RESIDENTS at a Chester care home have joined children from a childminding group for a spook-tacular Halloween trip.

Deewater Grange on Chester Road accompanied youngsters from Nature's Nest, a childminding group, for an afternoon of pumpkin picking fun at Magical Malpas Pick Your Own Farm.

Residents Margaret Bugh, aged 89, Eileen Wagstaff, aged 82, and Sally Webster, aged 86, were delighted to welcome the children to help pick the best pumpkins for this year’s Halloween decorations at the home.

After picking their favourite ones, the pumpkins were placed in the home’s lounge to help everyone get into the spirit.

Chester and District Standard: Resident Margaret Bugh enjoying pumpkin picking with the children.Resident Margaret Bugh enjoying pumpkin picking with the children. (Image: Deewater Grange)

Commenting on the fun-filled day, Eileen said: "Every time I see the children it’s lovely, it makes my day – they all looked so cute in their pumpkin costumes I can't help saying aww!"

Margaret added: "I love seeing all the children, and we've started building friendships with them now. Having the children there with us made it extra special and the best part of my day was seeing how happy they were and watching them splash in the muddy puddles. It reminds me of when I was small!"

Sally Cooper, Home Manager at Deewater Grange, said: "Our pumpkin picking activity certainly got everyone into the spooky spirit in the lead up to Halloween. Here at Deewater Grange, we are always looking to plan interesting and exciting activities for residents, and Halloween gave us a great opportunity to organise some ‘hocus pocus’ fun with our younger friends.

"Special events like this one are a fang-tastic opportunity to encourage residents to reminisce. Many remember decorating their home, carving pumpkins with their children or helping pick a costume, and it was great to hear residents sharing their stories of Halloween’s past with the youngsters.

"We’d like to say a big thank you to Nature’s Nest for a wonderful afternoon and for helping us pick our gourd-geous new decorations. The pumpkins now feature in our front window and will certainly give passers-by ‘pumpkin to talk’ about this Halloween."

The state-of-the-art home in Chester provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care. Its design enables residents to live active lives and promotes independence with its own café, bar, cinema and salon.

For further information about Deewater Grange, contact Customer Relations Manager at Deewater Grange, Andrew Kenny, on andrew.kenny@careuk.com or call 01244 259480.

Or visit: www.careuk.com/care-homes/deewater-grange-chester.