Green Gates Care Home, located on Hernes Road in Oxford, welcomed a variety of animals from Farms2ewe, including lambs, a pony, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, and baby chicks.

Residents and staff enjoyed interacting with the animals in both the home’s lounges and gardens, offering opportunities for petting, cuddles, and learning fun facts from the visiting farmer.

Sharon Lamb, home manager at Green Gates, said: “Interacting with animals play such an important part of our residents’ lives.

“They all love giving our animal friends a cuddle and learning lots of new fun facts.

“You could see the happiness and excitement on everyone’s faces, it was a truly heartwarming experience.”

Many residents reminisced about childhood pets and shared stories about their love of animals, with the visit prompting laughter and conversation throughout the day.

Margaret Buchnan, a resident at the care home, said: “It’s the best activity we have ever done.”

Relatives and staff also expressed their delight at the event.

A relative named Vivienne said: “It was wonderful to see and lovely that everyone got involved.”

Farms2ewe is a family-run mobile farm based on the Wessex Downs near Newbury.

The company has been providing animal therapy visits to care homes for many years, bringing all the fun of the farm to people of all ages across the region.

Cakes of Curiosity, based in Oxfordshire, took home the title for Cakes and Sweet Treats at the Guides for Brides Customer Service Awards 2026.

The annual awards, hosted by one of the UK’s leading wedding planning platforms, celebrate outstanding customer experience across the wedding industry.

Winners are chosen based on real reviews, service excellence, and consistent delivery of exceptional service.

Cakes of Curiosity was selected from hundreds of businesses nationwide for its high ratings and glowing feedback.

Nikita Thorne, head of strategy at Guides for Brides, said: “Couples are entering the wedding planning process more informed and more discerning than ever before, and they expect genuine care, clear communication and consistency at every touchpoint.

“This year’s awards have highlighted just how many businesses are rising to meet that expectation.

“From our winners and highly commended recipients to every finalist, we’ve seen a shared dedication to going above and beyond for couples, creating experiences that feel personal, seamless and memorable.”

Cakes of Curiosity stood out for their commitment to delivering a seamless and supportive experience for couples, reflected in consistently high review ratings and glowing feedback from real weddings.

One couple said: “We booked Cakes of Curiosity for our wedding cake after meeting Melanie at a Wedding Fair as we knew there would be no one better for our special day and Melanie proved us right in every possible way.

“Every single tier looked absolutely stunning and tasted even better than we could have imagined.

“Melanie even perfectly catered to our gluten-free guest by creating him his own mini cake, which tasted just as amazing as the main event!”

“She made the whole process feel so special and the time, care and attention to detail Melanie puts into her work is unmatched.

“Choosing Melanie as our cake maker was without a doubt one of the very best decisions we made for the entire wedding.”

Cakes of Curiosity said: “I can not fully explain what winning this award means to me. I work incredibly hard to combine exceptional craftsmanship with a consistently attentive and professional service.

“I understand that choosing a wedding cake is about more than just design and flavour – it’s about trust, reassurance, and feeling supported throughout the journey.

“Above all, I genuinely care. Each cake is created with passion, pride, and a commitment to excellence, treating every wedding as if it were my own.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that this has resonated with my wonderful couples.”

Mandy Barnes, who works at Hempton Field in Chinnor, joined Barchester Healthcare in April 2001 and has spent a quarter-century supporting residents and their families.

She received a 25 Year Service Award in recognition of her long-standing contribution.

Adele Keenan, employee services director at Barchester, said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Mandy Barnes has achieved this milestone.”

Tyisa Houghton, general manager at Hempton Field, praised Ms Barnes’ commitment.

She said: “She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year.”

Hempton Field is part of Barchester Healthcare, which operates care homes and hospitals across the UK, focusing on personalised care and support.