The Golden Garden: Building community through generational connection

With support from the Cross Keys Community Fund, Essex Freemasons help link a nursery and a residential home through a shared outdoor space

The Cross Keys Community Fund (CKCF) in Essex has once again demonstrated the powerful impact of community engagement by funding the creation of a garden linking Stifford Clays Nursery School with its long-time neighbour, St. Anne’s Residential Home.

For many years, the children of Stifford Clays Nursery would visit St. Anne’s to share drawings, cakes, and stories with the residents, affectionately known as the ‘Nannies and Grandads’. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the UK between 2020 and 2021, this much-loved weekly tradition was sadly brought to a halt due to the increased health risks faced by elderly residents.

Determined not to let this vital connection fade, staff and volunteers have spent the past few years nurturing the garden space that sits between the two facilities. The vision was simple yet powerful: to create a safe, open-air environment where the children and residents could once again come together, protected from the health risks of indoor contact while still enjoying the benefits of companionship, conversation, and shared experiences.

Thanks to funding from the Cross Keys Community Fund and the tireless efforts of its dedicated volunteers, that vision became a reality on Thursday 10th July 2025.

The garden was officially opened by Deputy Mayor Steve Liddiard, with over 50 children, residents, teachers, and volunteers gathering in the sunshine to celebrate. The children drew portraits of the residents and read them stories, while CKCF volunteers David Barton and Chris Bushell served cakes and refreshments, assisting to create a truly memorable and uplifting occasion for all involved.

What stood out most were the genuine, joyful connections that sparked instantly between the generations. Laughter echoed through the garden as children proudly presented their drawings, listened intently to stories from the past, and asked questions with wide-eyed curiosity. In return, residents beamed with delight, many moved by the energy, warmth, and spontaneity of their young visitors.

“I haven’t laughed this much in years,” said one resident. “The children were full of questions and smiles; it felt like life had been poured back into the place. It reminded me how much we all need each other, young and old alike.”

A nursery teacher echoed the sentiment, noting how naturally the children embraced their older neighbours, proving that friendship, fun, and shared moments of joy know no age.

Deputy Mayor Liddiard expressed his sincere thanks to the Essex Freemasons and the volunteers who worked so diligently to bring the project to life.

CKCF Chairman and Essex Community Engagement Lead, David Barton, echoed those sentiments:

“What a wonderful morning. This garden is more than just a shared space; it’s a symbol of what community engagement can achieve when we come together with purpose.

Volunteering is about giving time, but it’s also about building bridges between people, generations, and experiences. Watching the children and older residents connect through stories, laughter, and simple kindness reminds us all why these efforts matter.”

Photos:

Top: L-R CKCF Chris Bushel, Councillor Cathy Sisterson, Deputy Mayor Steven Liddiard, CKCF David Barton, School Volunteer with some Nursery school children

Below: Left: The garden Right: Deputy Mayor Steve Liddiard and Councillor Cathy Sisterson