As we announced earlier in the year, in celebration of our 70th year of trading, we launched a £10,000 initiative to support local schools, charities, and community groups. We invited local organisations to apply for help in starting or expanding their gardening projects.

As part of this initiative, we have been donating plants, tools, and equipment to projects close by our three garden centres in Tiptree, Sudbury and the newly acquired Perrywood Buckhatch near Chelmsford.

The goal has been to encourage people of all ages to experience the mental and physical health benefits of gardening. Support has been tailored to each project’s needs and has been provided through vouchers, gardening tools, supplier donations, and hands-on project advice.

Each centre has supported a range of local projects as part of the initiative, such as:

Perrywood Tiptree 

• Halstead Community Shed requested help in setting up a communal allotment. They visited us at Perrywood Tiptree and we helped them choose £500 worth of plants and equipment to fill their raised beds and greenhouse.

• The NHS Mental Health Rehab in Colchester asked for help to create a sensory garden with fruit and vegetables for therapeutic cooking.

• Stanway Fiveways School and Yarra Services visited Perrywood to use their donation to purchase plants, compost, pots and gardening tools. This will support their sensory garden and outdoor learning space where children can connect with nature, grow their confidence, and enjoy hands-on learning.

• We enjoyed donating to the Halstead Hospital League of Friends to help maintain their beautiful Mindfulness Garden. This garden provides a peaceful, welcoming outdoor area for patients, visitors, and the incredible NHS staff to relax and recharge.

• Kelvedon St Mary's Primary Academy purchased plants, compost, tools and gardening gloves to help bring their garden spaces to life! We believe in the power of gardening to inspire, educate, and support wellbeing and what better place to start than with the next generation?

Perrywood Sudbury

• Benton End House and Garden Trust applied for garden tools. Westland Horticulture very kindly donated border forks and spades, hand tools, secateurs and pruning saws to help support their ongoing garden project. (See title photo – Perrywood Senior Communications Manager , Louise with head gardener at Benton End James, with donated tools)
• The team is working with Thomas Gainsborough School in Sudbury to set up a school allotment on a dedicated area of the school field. This project will require equipment such as a vegetable trug, a hose, plants, and netting. Louise, our Senior Communications Manager, recently visited both Thomas Gainsborough School and Benton End (as pictured above) to find out how our funding can help the projects.

• We have supported Leading Lives with their sensory and memorial gardens. These revitalised outdoor spaces are becoming much loved by their customers, adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, who enjoy being outdoors and connecting with nature. They are just getting started. We can't wait to see what else this amazing group does!

• We recently donated plants, compost, pots, and gardening gloves to Acton Playgroup. We’re passionate about encouraging young children to get outdoors, explore nature, and experience the joy of gardening from an early age.

• We gave the First Kedington Brownies group in Suffolk some vegetable planting kits. They enjoyed planting them and are looking forward to caring for their plants through until harvest. 

Perrywood Buckhatch

• We are supporting East Hanningfield Primary School’s gardening club, with tools donated by Westland Horticulture, compost, seeds and some vegetable planting kits. Perrywood Buckhatch Shop Floor Manager, Belinda, visited the school to hand over our donation. This project is of particular interest to Belinda because she attended the primary school 

• Wickford in Bloom associate Marian applied for help in getting the town’s planters looking good for the season. Along with two other members, she attended one of our Garden Advice Services. Historically, the group used annual bedding plants, but Marian was keen to get some advice on how to make the planters more sustainable. Plant expert and team member Kay helped them choose lots of shrubs and pollinator-friendly perennials. These plants will return year on year for Wickford High Street visitors to enjoy.

Perrywood Team member Kay (left) with Marian and Wickford in Bloom members with their plant choices.

One of four planters, ready for Wickford High Street.

• Poplar Adolescent Unit, part of the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust contacted us for help refreshing their garden with calming, sensory plants. The Unit, based at Rochford Hospital in Essex, is an inpatient mental health service for young people aged 11–18. It offers short-term care, therapy, education, and support in a safe, structured environment. A sensory garden is the perfect addition, providing a soothing space where young people can reconnect with nature, find moments of peace, and benefit from the therapeutic effects of scent, texture, and colour. We loved supporting such a meaningful project.

Look out for more updates on our social media and website news pages.