VISITORS to Nynehead Court and its grounds are greeted by the sight of two stunning Wellingtonia trees, standing at more than 30-feet tall. 

However, few will know how and when the trees came to be planted here. Now, one of the people involved has revisited the home, to see how the young trees planted more than 20 years ago have thrived. 

In 2001, as Wellington had entered a new millennium, officials at Wellington in Bloom decided to mark the occasion by planting 20 ‘Wellingtonia’ trees – one for each century and named after the Duke.

Because the trees could grow so tall, it was decided that they should be located on the perimeter of the town to dominate the skyline – Nynehead Court was a perfect location for this, alongside another care home, Wellington School, and several other notable locations.    

Isabel Ward with Alec Reed, former Head Gardener at Nynehead Court in 2001
Isabel Ward with Alec Reed, former Head Gardener at Nynehead Court in 2001 (Isabel Ward with Alec Reed, former Head Gardener at Nynehead Court in 2001 )

Nynehead Court’s current head gardener, Justin Cole, was an assistant gardener at the home at that time, and has strong memories of the trees’ arrival.

He said: “We had been entering Wellington in Bloom and had always done very well, so the chair, Isabel Ward, naturally thought of us to have two of these specimen trees to once again grace Wellington’s skyline for hundreds of years to come.

“Months beforehand we had been clearing and renovating the entrance with new pillars, and it was only right to plant the Wellingtonias in such a prime location.”

Last week the former chair of Wellington in Bloom, Isabel Ward, visited Nynehead Court to see how much the trees had grown.

The Nynehead Court Estate offers gracious retirement living for older people requiring residential or respite care or close care housing.  Set in 18 acres of parkland, it is registered to provide residential care for 44 people within the Court, and close care housing for 11 retirees/couples within the Mews.  Within the Court, the extremely popular Mulberry Lounge caters for those requiring more support, with a higher ratio of staff to residents. 

For further information about Nynehead Court or its events, please call the Home Manager Joanne Fenn on 01823 662481 or email [email protected] .