The Gardens Group, which has three garden centres in Sherborne, Poundbury and Yeovil, has announced the nine community causes that will become the first beneficiaries of its new loyalty club, The Gardens Group Friends this autumn.

Launched in September, The Gardens Group Friends has been created to nurture relationships with the community and provide more ways for people to connect with gardening as a force for good when it comes to people and planet. Each garden centre has selected three community causes, which will receive a donation nomination from Friends after every purchase in the garden centre.  

The following community causes have been selected by Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil; School Beanz in Chilthorne Domer, a pioneering children's allotment running year-round gardening clubs that help shape how children see nature and food for life; The Hub, Yeovil, which offers day services for adults with learning disabilities and autism; and Sharandys Birds of Prey, a sanctuary for rescued birds of prey near Swyre in Dorset.

Castle Gardens in Sherborne will be supporting; Hedgehog Rescue of Hazebury Bryan, which rescues sick, injured or disabled hedgehogs in Dorset and the surrounding areas; Sherborne Food Bank, a charity helping the hungry and families in crisis; and The Rendezvous, which offers mental health support and essential qualifications for young people aged 14 – 25.

And around the Dorchester area, Poundbury Gardens will be supporting the following community causes; Dorset Air Ambulance, which provides life-saving, pre-hospital critical care to those in urgent need across Dorset and Somerset; The Talk About Trust in Poundbury, a charity committed to keeping young people safe around alcohol and drugs; and Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, which offers end of life care for adults with a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones.

Members of The Gardens Group Friends will be given a token after every purchase and scan of their loyalty club card, and will be invited to nominate one of the causes by placing the token in the container. The tokens will be counted at the end of the quarter, and each community cause will be apportioned support, such as tools, plants, compost or free venue hire, based on the number of tokens and their individual requirements.

The Gardens Group Friends is now inviting gardeners of all ages and abilities to sign up for free in store. While benefiting from tailored advice, behind the scenes insights into the garden centre, seasonal inspiration and much more, Friends will be contributing to these worthy causes and making a difference within their communities.