THE ARMY combined with the community of South Petherton to build a new allotment as part of Care Home Open Day.

The volunteer soldiers came in as part of Care Home Open Day, a nationwide event designed to show the effort being put in by care home workers across the country.

Jaine Thorne, the activities co-ordinator at Burnworthy House, said: "It went great. We ended up with a complete allotment being dug. The soldiers had to dig out an area of grass. They were soaking wet and covered with mud.

"Residents families donated lots of plants, and there was a local horticulturalist who donated about 50 plants to us. The community seems to have really come together.

"The entertainement was our maintenance man Clive, who the residents are used to seeing going round changing light bulbs, but he came in and sang songs from the 50s and 60s and residents loved it.

"There was also a gentleman with a ukelele and a man came in with a barrel organ."

The care home also gave out long service awards to five members of staff.

"It was a really nice celebration day despite the rain," Jaine added.

The allotment will be open to the public who are invited to go along and see the new flowers in bloom.

CQC’s Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe, said:

“Care Home Open Day is a great opportunity for us to recognise the hard work of managers and staff across the country and celebrate the positive experiences that everyone living in a care home deserves.

“Care Home Open Day is a one-off event but we know the best care homes engage with their local community throughout the year and listen and consistently act on the views of people using services, their families and carers, day in, day out – which is what we all want to see.

“I am really looking forward to visiting different care homes this year and wish everyone involved a lovely day.”

For more information, visit the Care Home Open Day website at www.carehomeopenday.org.uk.