A new orchard has been created at Norfolk-based residential service, 8 Acres, to celebrate its upgraded Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating, with a tree planted for every supported person.
The latest CQC Inspection in July rated 8 Acres – part of National Care Group, one of the leading adult social care providers in the UK – ‘Good’ in four areas, with a rating of ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring. The residential service worked tirelessly to improve its rating of ‘Inadequate’ in the previous report, which was issued four months earlier.
To mark the outstanding achievement, a total of 18 trees have been planted to create an ‘Outstanding Orchard’ within its spacious, leafy grounds, with a tree dedicated to every person living at 8 Acres. The trees were purchased locally from Toftwood Garden Centre, where the staff provided advice on which trees would be best suited for the environment.
The tree planting initiative is part of National Care Group’s ongoing commitment to the environment and its carbon reduction plan, with a goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050.
The official opening of the ‘Outstanding Orchard’ took place during a co-produced celebratory event, organised by National Care Group, 8 Acres, and contributions from supported people. Guests gathered outdoors as Jamie, a person supported by 8 Acres, and his mum proudly cut the ribbon to mark its opening.
As part of the co-produced event, people from 8 Acres decorated the area with letters which spell ‘GOOD’, covered in their drawings and photos of everything they love about their home.
Guests also enjoyed a video featuring supported people singing and dancing alongside their support workers to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.
Rachael Marriott is the Registered Manager at 8 Acres, who was appointed in March 2025. She said:
“It was a joy to celebrate our latest CQC rating at a special afternoon of celebrations alongside colleagues, the people we support, their relatives and social care professionals, and mark the official opening of our new orchard. I’m proud of our achievement, but we are all in agreement that we're aiming for a rating of Outstanding overall next time!”
National Care Group colleagues constantly strive to provide the highest standard of support possible, with quality at the heart of everything they do.
Karen Lewis, Chief Operational Officer of National Care Group, added:
“Our team at 8 Acres works extremely hard to get everything right, and it’s wonderful to see them get the recognition they deserve for the exceptional quality of service they are providing. The ‘Outstanding Orchard’ serves as a reminder of how they worked tirelessly to deliver a comprehensive action plan to turn around its CQC rating.”
National Care Group is one of the UK’s leading adult social care providers. We support adults with learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, acquired brain injuries, and autistic people, with services across England and Wales.
Registered in England, Company No. 10080257
Registered office: Suite 22, The Globe Centre, St James Square, Accrington, BB5 0RE
