Plant for Perennial update

Plant for Perennial was launched in extravagant style at Gardening Scotland 2009, when Oatridge College staff and students created an amazing garden in, on and around an old VW Beetle. The spectacular Gold medal winning garden was the most visited exhibit at the show and featured on Scottish news programmes as well as BBC Scotland's popular Beechgrove Garden.

Stars from BBC TV Scotland's Beechgrove Garden launching Plant for Perennial at
Gardening Scotland 09, with the help of our Gold medal winning garden
'Perennial Petal Power'.
From left to right: Jim McColl, Carol Baxter, Lesley Watson and Carolyn Spray.

What's it all about?

Plant for Perennial is the horticulture industry's opportunity to show their support for their own trade charity - Perennial - and help colleagues in the industry who are facing need or adversity.
For two weeks in September, garden centres and nurseries the length and breadth of Britain were the focus of a flurry of fundraising activity:

Nick Hamilton gave a guided walk and talk (pictured below) around glorious Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland . The garden centre also hosted a fortnight-long plant promotion in aid of Perennial.

Brackendale Nurseries in Dorset donated a generous contribution of 20% for each perennial sold during Plant for Perennial fortnight

Camden Garden Centre in London welcomed RHS judge Jim Buttress - of Britain in Bloom and BBC2's Return to Lullingstone Castle fame - who provided customers with expert advice at a lively Q & A session. The garden centre also ran a special plant promotion for the whole fortnight, donating 5% of their plant of the month sales.

Fir Trees Pelargoniums of Stokesley, N. Yorks, held a Plant for Perennial fundraiser at their NGS garden opening. A scented leaf pelargonium - 'Charity' - produced a £1 donation from every plant sold.

A special Nursery Tour and Garden Centre Evening was held at Coles Plant Centre in Leicester with all proceeds to Perennial.

Hillview Hardy Plants in Shropshire invited customers to an exclusive pre-sales event, and donated the proceeds to Perennial.

James and Karen Hyde held a Plant for Perennial plant fair (below) at The Miners Arms in Whitecroft, Forest of Dean.

At New Hopetoun Gardens in West Lothian, guests enjoyed a 'Tuscan Potager Evening' hosted by Lesley Watson and Dougal Philip. Revealing the stories behind their Tuscan Potager - from Tuscany to the Beechgrove Garden Tuscan Feast, to their Tuscan Potager to Plate promotion - Lesley and Dougal also advised guests on how to grow and eat Tuscan style in Scotland. Guests then had the opportunity to sample some of their delicious Tartan Tuscan dishes with a glass of Italian wine.

Poplar Nurseries near Colchester donated £1 for every perennial plant sold during the fortnight.

Pennells Garden Centres in Lincoln and Cleethorpes also donated £1 for every perennial plant sold over the period.

Rougham Hall Nurseries, Bury St Edmunds, made a donation for every Michaelmas daisy sold over the fortnight.

Jim Buttress and BBC Radio Kent's gardening expert Jean Griffin (above) offered their expert advice at a special gardeners' Q & A and plant demonstration session at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre, Sidcup.

Trecanna Nursery in Cornwall held their annual South Africa Weekend which included vibrant display borders full of crocosmia, agapanthus and other exotic blooms, a slide show of many of the wild species of these plants growing in the wild, expert talks and plenty of good advice. All of this was supplemented by generous helpings of cream teas and cakes, plus South African rooibos tea!

We would like to thank all Plant for Perennial participants, each and every one of whom put in so much effort and imagination to support Perennial.

When's it happening next?

The question that's on everyone's lips! Next year's Plant for Perennial fortnight has just been announced: Saturday 4th - Sunday 19th September 2010. Other Plant for Perennial promotions will be held throughout the year, so keep an eye on our website. If you'd like to join in, or for more info, email marketing@perennial.org.uk or call us on 0845 230 1839.

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