Millbrook Garden Centre in Gravesend are inviting local families and gardening enthusiasts to take part in Garden Re-Leaf Day, an annual fundraising event which raises vital funds for the children’s charity, Greenfingers.

On Friday 17th March the UK horticultural industry comes together for Garden Re-Leaf Day to celebrate the start of the gardening season and raise money for Greenfingers charity. The charity is dedicated to supporting the children who use hospices around the UK, by creating beautiful outdoor spaces for children to enjoy with family, friends and siblings, whether through play and fun, or therapeutic rest and relaxation. To date Greenfingers has created 51 inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces in hospices around the country, and has a further waiting list of hospices that need their help now.

Millbrook Garden Centre, a family-run, independent company in Station Road, Southfleet, is joining in the fun on Garden Re-Leaf day by holding a charity coffee morning on Friday 17th March between 10am and 12pm. Millbrook greencafé staff will be rolling up their sleeves and baking a special selection of cakes for customers to enjoy and make a donation to the charity.

This will be followed by an evening reception and talk with English horticulturalist, author and plant hunter Tom Hart-Dyke. Tom will be supporting the Spring Launch weekend with a fascinating talk on the World Garden at Lullingstone Castle. Tickets cost £20 per person and include a glass of bubbles and canapes. Places are limited and tickets need to be booked in advance online. All proceeds will go to the Greenfingers charity.

The fun continues across the Spring Launch weekend on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th. As well as showcasing their new Spring plant range with planting demonstrations, there will also be an abundance of activities for all the family with face painting, live music and craft activities. Children will be given the exciting opportunity to meet Henry the Hedgehog, Felipe the Chameleon, Cilla the Chinchilla and more with experienced animal handlers, Our Amazing Animal World. Throughout the weekend, between 10am and 2pm, there will be private small group sessions for children to meet a selection of rescued animals and learn more about our animal friends. Each session lasts 45 minutes and costs £5 per child with all proceeds going to Greenfingers.

Rachel Dupon, Centre Manager at Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend, says, “We’re really excited to be supporting Greenfingers again this year. Research has shown that time spent outdoors, away from the bedside, can bring huge benefits to children and families under considerable stress. At Millbrook, helping people to enjoy their outside space is key to all we do and we are pleased to help Greenfingers in any way we can.”

Rachel added: “We are particularly thrilled to have Tom Hart-Dyke visiting us again and supporting this event. Tom’s talk promises to be one not to miss! We hope our customers enjoy the weekend of springtime fun we have planned and join us to help raise vital funds for this fantastic children’s charity!”

For more information call 01474 331135 or go to www.millbrookgc.co.uk

Submitted by Ruth Edkins