GARDENING CLUB
CONTACT DETAILS: hassragardenclub@gmail.com
HASSRA FYLDE CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION RAISES VITAL FUNDS FOR HOSPICE CARE
On a freezing day in January volunteers from the HASSRA Fylde Garden Club joined staff from Brian House Children’s Hospice and Trinity Hospice in their annual Christmas Tree Collection, helping raise much needed funds.
The Christmas Trees were collected by volunteer teams and local businesses, from properties around the local area and dropped off at the HASSRA Fylde Sports Grounds in Cleveleys Lancashire, ready to be shredded by James Andrew a local tree surgeon, who donated his time and equipment to help out on the day.
An amazing day, despite the cold, and another bumper year, raising a magnificent £31,300! That’s a truly incredible amount which is enough to run the Hospices at Home service for an entire month, supporting patients and their loved ones at home during the night, when other services are closed.
Across the three days of this event, the volunteers helped collect a whopping 1,960 trees from homes across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre for recycling.
The Christmas Tree Collection means so much to the Hospices, not only by providing a service for our local communities, but the donations mean they are also providing a vital service to local families who need hospice care. Plus everyone involved doing their bit to help the environment at same time.
“Thank you again, for being part of this fantastic event. You're amazing! Your support in donating your time and resources over the Christmas Tree collection weekend has made such a difference.
We really couldn’t have done it without you!”
The Fundraising Team
RHS Britain in Bloom Award for HASSRA Fylde Garden Club
Well done to the HASSRA Fylde Gardening Club for their winning entry in the 2024 RHS Britain in Bloom National Awards
Covering a wide range of criteria for entries, the club gained an Outstanding Award.
A huge achievement given this is the first time the garden club has entered
Judges commented “Congratulations on this entry, engaging with a range of community groups and organisations to ensure a high-quality garden site and addressing environmental and improvement opportunities. We look forward to visiting next year. “
The allotments and garden site, was specially adapted for wheelchair users, for the patients of Brian House children’s hospice and Trinity hospice to enjoy raised bed gardening and socialising and a sensory garden area for dementia patients to utilise was especially applauded.
Providing respite, social inclusion and improve mental health and wellbeing for children, their siblings, families and key workers from Brian House, Trinity House Hospices and health care professionals who work with people affected by Dementia.
Their partnership with the Prince’s Trust and Fleetwood Community Care added real value, Surplus food from the allotments is made available to homeless groups, churches and school holiday clubs.
The site, currently has 21 allotment plots, and continues to develop thanks with bee hives, a wildflower meadow, sunflower planting, bat boxes, heritage tree and hedge planting improving the wider area. No pesticides or chemicals are used, utilising organic compost from local manufacturers adds to their organic and conservation ideals.
The club are already looking at how they can improve for 2025 looking to see how they can work with wider communities, such as local schools, nursing and care homes as well as liaising with Wyre Country Park, a local wildlife park, on conservation ideas and encouraging wildlife opportunities.
