Newcastle’s Blooming Lovely

Belong’s dementia-friendly garden enjoyed a garden makeover with the help of its tenants and local people.

Thanks to team spirit, camaraderie and some extra pairs of hands from young adults from The Prince’s Trust and Stoke-on-Trent College, the refreshed gardens at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme now offer a calm oasis open to the public, as well as those residing at the care village.

The addition of two ponds have added an abundance of underwater life into the community, whilst a flourishing vegetable garden and herbs wall provide homegrown ingredients for use in the onsite bistro. Craft projects for the village’s customers have helped provide features including ceramic toadstools and mushrooms, with painted pebbles adding a splash of colour.

Even the seaside has been brought inland, with a bucket and spade sandpit proving popular with visitors, as Emma Palin, Experience and Heritage Co-ordinator at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, explains:

“We consulted with our customers about what they wanted, and they were brimming with ideas, and many got involved, personally. The result is a spectacular experience of ideas coming to life through colour, smells, tastes and textures to offer something truly special for everyone to enjoy.”

The courtyard and gardens form part of the village’s central hub, opening out from its public bistro and the integrated Belong Heritage Gallery, the town’s oldest building dating from the 17^th century. Today, the gallery documents Newcastle history, arts, and culture through exhibitions, as well as the Old Pomona Inn and Sammy Bell’s tea rooms which pay homage to the building’s past as a public house and as the town’s only pottery, respectively.