We have a wealth of ‘good news’ this week to demonstrate the enthusiasm of the garden industry for supporting good causes.
In July Haskins presented the Greenfingers charity with a cheque for £12,002.37 (pictured on cover page) – a total that included £7,000 raised from buying director Conna Powles’ Wing Walk last month, as well as cash raised throughout the year from the sale of carrier bags at its four the centres in Ferndown, Southampton and West Sussex.
Earlier this month, seven staff from the Millbrook Garden Company walked 60 miles over three days between their three garden centres at Gravesend, Crowborough and Staplehurst, with the aim of raising £5,000 for the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust. At the time of writing, the sponsorship tally stood at almost £4,600 with cash still rolling in. The proceeds are sufficient to fund two air ambulance launches.
Pictured (left to right): Louise English, Liz Dowling, Ben Woodhouse, Tracey Bowler, Kerry Smith, Tammy Woodhouse, Christy Briley.
Squire’s Chertsey centre has donated more than £200 worth of bedding plants, hanging baskets, herbs, seeds and compost to their charity of the year – the White Lodge Centre, which supports disabled people of all ages in Surrey.
“We wanted to brighten up their outside space and give the children and adults fun gardening activities that they can really get involved in,” said Sarah Squire, the group’s deputy chairman.
Jane Cartwright, White Lodge’s community fundraiser, said the children had worked in the garden as part of their summer project. “It’s been great as they have learnt how to tend the plants, how to water and deadhead them, and they have noticed how the flowers begin to grow and are really excited by how quickly things change, “ she said. “Some of the other products donated by Squire’s were shared out with our adults who run a gardening club, and they have been thrilled to have more work to do with all the wonderful pots, herbs and plants that they received.”
Pictured above (left to right): Claire Browne, Jane Cartwright, Kate Palmer (White Lodge Centre) with Matt Tanner (Squire’s).
Owner John Ainscow tells us his Summerseat & Bradley Fold Garden Centres raised £1,000 for the Bury Hospice by holding an enjoyable charity evening last Tuesday.
The event included a mini plant ‘expo’ with three plant suppliers, three plant societies and three trade suppliers represented, followed by a buffet and a Question Time session. Panellists were 17-times National Rose Show champion and local rose breeder Tony Bracegirdle, former Summerseat employeee Allen Standring, Bradley Fold centre plant manager Graham Vallis and Summerseat GC plant manager Adrian Jones.
Finally, Tong Garden Centre at Bradford tell us that 11 colleagues are preparing for an 18km walk to raise funds for their chosen cause of the year, the Cellar Trust, a Shipley charity that helps people recovering from mental health problems to get back into work.
The team aims to walk around Lake Ullswater in the Lake District on September 2 – an idea mooted by the centre's marketing assistant, Pete Casci. He will be joined by Katie Young, Lee Parnham, Claire Spencer, Catherine Westmoreland, Jemma Jones, Sharon McNair, Diane Farrar, Janice Astbury, Phil Hemmings and Chris Hope on a challenge they hope will raise £2000 towards an overall target of £10,000. “We've got a good spread of staff from departments including catering, customer services and retail representing the centre, so it's a real team effort,” Peter said. “Everyone has been preparing by going on locals walks and spending time in the gym, so we'll all be raring to go when the day comes.”
The team at Tong, who are aiming to raise £10,000 for the Cellar Trust this year, became aware of the Trust’s work when they employed former client Dion Magyar last year.
Above, the Tong walking team: back row – Peter Casci, Katie Young, Lee Parnham;
middle row – Claire Spencer, Catherine Westmoreland, Jemma Jones;
front row – Sharon McNair, Diane Farrar, Janice Astbury.
Team members not in the photo – Phil Hemmings and Chris Hope
