Greenfingers Charity started it's 20th Anniversary year at its AGM held last week.  Over 50 supporters, Ambassadors, Trustees and staff heard of the plans for activities during 2019 aimed at generating increased funds for the Charity and increasing a wider awareness so that more gardens can be built at Children's Hospices across the country.

Richard Jackson, who started the charity 20 years ago recounted memories of the hand to mouth way they planned and raised monies in the early days and praised the current team and all of the industry at the way Greenfingers has devloped over the years and the important role it plays in so many lives.

Greenfingers current Chairman, John Ashley was presented with a cake to celebrate is 80th birthday.

2019 News from Greenfingers Charity includes: 

Greenfingers Charity celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2019

The start of 2019 will see 3 more children’s hospice gardens get underway
The “Greenfingers Charity Garden” will feature on Main Avenue RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Kew Green Hotels pledge to raise £200k in 2019 to mark the charity’s 20th Anniversary
Garden Re-Leaf Day is in its 7th year

2019 will see a very special celebratory year for Greenfingers Charity, the only charity dedicated to creating magical gardens for life-limited children and families who spend time in hospices.

The charity has created 55 hospice gardens in its 19-year history and thanks to the continued generosity of its supporters, now plans to add a further four hospice gardens to its growing portfolio;
 Sean Murray’s design for “The Nest and Rest Garden” at Grace House will be completed in the spring and will provide a wonderful outside space for children, families and carers who spend time at this facility in Sunderland.
 A one-acre woodland area at Richard House Children’s Hospice in East London will be transformed thanks to the vision and creativity of garden designers Andrew Fisher Tomlin and Dan Bowyer. Andrew and Dan have been working with the hospice to design an enchanting woodland in which life-limited children and their siblings will be able to have fun, explore and play together knowing medical support is close at hand.
 “The Garden of Colour” designed by Carolyn Willitts will come to life at Claire House Children’s Hospice in the Wirral this year. As well as being a feast for all the senses, this new garden will provide shelter to enable hospice carers and families to work and play outside.
 Designed by Darren Hawkes, a vibrant sheltered outdoor space will be created at Little Harbour Children’s Hospice in St Austell in Cornwall later this year.

John Ashley, Chairman of the Charity said, “The charity has certainly been on an incredible journey since the early days and I’m delighted to be at the helm at the beginning of this special anniversary year. We are all enormously grateful to every one of our wonderful individual and corporate supporters who continue to work tirelessly to supporting by fundraising, helping us to fund-save, and build the Greenfingers Charity brand. We are all looking forward to an exciting year ahead and to see these new gardens coming to life and being enjoyed by hundreds more children who would otherwise find it difficult to spend time outside.”

Also, to mark its special year, thanks to a private donor, the charity will be showcasing its work at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. “The Greenfingers Charity Garden” on Main Avenue, has been designed by Kate Gould.

Greenfingers Charity’s partnership with Kew Green Hotels is also going from strength to strength as hotel teams around the country pledge to raise a further £200k in 2019 to mark the charity’s 20th year. To date the hotel group has raised £233k since the partnership began in December 2016.

A regular event on the Greenfingers Charity calendar, Garden Re-Leaf Day will take place on 22nd March this year. The cycle ride is back for its 2nd year and the Garden Re-Leaf Day walk will see many walkers walking their 100th mile for the charity. Director of Fundraising and Communications, Linda Petrons said: “We hope that more garden retailers, suppliers and the general public will get involved this year. It’s a really great team-building event and an opportunity for businesses to generate positive PR all whilst helping to make a difference to life-limited children and families who spend time in hospices.”