Charlie Dimmock visits Willow Grange residents

Green fingered residents and visitors to David Wilson Retirement Homes’ Willow Grange in the market town of Wantage, were thrilled last week when Charlie Dimmock paid a visit to official launch the development.

The gardening expert and TV presenter visited Willow Grange to wow everyone with a gardening demonstration and tree planting to officially mark the launch of the development.

Residents and visitors enjoyed light refreshments whilst Charlie, most famous for featuring in the BBC’s Ground Force, put her planting skills into practice with an array of flowers and plants explaining how they are looked after.

Charlie happily answered a range of questions from the residents and visitors who were delighted at being able to quiz the gardening queen.

The location is perfectly convenient to keep your independence with shops and amenities nearby and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds are taken care of by the house manager, so there’s no need for external DIY or maintaining a garden. Extras such as building insurance, window cleaning etc all included as well.

Wantage nestles just 13 miles from the spires of Oxford, and is surrounded by the glorious countryside of the Vale of the White Horse. The town is based around a large square which features a statue of the town’s most famous resident, King Alfred the Great, who was born there in the 9th century.

On the last Saturday of every month, scores of traders gather in the square for the farmers’ market and there is a town market every week. A month long festival of music and arts is held in June and July, with plenty of opportunities to participate. There is also a Dickensian Evening before Christmas, when shops open late and the Town Mayor and Town Crier lead the townspeople and visitors around the town.

The retired community is well catered for, as local groups include the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Round Table, WI, WRVS and University of the Third Age (UTA). Sports clubs include Wantage Bowling Club and Frilford Heath, Drayton Park and Carswell Golf Clubs. There are home library services and free newspaper tapes for blind and partially sighted people.

For further details of homes at Willow Grange, log on to dwh.co.uk/retirementhomes.