Perennial provides free, confidential advice, emotional support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in or retired from horticulture and their spouses, partners and children. The charity helps professionals such as gardeners, landscapers, tree surgeons, greenkeepers, plantsmen and groundsmen Its work depends entirely on voluntary donations from the horticulture industry and the garden-loving public, and the funds raised from the Mowerthon will be invaluable to the charity’s ongoing work  

The drive started on 1 October, and Phil reached Portsmouth on 6 October.  He explains his motivation: “I’m always thinking of ways to help, and sitting at my desk one day I thought about walking from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity, but this had already been done,” commented Phil. “I then had a brainwave. Why not do it on a mower? Better still, why not do it from my home in France? After an email to Les Malin at Etesia UK which he forwarded to Patrick Vives, Etesia’s President, they offered a machine with their full support.”

You can follow his progress via the Landscape Juice Network blog and donating online or via free text. (Text HORT47 to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/mowerthon)

Phil will be supported by Etesia, their dealers and staff in France and the UK throughout his journey. The mower, used by local authorities and gardeners, has been fitted with a cab to cope with the unpredictable weather and has a top speed of just 10mph, yet he hopes to complete the journey in around two weeks.

He has also been supported by Forecourt Fuels Ltd, one of the UK’s largest fixed price fuel card providers has supplied Phil with a fuel card at cost price for his UK leg and by Affinity Landscapes, which has pledged to cover 50% of the fuel bill, keeping costs to Perennial at a minimum.

You can read more about the charity ride at HortAid