Volunteer care home gardeners get party on Kindness Day

GREEN fingered volunteers have received a special thank you from care home residents and staff on Random Act of Kindness Day.

Patricia Paganelli and Geoff Spence have spent months transforming the garden at Ingleby Care Home, on Lamb Lane, Ingleby Barwick.

They cut back overgrown hedges, extended the flower beds, cut down overhanging tree branches and planted bulbs and flowers.

The home held a surprise pizza and prosecco party for the pair as part on Random Act of Kindness Day to say thank you for their hard work.

They also presented Patricia with a bouquet of flowers and Geoff with a crate of his favourite beer.

Patricia’s brother Paul Ewing has lived at Ingleby Care Home since September 2015. She said: “Thank you for the flowers.

“I love being out in the garden doing gardening. Plus, it makes it nice and colourful for the residents.

“It’s nice to see them waving to us from the windows, especially the residents upstairs on the dementia suite.”

Geoff is a friend of resident Edna Cook, who has lived at Ingleby Care home since February 2016. He said: “I only started chopping the trees and hedges back to make the garden brighter. It took 20 trips to the dump to get rid of all the cuttings.

“We put in a new compost bin and improved the smokers’ shelter. Then Pat jumped on board and started planting flowers and giving me more jobs but is all been worth it.

“Edna and Paul enjoy coming to sit and talk to us in the garden when it’s warm enough.”

Resident Sheila Coburn said: “It was a lovely party for Patricia and Geoff.

“What they’ve done to the garden is gorgeous and I can’t wait for the summer to be here so I can sit back and enjoy all the different colours.”

Carol Singleton, home manager at Ingleby Care Home, said: “Patricia and Geoff were both very surprised with the party. They didn’t have a clue. They thought they were attending a meeting.

“Random Act of Kindness Day was a great opportunity for us to officially thank them for their hard work. They’ve done an amazing job and the garden is looking fantastic.”