Gardening
Features
Plots of gold
Finding a retirement property with its own garden can be difficult. David Hoppit looks at some developments where you can get dirt under your fingernails
Leaving behind the family home, with its garden and the tree planted as a conker when the children were toddlers, is surely one of the hardest decisions most of us will ever have to take; sentiment rules most of our lives.
Figures released by McCarthy & Stone show that more than four million older home owners rattle around in what is called "under occupied" property…that is with two or more unused bedrooms. More often than not however it is the garden that ties people, rather than mere bricks and mortar.
There are now many wonderful retirement developments within glorious landscaped grounds, but true gardeners can't bear to walk past a rose that needs dead-heading or a thistle that needs removing. They want to get dirt under their fingernails, do some digging and swap seedlings with friends.
"If an artist can't paint any more does he ask someone else to do it for him? Of course not - and it's the same with a keen gardener," exclaims John Calvert, who recently moved with his wife Joan from their home of 44 years close to Winchester, with its half acre of garden, to a nearby English Courtyard Association home with their own small yet private garden
Joan added: "We spent all our time in the garden and loved every moment. It was never a chore because we were always planning for it to be even better next season - indeed our last year there was the best ever.
"John and I were simply not prepared to sit back and watch someone else do the gardening for us so we decided to leave on a high and move up the road. In fact it was so close that we were able to move some of our favourite plants there by wheelbarrow!"
The ECA, one of the pioneers in specialist retirement developments, has always prided itself on landscaping and the company scoops gold medals galore in nationwide competitions such as the New Homes Garden Awards.
However, it not only provides residents with communal and private gardens in which to sit, whenever possible it also allows space for allotments.
No fewer than 14 of ECA's developments across southern England have allotments and there is a waiting list for a plot all but one of them.
Typical of their residents is Margaret Brown, a resident at one of the Kent developments. She declares: "I just love getting out in the fresh air and digging. Most of us have always had gardens and the itch is still with us - and you simply can't beat fresh vegetables."
Margaret, a youthful 76, says she and her neighbours are regularly to be seen beavering away on the plots, swapping ideas and plants and enjoying the social side of gardening.
Since 1981 a company called Retirement Villages has provided a full range of activities, including gardens and allotments, for diverse groups of those they name Goty's (getting older, thinking younger), many of whom still work as consultants or with charities.
Managing director Jon Gooding comments: "Until recently older residents of the Vera Lynn and Mantovani generation considered central heating and fitted carpets as luxuries. Now, for the baby-boomer Beatles and Rolling Stones era customers have higher aspirations."
These aspirations, however, include cultivating their own few rods, poles and perches; and the company encourages residents to do as much or as little as they wish in the gardens and surrounding flower meadows and hedgerows.
"We are pleased if they wish to join in. The rule is 'only if you want to' - but many do," added Jon.
Typical of these green fingered grown-ups is Pauline Barker, now aged 76, who moved to the company's Elmbridge Village, in Cranleigh, Surrey, when widowed some 10 years ago, leaving behind a half acre garden and three greenhouses.
"I don't know what I would do without my allotment here - it has been a life saver for me and gives a great sense of well-being. Most of our allotment holders are well into their 70s and 80s and we have one 90-year-old who still does all her own digging," said Pauline.
"We are out here all year round, weather and daylight permitting. Sometimes we do rather more talking than working, but it's a great social life here, exchanging plants and ideas."
Despite the drought last summer Pauline and her friends grew splendid raspberries and blackcurrants and abundant leeks, runner beans, onions and courgettes. She is chairman of the Elmbridge allotment committee, which is responsible for 30 plots, plus two fish ponds and seats for those who just want to sit and watch the flowers and vegetables grow.
Of course there is not always sufficient space for individual flower and vegetable gardens, but retirement developments are usually built in central locations close to shops, doctors, station and, of course, allotments.
Ted and Barbara Salter found the perfect compromise when they found the garden at their home in Ashbocking was becoming too much of a chore. They moved to a McCarthy & Stone development in Ipswich, Holme Oaks Court, which is a 150 yard stroll from the allotments. They and other residents pay just £15 a year to the town council for their perfect patch.
Ted, aged 75, explained: "The allotment is easier than a garden because vegetables require less attention than lawns and flower beds. We enjoy growing our own produce and do only as much work as we want to do. If I'm not in the mood I don't feel guilty if I leave it unattended for a day or two," he explained.
Another developer that targets the active and more affluent older generation is Beechcroft, which places enormous importance on the value of gardens, both communal and private, encouraging its residents to do as much or as little pruning, digging and weeding as they want, even in the communal areas, with the obvious caution that "original designs are not compromised".
Angela South, marketing director, said: "Most of our residents are extremely active, enjoying both the leisure facilities we provide and continuing their interest in gardening. The urge to potter in the garden doesn't diminish and we think the small private areas that we provide at most of our cottages are the right size to be manageable without becoming a burden or a tie."
An added bonus is that if the owners want to get away from it all on that long-promised world cruise, their private garden will be maintained for them while they are away.
One of the most exciting retirement developments is shortly to be built at the Cliveden Estate in Taplow, Berkshire, where those aged 55-plus will have the freedom to roam the National Trust's heart stopping gardens and grounds and, if they choose, potter on their own patch.
The developer plans 135 new houses and apartments on the site of the derelict Canadian Red Cross military hospital and income generated by the scheme will help the National Trust to restore and preserve the mansion, built in 1851 by Charles Barry, as well as its 400 acres of woods and parkland. The mansion was once the home of Waldorf and Nancy Astor and was visited by many members of the royal family over the years. It was also, of course, the setting for a certain scandal in the 1960s which became known as the Profumo Affair.
Chris Crook, of Countryside Properties, says: "I had a sort of 'Road to Damascus' experience not long ago when I visited one of our customers and saw for myself what he had achieved in the relatively small garden. It was the most spectacular display of plants I had seen and it made me realise that manageable gardens and outdoor space are vitally important to retirees of all ages."
Residents at Cliveden Village will have their own space to develop and plant, but the "gardeners" for the bulk of the grounds will be the National Trust. Now that's what I call a good arrangement.
English Courtyard: 0800 919 132 www.englishcourtyard.co.uk
McCarthy and Stone: 0800 919 132 www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk
Cliveden Village: 01628 666632 www.clivedenvillage.co.uk
Richmond Villages: 0845 607 6405 www.richmondcarevillage.co.uk
