Dame Joanna Lumley endorses renewed three-year partnership with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity

The National Garden Scheme is renewing its partnership with ABF The Soldiers’ Charity for another three years, with a commitment to donate £240,000 to their work supporting soldiers, veterans and their families.

Since 2010, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity has received £625,000 from the National Garden Scheme using these donations to fund a wide variety of projects devoted to helping soldiers and veterans. These include grants to charities such as HighGround and Veterans Outdoors, which promote soldiers and veterans’ physical and mental wellbeing through the green environment, horticultural therapy and training, and other outdoors activities.

Endorsing the renewed partnership, Dame Joanna Lumley, daughter of an Army officer, said:

“I’m delighted to learn that two of my favourite good causes will be working together for another three very fruitful years. As the daughter of a soldier, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is very dear to me. For nearly 80 years it has supported soldiers, veterans and their families. With the support of the brilliant National Garden Scheme, and the incredible volunteers and garden owners who give their time so generously, I know it will continue to do so.

“It’s heartening to learn to what good use this money has already been put, with projects for veterans and serving soldiers. These include education and training grants for former soldiers who want to work in horticulture, outdoor space to enjoy for veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia, as well as projects which give better access to gardens where peace and plants can do their work to heal, to build mental and physical fitness and to help create that very special sense of wellbeing that only Mother Nature can.

“The National Garden Scheme gives everyone the chance to open the gate to thousands of beautiful gardens up and down the land – there’s something very uplifting just being there. And, of course, knowing that all the money raised goes to good causes like ABF The Soldiers’ Charity adds to that.”

Read more about the National Garden Scheme’s support of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity by CLICKING HERE

Lead image: Andy and Jane in the greenhouse at High Ground at Stanford Hall, DNRC. Photo © Charlie Hopkinson