Care home residents were treated to a talk from garden expert and BBC TV personality.

Charlie Dimmock, presenter of BBC’s Garden Rescue, spent the afternoon at Stour Gate care home on Barley Place in Blandford, where she shared tips and tricks on creating potted plant displays for balconies and small spaces.

Guests were then gathered in the lounge for a catch up and photos with the presenter whilst enjoying a glass of bubbly.  

The event was inspired by a recent study by McCarthy Stone, which revealed that gardening is one of the top three favourite hobbies for retirees, alongside photography and walking.

Charlie Dimmock said: “I was delighted to be invited to Stour Gate to meet homeowners and their guests and share my passion for gardening with them.

“I was amazed by the level of enthusiasm shown by everyone, especially now that summer is fast approaching. I had a fantastic time and I really hope I’ve been able to shed some light on how they can easily transform their outdoor spaces.”

Verity McKay, Divisional Marketing Manager at McCarthy Stone, said: “The event was a huge success and our guests thoroughly enjoyed meeting Charlie and learning about garden care. On behalf of the team and our homeowners at Stour Gate, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Charlie for making it such a memorable experience.”

 “At McCarthy Stone, we offer a range of activities tailored to our homeowners’ interests, from knitting and gardening to film nights and themed lunches.”