All the latest news from Greenfingers
Join the Glee to Monte-Carlo Banger Rally
If you have ￡500, a team of willing participants and a weekend spare, then the inaugural Greenfingers Glee to Monte-Carlo Banger Rally could be just what you are looking for.
This exciting new event will see teams from across the industry pitch themselves against each other to travel from Glee at the NEC Birmingham, to the world-famous Monte-Carlo on the French Riviera. But to make it even more exciting, each team must complete the 1,000mile course in a car worth no more than ￡500!
The rally won’t be about speed, but instead teams will be faced with exciting challenges and adventure along the way, all with the aim of putting the FUN into FUNdraising.
The rally will leave the NEC on the final day of Glee 2019, Thursday 12th September, and will return to the UK on Sunday 15th September.
Interested parties are invited to contact the Greenfingers charity to find out more. Simply email Director of Fundraising & Communications, Linda Petrons, by email: [email protected], or by calling 01494 674749/ 07908 221240.
Power tools giant Stihl choose Greenfingers as its Charity of the Year
Stihl, the global power tools brand with products in operation in more than 160 countries, will be raising funds after staff voted for Greenfingers to be the company’s charity of the year for 2019.
Head of Marketing, Simon Hewitt said: “Stihl Great Britain has a history of supporting charities and each year we present our entire team with three shortlisted good causes and allow them to vote for Stihl’s charity of the year.
“This year, our team overwhelmingly voted to support the Greenfingers Charity which, given our background in forestry and landscaping, is extremely exciting. STIHL’s team are passionate about getting involved in charity activities and we’re looking forward to working with Greenfingers in 2019”.
Details of fundraising events are being finalised, but Stihl staff are expected to be getting involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day, among other activities.
FUNDRAISER IN FOCUS: WOODLODGE
Woodlodge, the UK’s leading supplier of garden pots and a long-term supporter of Greenfingers, is set for another year of fundraising.
The company’s Richard Newton, who in 2017 undertook a daredevil parachute jump with colleague Abigail Stocker and raised ￡2,355 [FIGURE TBC], is on a mission to generate even more cash to help with the creation of magical gardens at kids’ hospices.
Richard is organising a Captain’s Charity Golf Day at Erewash Valley Golf Club in Derbyshire on 19th July, and is appealing for keen golfers to put their skills to the test.
Richard said: “As captain, I can pick my charity of the year, and as an ambassador for Greenfingers it was an obvious choice! All funds raised from the day will go to Greenfingers.”
Erewash Valley is a manicured championship golf course featuring tree-lined fairways, set in 165 acres of parkland. Teams can register to compete for ￡160, while sponsorship options priced at ￡50 per hole are available. Email [email protected] for details.
Not only does Woodlodge support Greenfingers with its printing service, assisting with signs and banners for charity events throughout the year, but its bespoke flower pot continues to raise vital funds for hospice gardens. Woodlodge’s Greenfingers terracotta pots are on sale at garden centres now with an RRP of ￡9.99, with 50p being donated for each pot sold.
Woodlodge also helped to kick the annual GCA conference off to a ‘flying start’ last month by organising a special horse racing event. Over 40 people across two teams joined in the fun, competing to get their wooden horses over the finishing line first – making a vital contribution to the ￡8,500 raised for Greenfingers at the conference.
Leading suppliers raise essential funds for Greenfingers with special product promotions
Throughout 2019 a number of leading garden retail suppliers have confirmed their ongoing support of the Greenfingers charity through dedicated product promotions. Donating through sales of selected products, these brands will help raise essential funds for Greenfingers, enabling the charity to continue its valued work in children’s hospices throughout the UK.
Leading garden décor manufacturer, Vivid Arts, is pleased to announce its first product tie up with Greenfingers Charity, with the launch of its new rabbit figurine.
The new addition to the Vivid Arts family, the rabbit – first launched at Glee 2018 – is equipped with a garden spade and bearing the trademark Greenfingers green gloves, and is earmarked to raise ￡16,000 for the charity, with ￡1.67 from every sale being gifted to the Greenfingers charity.
The realistic ornament, made from high quality resin, stands at approximately 18cm high and is supported by a full set of POS material to help retailers promote the rabbit instore.
