World Mental Health Day is on Thursday 10 October, and Squire’s Garden Centres will be holding a 'Plantathon' to help raise awareness of mental health issues.

The plant team at each of Squire’s 16 garden centres across the South East will be planting up beautiful pots from 9.30am until 3.30pm. Customers can come and see the planting, talk to staff and ask questions, and buy the planted containers for their own gardens for just £5 (while stocks last). There’s no need to book, simply turn up on the day.

Squire’s are running this event because there are strong links between gardening and mental health. Gardening gets you outside in the fresh air, it’s good exercise, and helps you relax – in fact it’s great for mind, body and soul. In a recent survey of nearly 2,000 by Squire’s 94 per cent  of people said that gardening is good for mental health and wellbeing, and 92 per cent would recommend gardening to others as an aid to mental health.

Proceeds of the 'Plantathon' will go to Squire’s local charities, some of who will be there on the day. And at Squire’s in Long Ditton the local fire brigade will be rolling up their sleeves and getting involved with the planting to remember a colleague who very sadly took his own life last year. Squire’s will donate some of the planted containers to Esher Fire Station to assist with the memorial garden that they are creating, and to show their support for mental health wellness in the fire brigade.

Talking to others can help you stay in good mental health, so after watching the planting customers can sit at a 'Chatter & Natter' table in Squire’s Café Bar to meet people in the local community and have a chat over a cup of coffee.

For more details, visit www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk