Elmbrook Court Plants 200 Trees As Part of Nature Reserve Development in Wantage

Elmbrook Court Care Home has planted more than 200 trees as part of its development of an on-site nature reserve.

Volunteers helped team members at Elmbrook Court to put in a selection of native trees, including hawthorn, rowan, oak and blackthorn.  The half-hectare site at the rear of the home is being transformed into a haven for nature, giving residents a place to relax and enjoy the wildlife.

“The area was waste ground and we wanted to make the best use of it, both for the residents and the environment,” said the home’s Head of Hospitality, Scott Freeman.

“We’ve already installed a 14-metre pond and we’re developing the pathway, a vegetable garden and planting a selection of wildflowers.  We have four beehives, with two more on the way, and we have chickens too.

“The tree planting will help to encourage more birds into our garden area and we’re also planning a bird hide that will have a living roof and will be wheelchair-accessible.”

Elmbrook Court is part of Oakland Care and the group has been carbon neutral since 2020 and is certified at Green Mark Level 3.  This means the business has a full set of practical processes and guidelines to help it push for continuous environmental improvement.

Pauline Clark was among the volunteers.  Her mum is a resident at Elmbrook Court. “It was an absolute pleasure to join in the tree planting,” she said.  “It was struck by the plans the home has for the wildlife area and the knowledge the staff have about green issues.  It was obvious this wasn’t just a case of sticking a few trees in; everyone seemed to care about creating a great environment for the residents to enjoy different aspects of nature, which has been shown to have huge benefits on people’s mental health. It was a pleasure to play a small part in that.”

The trees have been funded by the Woodland Trust as part of its efforts to encourage planting that will benefit communities. Registered Manager at Elmbrook Court, Rebecca Warman, was thrilled to see the saplings going in.

“This will be a fantastic addition to our home and it will blossom into a beautiful space for the residents, their families, the staff and the community who come to visit us.  There is a huge amount of evidence to show the benefits of being out in nature so it will really add to the wellbeing of the people who live and work here.

“Because of the environment the trees will create, it will add to the biodiversity of the area as well.”

Volunteers from Oakland’s head office, Elmbrook Court staff, residents’ families, Wildlife for Wantage and other members of the community spent the day digging holes, planting and securing the trees.

“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us with this project,” added Scott.  “There are lots of companies in Wantage who’ve been helping us to develop the nature reserve and we’re looking forward to the spring when we can welcome them all in to experience the area with our residents.”

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