Paul McGuire, Sales Director at Vivid Arts said: We’re absolutely delighted to be able to support the Greenfingers Charity with this unique, limited edition product. It will have broad consumer appeal, in turn presenting a fantastic opportunity for the garden centre community to raise a ￡16,000 donation for such a worthwhile cause during 2019.
A special rabbit collection box has also been created to help retailers raise additional funds at the checkout, or for use during fundraising events. Anyone wanting to receive one, need only contact Greenfingers directly.
Another brand who is once again showing its support for the Greenfingers Charity is The Great British Card Company. Having raised over ￡19,000 for the charity in 2018, the company will be looking to repeat this success with its new Floreo range of photographic greetings cards. Featuring 58 beautiful designs, including wildlife, floral displays and stunning quintessentially English landscape, 10p from the sale of each card will go directly to Greenfingers. Additionally, The Great British Card Company has created special Notecard Packs which will be supported by a dedicated Greenfingers branded table top dispenser. Featuring 16 beautiful floral photograph designs, these card packs (4 cards per pack) will provide 20p to Greenfingers for every pack sold throughout 2019.
The market leaders and the largest importer of doormats in UK, Primeur, will be supporting Greenfingers with a special Christmas doormat, with ￡1 sold from each doormat going to the charity. Featuring five festive robins adorned with bobble hats, the 40cm x 70cm mat will be supported by a dedicated display unit, helping to drive sales instore of this perfect pick-up line for the festive season.
A special mention should also go to those brands that have donated stock to the ‘Old to Gold’ scheme, which sees old or unwanted stock auctioned off to raise funds for the charity. Under the expert eye of auctioneers, W & H Peacock, the scheme raised in excess of ￡40,000 in 2018, with Gardman being a key donor.
Garden designers dig deep for Greenfingers
The Society of Garden Designers chose Greenfingers as its new charity partner for the seventh annual SGD Awards, which took place in front of an audience of almost 400 guests at The Landmark Hotel in London on Friday 1st February. A huge ￡1845 was raised on the night.
The move, which follows five years of support for horticultural charity Perennial, was a natural fit for the SGD, as many of its members – including Ann-Marie Powell, Adam Frost, Matthew Wilson, Nicola Wakefield and Barry Kellington - have designed hospice gardens for Greenfingers. Andrew Fisher Tomlin, Darren Hawkes and Carolyn Willitts are currently working with the charity.
Cassandra Crouch, Council Member for the SGD Awards, said: “The Society is delighted to be working with such a worthy charity as Greenfingers. It’s an organisation that many of our members are familiar with and indeed are already working alongside. We hope the SGD’s support will help them to continue the great work they do supporting families and children around the UK.”
Cyclists sought for coast-to-coast charity ride
Regular Greenfingers fundraisers, Kew Green Hotels, have pledged to raise ￡200,000 for the charity this year. Pedal power will be key to hitting this ambitious target as 50 cyclists are being sought for a 170-mile cycle challenge.
The Coast to Coast ride, which will take place on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th of May, will see cyclists follow the Way of the Roses route, which runs from Morecambe in the west to Bridlington on Yorkshire’s east coast.
The Way of the Roses comprises traffic-free paths, on-road cycle lanes, country lanes and quieter roads. The challenging but hugely rewarding route reaches 403m (1,312ft) on the B6265 at Greenhow Hill.
It’s a wonderfully scenic and occasionally demanding ride. Thorough preparation is essential, as high terrain can be exposed to poor weather. Cyclists who are keen to push their limits and raise money for a great cause should email [email protected] to find out more.
GIMA rallies the garden industry to support Greenfingers
GIMA, the Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association, is a powerful voice in the gardening industry and it’s throwing its weight behind Greenfingers again in 2019 with a series of fundraising events.
GIMA president Richard Pyrah has nominated Greenfingers to be the beneficiary of the association’s fundraising activities. Dates for your diary include the GIMA Golf and Activity Day will take place on June 6th at the Telford Hotel and Golf Resort while Greenfingers is also set to benefit from the GIMA Awards on July 4th at Celtic Manor in Newport.