It seems the start of the gardening year is no longer Easter. Instead it’s Garden Re-Leaf Day, this year Friday March 17, when this industry-wide initiative jump starts the gardening year with exciting sales promotions and fundraising events that benefit Greenfingers Charity.
Last year it raised more than £140,000 for the charity that, on our behalf, builds recreational and therapeutic gardens in the grounds of children’s hospices. This year Garden Re-Leaf Day is to be held on Friday March 17 when teams of industry walkers, and, the organisers hope, the public, are doing the 10 mile or 20 mile route from Scotsdales Garden Centre site at Horningsea via Cambridge city centre and the garden of Jesus College, to one of their other garden centre sites at Shelford. Spaces are still available, so why not dust down your walking shoes and join the team at Horningsea for the start?
Many other garden centres have agreed to carry out a 24-hour long Plant-athon to raise funds and as a result gain publicity for their outlets and the gardening industry. Already we hear that Bob Hewitt and the senior team at Klondyke are prepared to work all night planting up display pots for their customers to buy. There are also garden centre teams holding Garden Tea Party events throughout the 24 hour period which will all command equal publicity and help staff team-building at the start of the season.
Other big supporters of Garden Re-Leaf include Richard Jackson, QVC and his many plant suppliers who will sell throughout that weekend to raise funds for Greenfingers Charity. Many suppliers provide valuable support with special Greenfingers Charity products and promotions. These include Gardman, Briers, Cadix, Hozelock and Deco-Pak. Another industry-wide initiative called ‘Turn Old into Gold’, that disposes of old stock, is supported by the valuable distribution help received from Decco.
Details of all these initiatives and more can be found on the website www.GardenReLeaf.co.uk.
Email Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to find out more or to get your event posted and supported.
