COLOURFUL MESSAGE FOR CHARITY FORTNIGHT

PLANT FOR PERENNIAL: 5th - 20th September 2009

'Bring some colour into your life!' is the upbeat message behind Plant for Perennial, a fortnight of activities taking place in selected garden centres from 5th - 20th September 2009. Raising funds for Perennial - Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society, Plant for Perennial has the backing and support of horticultural celebrities, experts and businesses across the UK.

During Plant for Perennial fortnight, garden centres, nurseries and other horticultural businesses will participate in a host of activities, including cause-related marketing promotions (where a small amount from the price of specified plants is donated to Perennial), workshops, 'ask the expert' sessions, talks & demonstrations, quizzes and competitions. The charity is aiming to recruit up to 20 horticultural businesses to be founding champions for the first Plant for Perennial fortnight in September 2009, and the promotion will continue in subsequent years.

Debbie Lyne, Perennial's Head of Marketing & Fundraising said:

"This is a great opportunity for plant retailers to send out a really positive message to their customers. We are sure they will embrace this scheme as a way of supporting their trade charity and of providing a fun opportunity for customers to enhance their gardens through the autumn. We will be helping businesses to organise and promote all sorts of activities in support of Perennial - from in-store promotions, cafe events and celebrity talks, to expert-guided garden tours and 'private views' of new autumnal plants. This will be the first ever Plant for Perennial fortnight, and our aim is to get the event firmly established in the gardeners' annual calendar."

Anyone interested in participating in Plant for Perennial can find out more by contacting Debbie Lyne on 0845 230 1839, or email dlyne@perennial.org.uk.