Garden Re-Leaf Day takes place tomorrow – Friday 24th March – and the team from the Greenfingers Charity would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that is getting involved in this year’s event. With a new north walk joining the Sponsored Walk & Cycle Challenge, and dozens of events taking place in garden centres across the country, this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day is on track to be the biggest yet!

This year walkers will be tackling two courses, one starting and ending at Tring Garden Centre, and the new north walk which takes in the stunning ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ country of West Yorkshire. Teams signed up for both walks include AMES UK, Evergreen Garden Care, Vitavia, Johnsons Lawn Seed, Hornby Whitefoot PR, Capi Europe, Potting Shed Media, Mr Fothergill’s, British Garden Centres, DB Landscapes, as well as Greenfingers Trustee, Richard Claxton, and individual walkers such as August Bernstein.

In the south Simon Mulholland from Westland Horticulture, Decco’s Casey Warwick, Neil Sewell, Ian Clark and Andy Bean from Taylors Bulbs, Tom Glanvill from Christie & Co and Danny Adamson from Stocksigns will also be taking on the annual cycle challenge with 100 miles up for grabs.

Woodlodge’s Simon Neale and Neil Blake, plus Blue Diamond’s Heidi Towse will also be running the south 10-mile route as a warm-up to the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Taking place on April 2nd, Simon, Neil and Heidi will be joined by eight others to complete the route in aid of Greenfingers.

A team of incredible volunteers make each of these events possible. In the north Jane Lawler, Will Armitage, Jenny Douthwaite and Martin Cowell will be keeping a close eye on walkers. In the south Hornby Whitefoot PR will be on hand to help walkers, whilst Capi Europe will be providing support drivers. At Tring Garden Centre a host of volunteers will be out in force, including Jamie Donaldson – Tring Garden Centre employee and “local celeb” – who will be belting out a few tunes to get the walkers and cyclists motivated.

Of course, thanks must also go to the sponsors of the Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk & Cycle Challenge. They are AMES UK, SBM Life Science, BGC, Capi, Evergreen, Mulch, Primeur, Jane Lawler Associates, Tring Garden Centre, Gardeners Retreat, Garden Trade News. 

Local volunteers, including teams of people at garden centres throughout the country - including all 62 British garden centre stores, The Old Railway Line, Perrywood, Haskins, The Klondyke Group, Aylett’s, Brookfields Garden Centre, Longacres and Millbrook - will also be dedicating their time across the 24th and the Garden Re-Leaf weekend to ensure that every quiz, cake sale, bikeathon and everything in-between, will raise as much money as possible for the Greenfingers Charity. 

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers, said: “We’re on track for our biggest ever Garden Re-Leaf Day, which is just truly incredible. The fact that every year so many people go above and beyond to support the day and help raise awareness of the work that we passionately undertake, is awe-inspiring.

“To date we’ve created almost 70 gardens at children’s hospices, providing a place of respite or quiet reflection for thousands of children, their families and friends, and hospice staff. I hope that this knowledge will spur on every walker and cyclist as they clock up mile after mile. And to those garden centres and suuppliers, I hope that knowing you are truly making a difference to those that need it most will resonate with your customers throughout the Garden Re-Leaf weekend. Every penny makes a difference so from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all those that have or will spend time in a Greenfingers garden, thank you.”

There’s still time to join in this Garden Re-Leaf Day

Garden Re-Leaf Day may only be days away but there is still time to get involved. To join the Sponsored Walk and Cycle Challenges, or to register an event at your garden centre or business, simply visit https://www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/get-involved/gardenreleaf

Whether you are raising £1 or £1,000, remember to set up a JustGiving page and share it with your contacts, colleagues and customers.

For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2023 fundraising pack drop Linda a line - she’d love to hear from you.