RESIDENTS of a care home have won a national award for their green-fingered skills.

Hallgarth Care Home, in Durham, has won the national gardening competition between the 300 care homes run by operator Four Seasons.

With limited space in their outdoor courtyard garden, residents created a garden which straddles both indoors and outdoors.

As well as traditional flower beds, the outside garden includes plant pots made out of grandchildren’s wellies, a hand-painted mosaic mural, mobiles and handmade window boxes.

Inside, there are colourful collages, origami, sensory photographs and stained glass windows that create a vibrant and bright space.

Judge Amanda Cunningham, operations director for Four Seasons Health Care, said: “Hallgarth Care Home were chosen as the winners as they had created a garden which almost all residents had played a part in.

“Their strong teamwork also helped to engage those who may not necessarily have wanted to take part as every individual could choose an activity that interested them the most."

Gail Bowden, activities co-ordinator at Hallgarth, said: “What was really wonderful about creating this garden was that so many of the residents and their families were involved; even those who may previously not have wished to take part in a project like this.

“We had some wonderful examples of people creating elements for the garden using their own individual abilities and interests, for example a resident with vision problems chose sensory photography as her creation.

“It really brought everyone together to create something truly special.”