Sue Allen steps into the shoes of John Ashley at Greenfingers
Sue Allen has succeeded John Ashley as chair of Greenfingers, the industry backed charity that creates gardens at children’s hospices.
In the four years that John has been chairman, ten gardens have been created with another 4 in the pipeline for 2020. He has raised the Greenfingers profile and revenue has risen to over £500,000 a year.
The founder of Greenfingers, Richard Jackson, said John has transformed the charity making it more resilient both organisationally and financially.
Sue Allen founded Millbrook Garden Centre in 1979. It now has 3 sites and she is chairman of the Millbrook Garden Company. She is also chairman of the GCA Trust.
New trustees
Also retiring are Greenfingers trustees Caroline Owen, Carol Paris and Dennis Espley, who have served their maximum terms. Into their places step Tammy Woodhouse, MD of Millbrook Garden Company and daughter of Sue Allen, and Richard Capewell a former chief executive of the Perennial charity.
In 2020
The garden industry is one of the major contributors, through Garden Re-Leaf day and commercial partnerships. The charity has also had enthusiastic support from the Kew Green Hotels Group.
In 2020 Garden Re-Leaf day on 13th March will be followed by a Monte Carlo or Bust rally in June and a Summer Ball at Barton Grange on 25th June.
The charity has just heard that Clarins UK will be adding its support this year alongside Kew Green Hotel, with an initial donation of £80,000.
The 4 gardens proposed for 2020 will be built at hospices in Loughborough, Newcastle, Wales and Essex. Work could also start on a fifth in East Anglia.