Members of the Garden Centre Association have chosen to support three charities at the organisation’s annual conference this year.

Delegates attending the event in the Cotswolds will be able to take part in a GCA Charity Day this Sunday (January 28) as well as participate in a fundraising raffle during the week.

GCA CEO Peter Burks explains: “This year, we will be renaming our Sunday event as the ‘GCA Charity Day’. During the day, and across the whole conference, we will raise money for three worthy charities that work in our sector.

“For 2024, these will be Greenfingers, Perennial and The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation. In addition to the Sunday event, we will again be running a mega raffle, but this time in a slightly different format. During the conference, there will be envelopes placed at every seat and table. Everyone will have the opportunity to buy a ticket for the value that they feel most comfortable with.

“We’ll have our fundraising activities on the Sunday as normal and the day includes a tour of Associate Member Melcourt Industries’ growing media facilities followed by a tour of the Ramsbury Brewery and Distillery. We’ve a fundraising quiz hosted by Guy Topping at Ramsbury on Sunday night and have more than 60 people attending.

“Greenfingers aims to provide all life-limited children, their families, and carers, within their hospice, emotional support through the power and pleasure of nature. It creates beautiful, well-designed outdoor spaces for children to enjoy with their family, friends and siblings, whether through play and fun, or therapeutic rest and relaxation.

“The challenges and pressures facing people in horticulture are very real and today it has never been more important to look after our mental health and physical wellbeing. We all need a bit of extra support sometimes and Perennial can help you to stay mentally healthy and boost your wellbeing with access to free information and support.

“Now known as The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation, the David Colegrave Foundation was set up in 1993, following the death of seedsman, David Colegrave. During his career, David Colegrave took a keen interest in supporting and promoting the development of young people. Their patron is Alan Titchmarsh MBE.”

The GCA’s  2024 annual conference is being held at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel near Cirencester, Gloucestershire from this Sunday, January 28 until Wednesday, January 31.