THIS Friday, March 14, is the third Garden Re-Leaf Day - an annual, national gardening initiative that brings garden centres and gardeners together for fun and fundraising at the start of the gardening year.

Staff at Studley Garden Centre are taking part in a Garden Re-Leaf Day sponsored run, row, ride six hour challenge along with their sister centres Hilltop and The Garden Store.

The idea is to cover the 240 miles between all eight centres in just 6 hours without leaving Studley Garden Centre, by using Kettler gym equipment.

The staff have persuaded their CEO and Garden Re-Leaf Day's founder, Boyd Douglas-Davies, to get on his bike and will sponsor him per 30 minute session, plus there’s a bonus if he can manage to complete all six hours.

He said: “This is quite a challenge but we’re all looking forward to it and hope to raise as much as possible for this worthwhile cause. We’re enormously grateful to those who have already sponsored us and would welcome any additional support and encouragement from visitors to the centre this Friday.

In addition to the challenge there will also be a raffle with some great prizes up for grabs.

All proceeds will go to Greenfingers, Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nominated charity for 2014.  Greenfingers is currently running the ‘Rosy Cheeks’ appeal – which aims to raise £750,000 over two years to fund the creation of at least 10 more children’s hospice gardens, giving children and families who use the hospices a chance to spend precious outdoor time together.