The residents and care team at The Lawn, our Alton-based residential care home, are thrilled to be the home of the 2026 Holybourne Village Association’s (HVA) Community Summer Picnic and Fete and are looking forward to being part of the fun and inclusive community festival.
Following the sudden and unexpected cancellation of last year’s event due to the horrendous nationwide weather, Steve Swift, the Registered Manager at The Lawn said: “After last year’s event was cancelled due to the unprecedented and unpredicted bad weather, the residents and care team are all really happy that The Lawn is still the home of the HVA’s 2026 Community Summer Picnic and Fete and the venue of choice for the fantastic village event.
“In keeping with our commitment to support our residents to engage with, and be part of, the local community, being able to support our neighbours and be the venue for the 2026 Community Summer Picnic and Fete is wonderful.”
Taking Place on Saturday 4th July, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., the HVA’s Community Summer Picnic and Fete will have a family, festival feel with lots of fun activities, competitions and much more taking place. “We continue to be so very grateful to Steve and The Lawn Care Team for opening up their lovely grounds and allowing us to host our annual summer community event at the care home,” said Megan-Beth Millar, the organiser of the event.
“As in previous years, we have lots of things planned for the day, which won’t disappoint. We have a wide range of local artisan stalls selling a great range of products and gifts, delicious refreshments, entertainment and a fantastic line-up of activities taking place in the Fete’s arena – including different races and the traditional Village Tug O’ War competition – there really will be something for everyone to take part in and enjoy.”
“The residents thoroughly enjoy our community events and to be able to facilitate this year’s Summer Community Picnic and Fete is a wonderful way for them to interact and socialise with old friends, make new friends and enjoy a great community day with the fantastic people of Holybourne,” added Steve.
“It’s marvellous to be part of the local community, as The Lawn has been a fixture of the village for many, many years, continued Steve. “Before The Lawn became a care home, it was the home to the novelist, Elizabeth Gaskell who wrote a diversity of novels, short stories, and a biography; the most famous of her works being Mary Barton, North and South, Cranford, and Wives and Daughters and a biography of her friend, Charlotte Brontë, titled The Life of Charlotte Brontë.”
“It’s only a matter of weeks until The HVA Summer Community Picnic and Fete and we open our gardens for this fantastic and inclusive event. The residents are all looking forward to the day,” added Adesoji Odukomaiya, the Activity Coordinator at the care home.
“We have arranged for their own VIP area where they will be able to relax and watch all the activities, as well as chat and mingle with the visitors. They will be wearing special VIP rosettes and are taking active roles in the proceedings, acting as Judges for certain competitions as well.”
“Everyone at The Lawn is looking forward to celebrating the summer with our local community and supporting the HVA’s Summer Community Picnic and Fete. It’s a lovely chance for everyone at the care home to meet our neighbours, friends – old and new – and members of the local community.
“Being involved with the HVA’s Summer Community Picnic and Fete is excellent for the residents as it will provide additional social interactions and will be a vibrant environment for them to engage with new people and generations. They will be able to chat with the visitors and also the varied stallholders and the different conversations will help to keep their minds active and boost their moods. Additionally, by gently exercising whilst walking around the stalls, taking part in the activities and sitting outdoors in the fresh air, it will help to lower blood pressure as well.
“Finally, by being the venue for the event, it gives us a wonderful platform to showcase our beautiful care home and grounds and demonstrate just how compassionate and professional our care team is in supporting those they care for, every hour of every day,” concluded Steve.
Find out more about The Lawn care home by calling 01420 84162 or emailing [email protected].