The eighth Garden Re-Leaf Day was officially launched at Glee this week with Greenfingers Charity calling on all sectors of the garden industry to get involved.

With Greenfingers celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, organisers are working on plans to make next year’s annual fundraiser the best yet.

Greenfingers Charity announced that 2019’s event will take place on Friday, March 22 and will once again include the popular Garden Re-Leaf Walk, Cycle Challenge, as well as a host of other fundraising events, which will take place across the country.

Garden retailers, manufacturers and suppliers are invited to participate by holding their own events, like a quiz night, raffle, auction, cake sale, virtual in-store challenge, spending the day in fancy dress or making a donation from every cuppa sold in the café.  “It really is a great fun way to increase footfall or awareness, whilst at the same time, engaging with customers, motivating your team and raising your profile; both locally and in the garden industry press.  There really is no better way to start the gardening season,” said organisers.

Garden Re-Leaf has raised over £70,000 this year, taking the total to £600,000 since it was founded by Boyd Douglas-Davies in 2012. Highlights of the 2018 event included more than 100 people taking on the Garden Re-Leaf and Cycle Challenge in Buckinghamshire, whilst garden centres across the country organised their own fundraising activities, with hundreds of charity pots planted and sold in 12-hour Plantathons, as well as popular shopping channel QVC broadcasting a special gardening show, which raised a staggering £34,000 from sales of plants, bulbs and garden sundries. 

Greenfingers Charity director of fundraising and communications Linda Petrons said: “Plans are already very much underway for 2019’s Garden Re-Leaf Day and Greenfingers’ 20th Anniversary, and we encourage anyone wanting to take part to get in touch. We are confident that next year’s Garden Re-Leaf will be an even bigger and more exciting event, and that the hard work and dedication from our friends in the industry will continue to help Greenfingers transform the lives of children spending time in hospices. With new gardens planned which include Claire House Children's Hospice (The Wirral), Little Harbour Children's Hospice (St Austell) and Richard House Children’s Hospice (East London), the funds raised through Garden Re-Leaf are as important as ever in allowing us to continue our work in confidence, providing children with magical gardens to experience and explore.”

To find out more about how to get involved in Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day 2019, whether by putting on events in your garden centre, through sponsored solo activities or simply by donating, contact the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749 or email linda@greenfngerscharity.org.uk.