‘Grubby Gardeners’ have gone all out for a cheeky calendar – with help from TV legend

WHEN you think about gardening, a naked butt is usually not the first thing that comes to mind.

But every two years, a whole selection of industry-renowned soils from the horticultural world are brought together, with the main aim of raising money for charity.

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Nicknamed the Dirty gardeners – it’s a group of landscapers, head gardeners and award-winning garden designers, coming together for a naked but tasteful photo shoot.

And the end result will be turned into a calendar that anyone can purchase – to raise vital funds for those working in the horticultural community.

Perennial is the only UK charity supporting people in the gardening world (whether working or retired) and their families.

And they’ve been doing it for 185 years. Charles Dickens and Robert Peel were even among their keynote speakers at their annual fundraising dinners in days gone by.

Now Alan Titchmarsh is the president.

Calendar star newcomer Tom Coleman – a gardening podcaster and social media expert told Sun Gardening: “To me, the work that perennials do in our industry is very important and we never know when one of us will need their help.

“It was a bit intimidating getting the gear out for each other… and each shot took a while to set up! But we quickly felt comfortable and had some real laughs, the team was great and it was all for a truly great cause.

“Now it’s up to everyone to get behind us and buy a copy, to help us raise a large amount of money for this fantastic cause. And I’m not sure if I’m excited or scared when I find my butt on refrigerators on the other side of the world. country!”

You can see more behind-the-scenes footage @Imtomcoleman.

THE ETERNAL STORY OF STEPHEN

How Perennial Yorkshireman helped Stephen

Yorkshireman ‘Stephen’ devoted his working life to gardening for more than thirty years, until he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of sixty.

Undergoing invasive treatment, unable to work and fearing he would lose his home, he turned to Perennial.

Stephen’s prostate cancer diagnosis in 2017 came as a huge shock and left him fighting for his life. His physically demanding work as the sole gardener on a 20-acre estate was no longer possible, he was placed on sick leave and his income halved overnight.

“The treatment for my cancer was horrible, but I fought back and didn’t let myself be defeated,” he said.

“What I wasn’t prepared for was the struggle I had to live on my sick pay and I was faced with the stark reality that I could lose my home.”

“I sat there for a while, but I couldn’t call Perennial out of shame. I had lost all control over my life, of which I was so proudly independent. I had never asked for help before, hard work had gotten me to this point, but after speaking with Perennial for a short time I felt this huge burden lifted.

Stephen’s call to the Perennial helpline was a major turning point for him. Stephen’s social worker worked closely with him and acted on his behalf to claim support so that he could receive the benefits he was entitled to. As a result, he was given universal credit, which meant he could afford to stay in his home and focus on getting better.

Michael Griffiths, aka The Mediterranean gardener – said: “I got involved with the shoot because it can be a very difficult industry to work in – so supporting everyone in that industry is important.

“And Perennial does a fantastic job of supporting people. Plus, it was kind of fun to work with like-minded people in a scenario you wouldn’t normally find yourself in.”

Whether you are an arborist, florist, forester, gardener, garden center employee, garden designer, groundskeeper, grower, landscape architect, nursery employee, tree surgeon or wine grower, Perennial is there for you.

Not only does it provide free, tailor-made, one-on-one confidential support when you need it, but everyone has 24/7 access to the free advice and information available online.

And this can cover topics such as the impact of health problems, bereavement, redundancy, family breakdowns and career development, as well as impartial money management and health and wellbeing tools.

Perennial fundraising manager Ed Charles told Sun Gardening: “Our work is regularly described as a ‘lifeline’ for those in the horticultural industry. The return of our calendar is vital for fundraising and helps us maintain our vital services. We are calling on garden enthusiasts and consumers to purchase this calendar so we can spread the message and support our community.”

Thanks to the cost of living crisis, demand for Perennial’s services has skyrocketed. Last year alone, cases increased by 42 percent, which only demonstrates the growing need for support.

Perennial provided more than 31,000 preventive services and activities, directly helping 2,221 people and their families improve their lives.

ALSO IN VERONICA’S COLUMN THIS WEEK

Tips, competitions and money saving tips

WIN!!! When you stare at empty beds and don’t know what to do with them – Garden On A Roll are offering one lucky reader a £200 garden on a roll – delivered in spring if required – which will get you all the plants. plans and instructions to fill that space. To enter, visit www.thesun.co.uk/ROLLCOMP, or write to Sun Garden on a Roll competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Please include your name, age, email address or telephone number. UK residents 18+ only. Ends at 30.59 GMT. 23.11.24 General terms and conditions apply.

TO RESCUE! Protect your hands now that it has become cold Niwaki’s winter gloves for £12 – or go for gloves.nl‘s Benchmark Fully Coated Water Resistant Gloves for €2.39

TOP TIP: Pot feet are a great way to prevent plants from getting waterlogged or frozen – but you don’t have to tinker with them – use rocks, broken tiles, small logs, cut up wine corks or even plastic bottle caps to place under your pots!

THIS WEEK’S VACANCY: Mulching and tulip bulbs go hand in hand: make sure the tulips are deep enough so that foxes stop digging, then apply a layer of mulch to keep the soil healthy. Remove old, browning peas and sow broad beans directly into the ground.

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