Perrywood Tiptree garden centre raises £15,000 for charity

Perrywood in Tiptree have donated £15,743 to charities which inspire people of all ages to get gardening.

This includes organisations such as Together We Grow and Abberton Rural Training in Colchester and the national Greenfingers Charity.

Money was raised by staff throughout the year through activities.

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The coffee shop and restaurant team alone raised more than £4,500.

Instead of receiving tips, the team chose to give any donations to Colchester Hospital through the Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity.

Some of the money bought LED ceiling tiles for a treatment room at the Collingwood Cancer Centre and the rest is part of an ongoing collection for an ultrasound machine.

Perrywood also donated more than £3,500 worth of plants, gardening equipment and gift vouchers to schools and individuals.

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Debbie Wrigley, communications manager at Perrywood, said: "Raising funds for worthy charities and supporting our local community is so important to us.

"As a team, we are extremely passionate about helping others and giving back.

"We are delighted to be able to make such a difference to these worthy causes and raise much needed funds."