STIHL is launching its Minutes Mowed challenge in support of Greenfingers, a charity that supports children who spend time in hospices by creating inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces for them to benefit from.

From today, (Friday 19 March), the manufacturer and its long-standing dealer Sims, will be going head to head to try to clock up at least 1,000 minutes of mowing by the end of May.

STIHL is launching its Minutes Mowed challenge in support of Greenfingers

The 10-week challenge is being run in support of the tenth anniversary of Greenfingers’ Garden Re-Leaf Day - an annual nationwide event that raises funds and awareness for the work the charity does making a difference to life-limited children and their families. 

Garden Re-Leaf Day is being supported by gardening clubs and societies across the country, as well as by garden centres, growers, suppliers, manufacturers and trade associations. To help raise funds for this year’s event, Minutes Mowed followers are being encouraged to text ‘MOWFIVE’ to 70085 to donate £5 or ‘MOWTEN’ to donate £10 between now and the end of May (texts will cost £5 or £10 plus one standard rate message).

Linda Petrons, Greenfingers’ director of Fundraising and Communications explained that donations are needed more than ever this year. “The therapeutic benefits of spending time outside have been felt by many of us this year," she said. "And time spent in our own gardens has really been a life-line during lockdown. 

“As some hospices opened their gardens to support the most vulnerable children in their community, the need for well-designed outside spaces has been recognised by many. As a result, the waiting list of hospices needing our help has grown. 

“By taking part in Garden Re-Leaf Day, STIHL and Sims Garden Machinery as well as many others across the country, are helping us to ensure that thousands more life-limited children and their families can benefit from magical and inspiring outside spaces in 2021 and beyond.”

People are encouraged to follow #minutesmowed on social media as it unfolds and to watch the number of minutes mowed (and donations raised) grow as they are recorded each week online.

Simon Hewitt, head of Marketing of STIHL GB said, "STIHL GB has been supporting Greenfingers for a number of years and when we heard it was their tenth anniversary we wanted to try a different (and competitive) approach to fundraising. With Jack Wallington, Garden Writer for the Telegraph, on our Minutes Mowed team we are hoping that our minutes will quickly start clocking up!
 
"This year fundraising for Greenfingers is more important than ever before, which is why we are encouraging our customers, suppliers and employees to come together to ensure their amazing work can continue in hospices throughout the UK."