Plant sale aims for a bumper crop of hospice cash
A village plant sale which last year raised more than £5,000 for charity is setting its sights even higher this weekend.
Saturday’s event in Markyate, in aid of the Northchurch-based Hospice of St Francis, is described as the village’s party of the year.
It’s held in a High Street family garden which will be overflowing with summer bedding plants, a selection of perennials and popular fruit and vegetable plants.
The plants on sale have been selected and nurtured from seeds and plugs by a dedicated team of volunteers.
And there’s no need to worry about carrying your purchases to your car – young hands will be available to help.
Visitors will also be able to find out all about the work of the hospice and try their luck at a raffle which offers handmade garden ornaments, lunch at a country pub, a place on a wine tasting evening, a coach trip and many other desirable prizes.
Refreshments, picnic lunches and entertainment for the children are all laid on, and the sale kicks off at 10am.
The sale has been a fixture on the village calendar for more than 30 years and is a long-standing supporter of the hospice.
Spokesman Ian Bradley said: “Last year we raised in excess of £5,000. This year we hope – with your help – to give the hospice an even larger gift to support the invaluable care they provide.”