Garden centres across the UK are putting the final preparations in place for their Garden Re-Leaf Day events on Friday, March 14. The third, annual gardening industry initiative will see hundreds of garden retailers and suppliers working together towards a fun, fund-raising weekend that is also designed to pull in gardening customers after the wet winter months.
From celebrity gardener talks, quizzes and treasure hunts to competitions, planting lessons and sponsored challenges, Garden Re-Leaf Day will offer gardeners plenty to get involved in. Many garden product and plant brands have also created special on-pack offers, promotions, displays and donation opportunities at garden centres nationwide to help raise further funds. All proceeds will go to Greenfingers, Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nominated charity for 2014.
The highlight at many garden centres will be a ‘star-studded’, fund-raising Garden Re-Leaf Day Gardening Quiz event for customers. Featuring questions specially pre-recorded by celebrities including Hollywood star Jude Law, Dr Who actor David Tennant, Skyfall actress Naomie Harris, EastEnders stars Danny Dyer and Patsy Palmer, Ballykissangel star Dervla Kirwan, and impressionist Alistair McGowan, the proceeds of quiz ticket sales will go towards the cause.
ITV gardener David Domoney and BBC science presenter and botanist James Wong will be making personal appearances at garden centres as part of the Garden Re-Leaf Day weekend. QVC viewers can also tune in to gardening guru Richard Jackson’s popular gardening product shows on March 15 and 16, to help raise money for the charity with every item sold.
Greenfingers is a small, nationwide charity dedicated to building gardens in children’s hospices around the UK. It has created 42 magical hospice gardens since its inception and has more children’s hospices who need its help. Since the first Garden Re-Leaf Day in March 2012, the volunteer-organised event has raised more than £116,000 for Greenfingers; enabling several life-enhancing hospice gardens to be created.
In 2014 Garden Re-Leaf Day monies will go towards the Greenfingers ‘Rosy Cheeks’ appeal – which aims to raise £750,000 over two years to fund the creation of at least ten more children’s hospice gardens; giving children and families who use the hospices a chance to spend precious time together in a natural, beautiful environment.
Gardening broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh was one of the first to support Garden Re-Leaf Day before its launch in 2012. “You've heard of Comic Relief and Sports Relief... now the garden industry has its own version, Garden Re-Leaf,” he said. “It could become the biggest event in the gardening calendar."
Organisations such as The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) and The Garden Centre Association (GCA) are also active supporters of the day. Sector suppliers including Scotts Miracle-Gro, Mr Fothergill’s, William Sinclair, Westland Horticulture, Kelkay, Solus, Smart Solar, Richard Jackson’s Flower Power, Pleydell Smithyman, Bon Bon’s, Neudorff, Gardman and Briers gave financial donations towards Garden Re-Leaf Day’s marketing ‘fighting fund’.
“We are thrilled that so many garden centres and suppliers will be making the most of Garden Re-Leaf Day 2014,” confirmed Garden Re-Leaf Day’s founder and Hillview Garden Centre CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to get attract customers back in-store this spring, a great staff team-builder, and helps a really worthwhile cause along the way.”
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Pictured: Butterwick Children's Hospice garden in Stockton-on-Tees benefited from Garden Re-Leaf Day’s fund raising events in 2013.
