Gardeners across the country will be able to take part in a range of fund-raising events at their local garden centre on Friday 27th March and across the weekend as part of Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day – the garden industry’s national fundraising day organised by Greenfingers, a charity that creates magical gardens for children’s hospices. Last year 230 garden centres took part, holding special events to raise £60,000 for the Greenfingers’ Rosy Cheeks Appeal. The appeal, now in its final year, aims to raise a total of £750,000 to create ten new gardens.
Here are just some of the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day events happening in each region on the 27th March 2015, unless stated otherwise. Anyone interested in finding out more about what’s on near them, can visit www.gardenreleaf.co.uk for continually updated events listings.
National
Gardener’s Question Time quiz
Well known gardening personalities from TV and radio have recorded a special quiz for Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day, which will be run as a fund-raising event by dozens of garden centres across the country. Christine Walkden, Chris Beardshaw, Anne Swithinbank, Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, Matthew Biggs, (Greenfingers Chairman) Matthew Wilson and Eric Robson, will reverse their normal roles by asking the questions instead of answering them! The recordings will feature on a CD that is part of a fundraising pack being purchased by garden centres and gardening societies to raise money for Greenfingers.
Thames Path walk
Prominent members of the gardening industry will participate in a 20 mile walk along the Thames Path walkway in London. Starting at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre near Sidcup, and ending at Clifton Nurseries in Little Venice, the 27 plus team of walkers will each be aiming to raise £500 each. Anyone from the horticultural world and beyond are welcome to take part, just contact sarah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk. If you would like to make a donation please visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/greenfingersgardenreleafthameswalk/
Richard Jackson’s popular QVC gardening programme will dedicate 6 hours of the programme, spread across two days, to fundraising for Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day (broadcast dates TBC). This year, products will include outdoor plants from Unwins such as Impatiens, Roses and Rhododendrons with £1.50 donated from each unit sold.
Glovies
What began as a fun social media idea hopes to become a record breaker on Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day, as garden centre teams and their customers across the country are being encouraged to don pairs of green gloves and pose for a picture to raise awareness of the charity. Uploaded onto Twitter or Instagram, pictures containing the hashtag #Glovies will all be counted after the event. Glove manufacturers are supporting ‘Glovies’, with Briers having produced special Greenfingers gloves (with 35p donated from each pair sold).
Example events around the UK:
North West
Gordale Home & Garden in Cheshire are teaming up with their local gym to take part in a sponsored bike ride challenge to see how far they can cycle in one day. There will be spot prizes for staff that ride furthest, fastest or take the steepest hill, and also booby prizes for slowest. Customers will have the chance to win a prize by guessing how far the team will ride.
Bents Garden & Home – also in Cheshire, will start their Garden Re-Leaf activities early on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd March, with fun activities like face painting, treasure hunt for the kids, and the plant doctor on call to attend to customers’ horticultural ailments.
North East
Langlands Garden Centre in Shiptonthorpe, Yorkshire are holding a Tombola of small and large, low and high value gardening prizes.
South West
Orchard Park Garden Centre in Dorset will host a gardening themed cake sale, the chance to win a tree for the garden and a competition for children that involves growing the fastest growing seedlings in the funniest container. On the Saturday (28th March) they will host a great Easter Egg hunt for children and launch a planting area, to mark the start of the holidays and raise further funds for Greenfingers.
Haskins in Ferndown will host an in store raffle of gardening gifts with all proceeds going to Greenfingers.
South East
White Stores in Wickford, Essex will donate 10% of their net sales to Greenfingers from 8:30am until 5pm on the day. Whether customers purchase instore, online or by telephone – all will be added to the total.
Aylett Nurseries in St Albans will be holding the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day celebrity quiz on the evening of the 26th March, with wine and cheese being served to teams of six. Doors open at 6:30pm for 7pm start, £5 per person.
Paradise Park in Newhaven, East Sussex will be selling special green cupcakes in the coffee shop, with staff in fancy dress and the Garden Re-Leaf gardening quiz in the evening. The centre will also be running the Loose Change promotion, with proceeds from the sales of specially stickered products going to Greenfingers.
Poplars Garden Centre, in Toddington, Bedfordshire are hosting the Garden Re-Leaf Quiz as part of a fundraising evening that includes supper. Tickets are £30 per team of four, and participants are welcome to bring their own bottle and nibbles. Starts 7.30pm.
Milbrook Garden Centre, in Crowborough, East Sussex will be having a coffee morning from 9:30am to 11:30am. The staff are all getting involved, baking cakes for sampling and sale, with all proceeds going to Greenfingers.
Blackbrooks Garden Centre, near Battle, East Sussex are holding a raffle, getting staff to wear fancy dress and offering a free coffee or tea on purchasing a cake and making a donation.
Haskins – the Angmering branch will host an in store raffle of gardening gifts with all proceeds going to Greenfingers. Other Haskins stores, Ferndown, Roundstone and West End are also taking part, with the Snowhill store in Crawley also featuring staff in fancy dress.
Longacres Garden Centre, in Bagshot, Surrey are starting early with a large raffle featuring over 20 prizes to be won on the week before (Thursday 19th March). Fundraising through food tastings and other small attractions will take place as usual on Garden Re-Leaf Day itself.
Thetford Garden Centre’s staff will all be wearing green on Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day, welcoming visitors to enjoy a dog fun day, with games, competitions, a cake stall and a huge raffle. Donations from selected plants and green gloves will add to the funds being raised for Greenfingers on the day.
Perrywood Garden Centre in Tiptree, Essex are also planning a cheese and (bring your own) wine themed evening with a general knowledge quiz – for more information and team registration details go to: www.perrywood.co.uk/greenfingersquiz2015
Midlands
From 7pm, Bosworths Garden Centre, in Kettering, Northants will be hosting the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz – sign up your team at www.bosworthsgc.co.uk/releafquiz.
Wales
Old Railway Line Garden Centre, Brecon, Powys are having a quiz and curry night, to take place in the Railway Restaurant from 6.30pm. Teams of up to 6 can enter, with tickets at £10 per person available by calling the garden centre on 01497 847055. Tickets include curry (alternative meal available) and £120 worth of gift vouchers as a prize for the winning team. Other fundraising activities will take place during the day, with a ‘wellie throwing challenge’, raffle and a ‘soak the boss’ wet sponge throwing stall – all at £1 a go and with opportunities to win a variety of prizes.
For more information, interviews or images regarding Garden Re-Leaf Day please contact:
Robbie Cumming, Whitefoot PR
T: 07765 251173
E: robbie@whitefootpr.co.uk