Despite being apart, this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day saw the charity’s supporters come together like never before as it has been confirmed that the 2021 event has now raised in excess of £75,000!
From acts of endurance including mammoth walking, cycling, running and even skipping challenges, to virtual quizzes, head shaving, product donations, free design consultancy and mowing contests, this year’s event was full of incredible FUNdraising efforts from across the garden retail sector. Suppliers and retailers pulled together teams, that despite the challenges faced by the pandemic, managed to clock up thousands of miles, millions of steps, shaved heads, endless memories and a lifetime of smiles for this much-loved annual fundraising event, which also celebrated its 10th anniversary this March.
Special thanks goes to so many of this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day supporters, including AMES, Ann-Marie Powell, Boyd Douglas-Davies and the teams at British Garden Centres, Capi Europe, Deco-Pak, Evergreen Garden Care, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, GIMA, Glee, Growing Solutions, Hayloft Plants, Hornby Whitefoot PR, Hozelock, HTA, Kew Green Hotels, Klondyke, Millbrook Garden Centres, P de Jager, Perrywood Garden Centre, Plants 2 Gardens, Poplars Garden Centre, Primeur, Primrose Hill Nurseries, QVC, Richard Jacksons Garden, Scotscape, Sims Garden Machinery, Stihl, The Garden Design Consultancy, the Greenfingers team, and Thompson and Morgan.
Boyd Douglas-Davies, founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day said: “When the idea for Garden Re-Leaf Day formed 10 years ago, I had no idea that the event would become a much-loved event on the industry’s calendar. To date the effort of all those that have supported Garden Re-Leaf Day over the years has helped to raise in excess of £775,000 which is a such a fantastic number. From myself, the Greenfingers Charity team and all those children, families and carers that have benefited from a Greenfingers garden, thank you. We are so grateful for your ongoing support and enthusiasm to support the Greenfingers Charity’s flagship fundraiser.”
Talking about the 2021 event, Greenfingers Chairman, Sue Allen said: “On Garden Re-Leaf Day I along with my daughter Tammy and two other crazy ladies from Millbrook Garden Centres decided to Brave the Shave! In bright sunshine, but with a brisk breeze around the ears, members of our families took secret delight in shaving our heads to raise money to support the work of the charity. We are thrilled that losing our lockdown locks raised an incredible £20,000.
“I personally, as Chairman, am even more thrilled that so many of you contributed to such an amazing Garden Re-leaf fund-raising total when our normal income streams are hampered. What a great lot you are, coming up with so many daft and ambitious ways to raise those precious pounds.
“Thank you to everyone who contributed, but a particular mention for the generosity of Barton Grange that really spurred Tammy and I to greater heights (or shorter lengths!) and inspired us both to increase our personal FUNdraising target of £10k to £20k. When you consider a garden can cost anything from £60,000, that puts it into perspective.”
Sue’s sentiments were echoed by Deco-Pak’s Craig Hall, who is also a Greenfingers ambassador and long-term supporter of Garden Re-Leaf Day. He said: “Garden Re-Leaf Day has always been a key date in our diary, but we knew this year was going to be a little different due to the ongoing pandemic. Couple this with the fact that 2021 marks Garden Re-Leaf’s 10th anniversary and we knew we had to do something big, and something that brought the team together despite like never before.
“I am incredibly proud of the Deco-Pak team and what we have achieved together and are so grateful to everyone that has already donated to our fundraising efforts. Thank you to each and every one of you. It really does make all the difference when the tiredness is kicking in!”
Paul North, Managing Director of AMES, added: “We at AMES were humbled by the effort put forth by the team to support Garden Re-Leaf Day; a great event raising money for a worthwhile cause.”
Also speaking about the event, Mark Portman, Evergreen Garden Care’s Managing Director said: “Evergreen Garden Care really enjoyed Garden Re-Leaf Day from walking to cycling, horse riding to running and, of course, the quiz! We recognise the importance and more so this year to step away from our usual place of work and step into nature. As always, it’s a real pleasure to support Greenfingers through Garden Re-Leaf Day and for all the colleagues across Evergreen we recorded an incredible 1,410,580 steps, as well as meeting our fundraising goal.”
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers echoed Boyd’s sentiments, saying; “We can’t thank the industry enough for pulling out all the stops to get involved, especially in a year that has really challenged many of us. The funds raised from this year’s event will be put to very good use as we work towards giving the gift of a garden to more children’s hospices across the UK, including: Ty Hafan in Wales, Haven House in Essex, The Nook in East Anglia, Jigsaw Children’s Hospice in Carlisle and Derian House in Chorley.”
The date for next year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day is Friday 18th March!
Find out more
To find out more about the wonderful work the Greenfingers Charity undertakes please join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.
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For more information, interviews or images from Garden Re-Leaf Day please contact:
Linda Petrons by email linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or call 07908 221240.
Kimberley Hornby by email: kimberley@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk or call 07851 610573.