Tiptree-based Perrywood Garden Centre presented cheques for more than £21,000 raised in 2019 to its its chosen charities of the year last week.

The recipients were Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, Kids Inspire and Greenfingers Charity.

Fund-raising activities included an afternoon tea party, quiz nights and raffles, a staff Christmas jumper day and creative challenge, as well as tours and talks to gardening groups.

A number of Perrywood's staff members also got involved. Team member Arif took on the ultimate challenge of a 100km trek across the Sahara Desert.

Others completed the Colchester Half Marathon (in March) and the Walk for Wards in Felixstowe (in July).

The centre has also been busy helping the local community. Instead of receiving tips, the coffee shop and restaurant team chose to give donations to Colchester Hospital. In March, the team donated £1,000 to purchase a year's supply of dominoes, playing cards, colouring pens, white boards and photo albums for dementia patients. In June, £1,500 was donated to the children's ward to purchase a games table and other activity equipment. In September, two children's cardiac recording machines costing £2,600 were purchased. Finally, over the festive season, the coffee shop & restaurant team raised a further £1,540 to purchase presents for patients at Colchester Hospital.

   On top of this, Perrywood donated more than £8,000 worth of plants, gardening equipment and gift vouchers to local schools and individuals, including sponsorship of the St Helena Hospice Gardening Group and the Growing Communities competition for schools.

Hannah Powell, communications and HR director at Perrywood, said the £21,050 raised easily exceeding their target. “We are extremely proud of all of our team's fundraising efforts and we couldn't thank our customers enough who have also played an important part of this achievement. We are delighted to be supporting Kids Inspire, Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals Charity and Greenfingers Charity once again in 2020 and we look forward to making a difference to these organisations throughout the year. Our first fundraising event will be the Greenfingers charity quiz night on Thursday 12 March.”