Garden centres making Cultivation Street community connections

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Cultivation Street, sponsored by Miracle Gro® , supports garden centres that encourage gardening throughout their communities, in schools and wherever plants and horticulture bring happiness and enhanced well-being. Here are a few remarkable ways UK garden centres have supported charities and brought joy through the power of plants.

Now in its 10th year, the campaign Cultivation Street continues to promote and nurture relationships between garden centres, schools and communities. Especially over the last three uncertain years, the crucial role of garden centres as a place of plant supply and local community support has proved to be a lifeline. The collaboration between garden centres and communities enables knowledge and the joy of gardening to be spread far and wide. Cultivation Street continues to encourage these relationships and is continually inspired by the achievements on both sides.

“UK garden centres are in many places the hub of the unsung heroes, supporting local school children, charities, youth groups, communities and those who need special help,” says campaign founder David Domoney. “The kindness and humility of UK garden retailers is a shining example to others on the benefits of positive relationships with customers.”

Encouraging healthier lifestyles

Downtown Garden Centre, Lincolnshire is a leading sponsor of Inspire+ a charity which encourages healthier lifestyles through physical and well-being activities. The charity receives no central Government funding so support of Downton is key to its vision of ensuring young people are healthy, happy and active, through increased physical activity and wellbeing, in both education and community settings. As well as providing a comprehensive and valued programme of support for schools, Inspire+ is also a PE and School Sport apprenticeship training provider.

Promoting healthy eating through funding school meals

Haskins Garden Centres in the south of England are instrumental in their communities, donating plants and compost to local schools

David Domoney, founder of Cultivation Street, a campaign supported by Miracle Gro. and encouraging children to get their hands dirty in their journey to learn about the natural world. The centres have also raised money for free school meals in Hampshire and fundraise for Mountbatten Hampshire, a local hospice that supports and provides end-of-life care for members within the community.

Alton Garden Centre hosting one of many visits from local schools.

Backing Abby’s Heroes

Since 2022, Hillier Garden Centres in the south of England, has sponsored the Southampton based charity Abby’s Heroes which supports children, teenagers, young adults and their families when diagnosed with cancer. Its support comes in the form of financial donations to Abby’s Heroes through money raised instore, and by raising awareness of the charity at its centres and throughout the community. Hillier also donates to local schools, offering plants and composts.

Supporting Greenfingers and Mind

Alton Garden Centre in Essex is a great supporter of the Greenfingers Charity and happily provides plants and flowers to children’s hospices, so they along with their parents, carers and staff can enjoy nature and the outdoors. The garden centre also encourages primary school children to visit and takes a handson approach. Alongside this, directors have raised more than £1000 in donations from staff, customers and suppliers by running the London Marathon in support of the mental health charity, Mind.

Raising money and greening the landscape

Many charities local to Coolings Garden Centres in Kent and Sussex plus some further afield benefit from its support including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and Air Ambulance in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Recognising the importance of such a service, and the power in giving back to the community, the centres have raised £1750 and within its communities, Coolings creates and maintains several planting schemes which contribute to more pleasant surroundings.

Awards recognise community efforts

Notcutts Garden Centres throughout England support numerous schools, hospitals, hospices, charities, and clubs within their local communities. Each year the company hosts its own Community Award to celebrate the garden centres that have best supported their local communities throughout the year. Centres also support Green Light, a charity that encourages a diverse range of people to access nature and the great outdoors. links with Cradle, a charity offering support to those suffering from grief following the loss of a baby. Now in its third year, its online plant therapy group encourages the growing of sunflowers and acts as a platform for meeting new people. The project was a much-needed lifeline during the Covidpandemic as child loss and isolation were exacerbated during lockdown.

Getting everyone growing

Providing trees to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Every year, Old Railway Garden Centre, Powys, supports different gardening projects in local schools. To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee it donated trees to local school and community groups, to bring lasting benefits for generations to come. It also offers talks and online lessons to local primary schools so children can learn something new and feel encouraged to get gardening. It takes pride in offering advice and donating whatever might be needed to support local projects.

Notcutts gets ready for a pond dipping session organised with the charity Green Light.

Championing the NHS

Rosebourne Garden Centres in Hampshire and Berkshire are avid supporters of their local NHS trusts. In 2021 Rosebourne provided a large Christmas tree with lighting for the courtyard at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. It also used this as an opportunity to thank NHS staff for all their efforts through the Covid-pandemic. To support NHS staff and Blue Light Card holders further, it offers them monthly discounts.. Local schools and groups also benefit with donations of seeds, plants and growing media.

Primary school children plant a tree donated by Old Railway Garden Centre.

Find out more To get involved with Cultivation Street and keep up to date with news and initiatives visit www.cultivationstreet.com.

Starting last summer, Sunshine Garden Centre, London donated excess plants such as tomatoes, to local allotments, schools and societies. Sunflower seeds were also donated to a nearby housing group which used them to organise a growing competition for local children. The centre has also hosted more than 100 pupils to show them, first hand, the benefits and enjoyment of growing plants and interacting with nature and horticulture.

Online growing group helps deal with grief

Dobbies Southport, Merseyside has strong