The Garden Re-Leaf Day Plant-athons this year will look to bring an added element of excitement to garden centres when they begin towards the end of next week (from 16^th March).  Featuring inter-store competitiveness, a father and son team, and tests of stamina and speed - this year’s participants will be looking to raise more than £23,000 for Greenfingers.

Supporting the event nationwide are Elho - supplying pots, and Floramedia – suppling labels – both boosting value to every plant being sold during and after the plant-athons.

Never one to rest on his laurels, the event’s founder Boyd Douglas-Davies (who on the day will be taking part in the Garden Re-Leaf Walk) is planning on upping the ante with ‘Mega-thons’ taking place in every one of his 11 Hillview stores.  But what is a Mega-thon?! 

Boyd explains: “This year I really wanted to get all my teams involved in the fundraising.  And because I’m so nice I decided I’d let them off the 24hr aspect… and get them all planting from 9am on Garden Re-Leaf Day!  Each Hillview store will plant 101 spring containers and then the race is on to see which store can sell them the fastest! As a group we’ll plant 1,111 containers so it’s going to be more than a grand effort!”

www.megathon.com

Orchard Park, who held their first Garden Re-Leaf Day last year, are pushing themselves further this year with the 24hr Plant-athon challenge. Managing Director Richard Cumming is going to be joined by his son Robbie Cumming of Hornby Whitefoot PR, who will be live streaming the event in his role as Garden Re-Leaf Day social media manager (@GardenReleaf on Twitter and on Facebook too – www.facebook.com/gardenreleaf). The father and son duo will be joined by other members of Orchard Park, including managers Gavin and Clairey, customers, family and friends - and George Bullivant from Gardenforum.co.uk. www.justgiving.com/orchiep-plantathon

Bob Hewitt (Klondyke) along with fellow Klondyke colleagues Abbie McHolm, David Yardley, David Abbott & Karen Feeney will once again be taking part, joined this year by fellow long term Greenfingers supporter and newly appointed ambassador for the charity, Andy Bunker of Alton Garden Centre.

All of the money raised from the plant-athons and many other Garden Re-Leaf Day events this year will once again go towards Greenfingers’ ‘A Million Moments Appeal’. Greenfingers aims to raise £1 million under the banner of the A Million Moments appeal over three years to enable at least 5,000 children who spend time in hospices, and their families, to enjoy spending precious time together outdoors.

Last chance to sign up

If you would like to set up a 24hr Plant-athon for your Garden Centre, there’s still time, but it’s running out!  Contact Linda in the Fundraising Team by email as soon as possible - linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or call the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749.  Alternatively, fill in this form on line - http://www.gardenreleaf.co.uk/register-an-event/

Check out the JustGiving Garden Re-Leaf fundraising event page here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/greenfingers/gardenreleafplantathon