Care home pays tribute to two special gardeners after winning Rugby in Bloom awards

Butlers Mews Care Home was the winner of Most Innovative Garden and received the Gold Award in the community category.

Lisa Birnie, Activities & Wellbeing Coordinator at the home, said: “Although we are incredibly proud of these awards, the occasion was also bittersweet as we remembered our two lovely resident gardeners, Bob and Brian, who sadly passed away during our garden project.

"We started this project together, and it meant so much to all of us. Bob sadly passed away halfway through the project, so we decided to ask for help from our local Scout group to help Brian finish the project.”

Brian took the children around the garden and taught them about gardening and growing vegetables and in return the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts of 7th Bilton Scout group helped clear the garden and turn it into a wildlife haven.

“Just a week before we received the news of our success, Brian sadly passed away,” Lisa added.

"We wanted Bob and Brian to be part of this special moment, so we invited their families to collect the awards on our behalf.

"It was a heartfelt way to recognise the important part they both played in creating our garden and to ensure they were remembered as part of this wonderful achievement.

"These awards are not just a celebration of our garden, but a tribute to Bob and Brian, their enthusiasm, their contribution and the memories we made together.

"This achievement belongs to all of us, and Bob and Brian will always be part of our garden's story.”