There’s nothing better than chocolate for a sweet treat, and these gluten free chocolate cakesContinue reading “Gluten free chocolate cakes” - How can we manage stress to promote wellbeing?
We all know what it’s like to feel stressed, and we all have certain triggers. Whether it’s a deadline at work, a missed flight, or a new social situation, stress is a natural part of life. But as we get older, these stress triggers can change. Our health, and the health of our loved ones, becomes a more prominent source of stress, especially as this is something out of our control. On top of that, there’s the possible move into a care home, which can be a hard transition to navigate. At Birchwood House, we want to recognise the impact stress can have on our wellbeing, whilst using gentle, effective ways to reduce anxiety. So, what are some of the ways we manage stress to promote wellbeing? - National Hot Tea Month: why do we like tea so much?
January is National Hot Tea Month, and there is nothing better than a good cup of tea. It’s one of life’s small pleasures, and it’s a daily routine for many, including for us at Birchwood House! Tea is also rooted in long-standing tradition and cultural significance. Legend says that tea was discovered by Emperor Shen Nung all the way back in 2732 BC, when leaves from a wild tree accidentally blew into his pot of boiling water. Tea came to Europe in the early 1600s, and we’ve been drinking it ever since. To celebrate National Hot Tea Month, here are some of our favourite reasons why we drink it! - Vegetarian Suet Roulade
New year, new recipes! This month, Chef John aced his homemade vegetarian suet roulade. This is the perfect hearty winter meal, with roasted veg packed with soft suet pastry. We’ve paired this with mash, braised cabbage and vegetarian gravy, but it also goes great with a cheese sauce. - Christmas crafts
Merry Christmas! This month is filled with festive fun for our residents, which means all sorts of Christmas crafts to get involved with. And these activities are suitable for anyone; crafting is a great way to boost mood, stimulate our brains, and make memories with those around us. We’re sharing a run-down of how we’ve been making the most of this holiday season – use it as inspiration and show us anything you make! - Clementine Panna Cotta
Clementine Panna Cotta This dessert has been going down a treat with our residents! Inspired by taste buds, thisContinue reading “Clementine Panna Cotta” - Gentle exercises for older adults
When we get older, finding ways to move our body can get harder. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible! Using low-impact, gentle exercise is a great way to stay active without putting too much strain on ourselves. Regular movement is important for a number of reasons, not to mention the physical and mental health benefits. A recent report by Care England even showed that regular physical activity is improving the health, confidence, and wellbeing of residents in care homes, and could even deliver savings of up to £96 million to the NHS. - Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Breasts
This is a dish packed with flavour and spice. The chicken is filled with amino acids to support muscle growth and brain function, whilst the vegetables are rich in fibre and antioxidants. Both warming and filling, we’ve taken inspiration from The Cafe Sucre Farine to make this healthy, easy dinner. - How did our residents celebrate National Baking Week?
Happy National Baking Week! From Monday (October 13th) to Sunday (October 19th), we’re celebrating the joy and benefits of baking. Because, as you may have already seen on our Facebook, baking is a firm favourite at Birchwood House. Whether it’s sweet treats or savoury goods, we make sure baking is a regular activity. There are always recipes to try, techniques to learn, and opportunities to discover something new.


