Greenfingers has said Garden Re-Leaf Day on 22 March was a success, as the garden industry and charity supporters came together to create a thriving day of activities and fundraising events. Whilst the final total is yet to be announced, it has been confirmed that over £50k has already been pledged.
The current total raised for The Garden Re-Leaf sponsored walk is £12,000 and Greenfingers has said this figure is rising.
Over 120 people from garden retailers, suppliers and manufacturers along with teams from outside the garden industry walked a sponsored 5,10 or 20-mile circuit through the Buckinghamshire countryside on the annual Garden Re-Leaf Walk. Starting and ending at World’s End Garden Centre in Wendover – for the second year running - the participants were put through their paces on a walk through the beautiful Buckingham countryside. Teams from Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Vitax, Hozelock, Great British Cards, Elho, GIMA, HTA, DAC Ltd, Taylors Bulbs, Poplars Garden Centre, DLF Trifolium, Glee, Teleflex, Hornby Whitefoot PR and Kew Green Hotels donned their walking boots for the scenic route, taking in some stunning sights along the way.
This year saw the second Garden Re-Leaf Cycle Challenge with int 29 intrepid bike enthusiasts donning their lycra before taking on the endurance test of 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles with Steve Burden, one of the industry’s best loved photographers the first across the finish line.
Haskins and Thurrock Garden Centre both held a special raffle for customers, whilst Ayletts held a special Goodwill Coffee Morning in its Dahlia Coffee House, where visitors enjoyed a hot drink and fun tombola to win prizes. CW Groves Nurseries also held a coffee morning, plus a special Gardeners Question Time for customers to learn more and get answers to their burning questions.
The theme of quizzes and questions continued at the Old Railway Line and Poplars Garden Centre, with Curry & Quiz Nights, whilst over at Paradise Park, and Altons garden centres, customers were treated to a gardening quiz amongst other activities. Perrywood also hosted a sold-out quiz night.
On the day Whitehall Garden Centres donated £1 from the sale of every hot drink and cupcake sold in the restaurant, with a donation of £1 for every planter also sold. A 50p donation from every coffee or tea sold was pledged by the team at Klondyke and Strikes Garden Centre.
The Blue Diamond team confirmed that £5 from the sale of every Fryers ‘Friend’ rose – the Greenfingers Charity Rose - would be donated on the day, with £1 donated thereafter.
Over at Coolings Nurseries a Behind-the Scene nursery tour took place, with donations from plant sales winging its way to Greenfingers.
The team at the Garden Store/ Hillview Garden Centres, went ‘green’ for the day, whilst Longacres held a sponsored Static Cyclotron at its Bagshot centre.
On 23 March the team at Rowan Garden Centre took inspiration from the Garden Re-Leaf walk and donned their walking boots for a special charity fundraising walk.
Squires Garden Centres kept the momentum going with its Create and Grow Mother’s Day Planting Weekend (29 – 31 March), with donations from the event going straight to the Greenfingers charity. Another centre making the most of the spring rush will be Sunshine Garden Centre, which will be running special Muddy Boots Gang Children’s activities throughout March. Each session costs £5, with all money raised being donated to Greenfingers.
Leading supplier, STIHL, held a Garden Re-Leaf barbeque and car wash on April 2, whilst Rolawn Ltd hosted various events on March 22 including a ‘Mucky Dip’ and cake sale.
Mr Fothergill’s smashed its £10,000 target with a range of activities including the Garden Re-Leaf Cycle Challenge, and in-house static bike ride which saw the team stack up 167 miles between them. Other activities included a bake sale and the ‘mushy pea challenge’.
The QVC family also continued its support throughout the Garden Re-Leaf weekend, with a £1.50 donation from every plant or product sold during a special Garden Re-Leaf/ Greenfingers show. Presented by Richard Jackson and Simon Biagi, the weekend of programming attracts thousands of viewers, and more importantly, buyers.
Finally, teams from Norton Park Hotel will be holding a summer fete in the hotel grounds on May 27, with all donations going to the Greenfingers Charity. Elsewhere the amazingly supportive team from Kew Green Hotel’s Holiday Inn Chester South site, donned their walking boots to walk to the summit of Mount Snowdon, which stands at an impressive 1,085m.
Head of fundraising and communications, Linda Petrons said: “I cannot thank people enough for their ongoing support and dedication to making Garden Re-Leaf Day such a continued success. Early indications show that we are on track to raise in excess of £70,00 – a truly incredible achievement. I am endlessly touched by the generosity, creativity and selflessness that so many demonstrate, both on Garden Re-Leaf Day, and throughout the year. Every penny makes a huge difference to those that use Greenfingers funded-gardens, so on behalf of them, and my team, the biggest possible thank you.”
David Carey leads the way