WE GOT A BIG BOOST BY GETTING NAKED IN GARDEN...

Volunteers at Hulme Community Garden Centre hit their £15,000 target after cheeky picture stunt

GR E E N- F I N G E R E D volunteers have raised £15,000 to carry on their charity gardening project.

Hulme Community Garden Centre is currently celebrating 15 years and volunteers have raised enough cash to expand the centre and help secure its future.

The team came up with ingenious fundraising ideas including selling home grown herbs and a naked calendar in order to raise money for the project.

The funds - which were raised through a Kickstarter campaign - will now be used to develop a plot of land on a nearby car park.

Horticulture

trainer Katherine Kennedy said the full amount was raised just an hour before the deadline.

She said: “This money will be used to kick-start us with more development. We will install more composting toilets because the ones we’ve got at the moment are just not adequate. And will be improving the facilities and developing the land.

“It’s great that we’ve managed to raise this money in such a short space of time. It was touch and go but we managed it just about an hour before the deadline. It’s all thanks to our supporters and the hard work of the staff.

“It will help us to grow and provide the tools for sessions which are happening here.”

Hulme Community Garden Centre offers volunteering and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues as well as supporting toddler groups and school visits. Volunteers gain an insight into how a garden centre works, learn organic methods of plant care and pest control and help to produce plants for sale.

Team leader Rachel Summerscales said the money raised will help to

Mark and Helene show off the latest season’s fashions for gardening... not very much at all!

‘It’s great that we’ve managed to raise this in such a short space of time’

carry on the centre’s charitable work.

She said: “We are about to sign a 20-year lease allowing us to continue to develop and grow – we would like to eventually build a large multipurpose eco building to house a new shop, offices and volunteer hub.”

Members

recently showed a garden at the RHS Tatton Show and have created a mountain stream inspired garden at the Cateaton Street steps as part of Dig the City, which runs until Thursday August 6.

To support the centre visit www.hulmegardencentre.org.uk or call 0161 227 8198.