The Grange wins Top 10 Outdoor Space!

We’re absolutely thrilled to share that The Grange has been named one of the Top 10 care homes in the country for Outdoor Space in the inaugural 2025 Lottie Awards. As if that weren’t enough, we’ve also secured a coveted place in Lottie’s list of the UK’s Top 100 care homes – a true double honour for everyone who calls The Grange home. Our garden is considered the Best Care Home Garden. lottie.org

Lottie singled out homes whose outdoor areas go beyond pretty borders, offering meaningful spaces that support wellbeing all year round. At The Grange, our grounds are more than a visual treat; they’re an extension of residents’ daily life – from relaxed afternoon teas on the terrace to gentle strolls around the pond spotting dragonflies and ducks.

This accolade highlights our commitment to creating the Best Care Home Garden that nurtures both beauty and wellbeing.

We’ll be proudly displaying Lottie’s pink award banner at our entrance, and you’ll soon see the new “Best in Outdoor Space” badge on our website too.

This recognition couldn’t have come at a better moment: 2025 marks Batista’s 60th year tending The Grange’s gardens. Ever since he planted his first rose here in 1965, Batista has poured heart and soul into every lawn stripe and herbaceous border. Many residents will tell you his cheery wave and encyclopaedic plant knowledge are as much a part of life at The Grange as the timbers of our Tudor-style façade.

“The garden has always been my canvas,” Batista says. “But the real reward is seeing residents discover something new in it every day – whether that’s a fresh bloom, a cheeky robin or just a peaceful corner in the sun.”

From all of us – residents, families and staff alike – thank you, Batista, for six decades of dedication.

• Wellbeing first: Outdoor activity has been linked to reduced stress, improved mood and better sleep – benefits our residents enjoy daily.
• Year-round access: Level paths, raised beds and sheltered seating ensure everyone can savour the garden whatever the season.
• Community events: Look out for summer BBQs, bird-watching mornings and our annual sunflower-growing contest.

We’ve included a favourite photograph of the grounds below (do stop to admire the mirror-perfect pond reflection!). If you haven’t visited recently, why not book a tour, enjoy a slice of cake on the lawn and discover why Lottie’s experts – and our residents – think The Grange’s garden is something special.

Here’s to fresh air, flowers and another 60 years of garden magic at The Grange!

by Aaron

We're a Top 100 Care Home!

The Grange recognised as One of the UK’s Top 100 Care Home Lottie in Inaugural Lottie Awards

We are proud to announce that The Grange has been named one of the UK’s Top 100 Care Home Lottie as part of the inaugural 2025 Lottie Awards – a prestigious new accolade celebrating excellence across the care sector.

For us, it’s further recognition highlighting our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care, driving innovation, and being a fun and diverse place to live and work. This is the first time the Lottie Awards have been announced, so we’re delighted that we’ve been selected from thousands of homes across the UK, and that we’re part of this inaugural event.

Lottie’s Top 100 Care Homes were chosen through a robust, data-led evaluation process based on four key pillars:

Celebrating Our Achievements as a Top 100 Care Home Lottie

• Care Quality
• Digitisation
• Operational Efficiency
• Workplace Culture

The awards combine in-depth internal analysis at Lottie, with extensive external data, to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment of performance and impact within the care industry.

And beyond the Top 100 Care Home award, there were a further two individual awards, too; The Grange also was individually named in the Top 10 Outdoor Spaces. With its beautiful gardens and views of the river, we can see why judges loved it.

We're so delighted to announce this news, and celebrates that the family ethos care we strive for, is still in strong demand nationally whilst the independent care home market shrinks.

by Aaron

George and Daisy: Bringing Smiles and Poppies to both homes

Last Friday, residents at both The Grange and Lyndhurst enjoyed a truly special treat—a visit from George and Daisy, the donkeys! These charming visitors didn’t just come for cuddles; they also delivered poppies to our residents, helping us prepare for the upcoming Remembrance Weekend.

The donkeys were a big hit, bringing smiles to everyone they met. Residents enjoyed stroking them, sharing stories, and even sneaking them the odd carrot or apple 🥕🍎. As a thank-you, we treated George and Daisy to a well-earned snack, while the lovely ladies who brought them received a box of chocolates as a token of our gratitude for their time and effort.

These visits brought so much joy and gave us all the chance to pause, connect, and reflect ahead of Remembrance Sunday. At both The Grange and Lyndhurst, we cherish opportunities like this to make meaningful memories and brighten everyone’s day.

A huge thank you to all involved in organising such a delightful afternoon—we hope George and Daisy enjoyed their visit as much as we did!

by Aaron