little dobbies’ Stockbridge store announces local Helping Your Community Grow winner

YMCA Edinburgh encourages votes to be national winner

little dobbies’ Stockbridge store has announced its local Helping Your Community Grow winner, seeing YMCA Edinburgh receive gardening resources to enhance their garden space.

YMCA Edinburgh empower young people, children and their families through mentoring, youth activities, sports and family support. The charity is needs led and delivers activities and supports to help ensure families, irrespective of challenges faced, have the scaffolding in place for children to grow up loved, safe and respected.

YMCA Edinburgh now invites local residents to cast their vote to help the charity be crowned the national winner and receive additional funding and support.

This will include advice, gardening products and plants. Dobbies’ own-brand peat-free multipurpose compost, recycled and recyclable containers, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate.

Mike Kerracher, YMCA Edinburgh Association Manager said: “We are hugely grateful for the support from little dobbies Stockbridge. Resources will be used for gardening activities in our outdoor learning sessions with kids and in our Women’s Wellbeing sessions.

“We are well aware of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and this donation will help community members, including those who have experienced trauma and/or do not have access to a garden, feel the benefits of gardening.”

Deirdre Rutherford, General Manager at little dobbies Stockbridge said: “We are delighted to be supporting YMCA Edinburgh and are looking forward to helping them with their gardening activities by donating gardening equipment, plants and compost.”

To cast your vote for YMCA Edinburgh visit Helping Your Community Grow | Dobbies Garden Centres

Votes are open until Tuesday 25 April. There is only one vote per person. The project with the most votes across the UK will be the national winner. 

Dobbies: Give a gift that will grow

Houseplants are the new bouquets according to a recent survey by Dobbies Garden Centres, in which 24% of Edinburgh residents said they preferred to receive houseplants rather than cut flowers because they last longer.

A further 31% of Brits said they would happily give a houseplant as a gift.

Houseplants are the ultimate sustainable gift, especially for Valentine’s Day, where a long-lasting houseplant acts as a reminder to your loved ones for years to come.

Dobbies’ Edinburgh and little dobbies’ Stockbridge stores have a wide range of cost-effective houseplants are the perfect way to show your appreciation for your partner with a gift that will last. With a multitude of positive effects, houseplants have air-purifying benefits, and can enhance your home, as well as your wellbeing. 

From the green-fingered plant parent to the novice gardener, Dobbies has a houseplant to make everyone feel good. Follow Dobbies’ Senior Houseplant Buyer Claire Bishop’s top tips on ensuring your gift will grow to its fullest potential:

“Houseplants make a beautiful addition to any space with their greenery and colour.

“If you are in search of a romantic but low-maintenance plant, Phalaenopsis will make an impression. These are one of the most popular houseplants, and flowering houseplants are a key trend for 2023. They make a wonderful present for anyone, coming in a range of colours as well as being easy to care for. Place them in bright, centrally heated room (but out of direct summer sun) and watch them bloom!

“Our limited edition Anthurium Clarinervium is ideal if you prefer a tropical look, with its stunning deep green leaves overlain with decorative white. Native to southern Mexico, this rare houseplant loves humidity and would find itself at home in a shower room or steamy kitchen. Ensure its soil is damp but not over-saturated by misting regularly.

Aglaonema’s stunning variegated leaves and variations of colours lend a pop of colour to any home, guaranteeing your loved one will be thrilled to receive this patterned beauty. This houseplant loves a warm, consistent temperature so keep away from any cold air drafts. In lower light areas, aim to periodically rotate your plant for even growth.”

Visit in store or online at www.dobbies.com to explore Dobbies range of houseplants and Valentine’s gifting ideas, with plenty of styles and sizes to suit every budget and space.

For top tips on caring for houseplants, listen to Claire’s advice on the Positively Plants podcast www.dobbies.com/podcasts

Dobbies’ stores across Edinburgh gets into the festive spirit with a Christmas Shopping Night

Raising funds for national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is inviting shoppers across Edinburgh to join them for extended shopping hours to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Taking place from 5pm to 9pm on Thursday 25 November in Dobbies’ Edinburgh and Livingston stores, in addition to little dobbies Stockbridge, the Christmas Shopping Night will showcase the Christmas ranges, and feature competitions, discount vouchers, demos and sampling.

Customers across Edinburgh will have the opportunity to make donations to Dobbies’ national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, write festive messages on Christmas baubles for the Wish Tree, and win prizes in a fantastic festive raffle.

The Christmas Your Way raffle will offer customers the chance to win all the items featured on specially created Christmas trees. There’s a tree for chocolate fans in partnership with Lindt, one for kids with Living Nature, one for those who love their pets with Chuckit, gardening gurus with Burgon and Ball, and fashionistas with Powder. The raffle will open on the night and close on 17December.

*Dobbies’ stores will offer an exclusive preview of their Christmas Grotto and customers will be able to enjoy a two-course festive meal at Dobbies’restaurants for £12.95, choosing from vegan and vegetarian options as well as traditional turkey with all the trimmings. This is bookable in advance.

Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager said: “Christmas is a time of year we all look forward to at Dobbies stores across Edinburgh, and we can’t wait to welcome people for a full festive experience with our late opening evening. There will be a free welcome drink and a range of Christmas gifts, decorations and products to choose from.

“Most importantly, we are raising funds for our national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, who do incredible work with young people across the country. It’s going to be the perfect way to get the festive season started.”

Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationship Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust said: “We are absolutely delighted to collaborating with Dobbies as they stay open late on 25 November.

“The donations from Dobbies’ customers will enable us to give the gift of care from our nurses, or the gift of community on one of our specialist units, to young cancer patients across the UK.”

For more details on Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night, visit:

https://www.dobbies.com/events

There is a £1 donation to attend, with all monies raised going to Teenage Cancer Trust – this is available in-store in advance or on the night.

Dobbies is also going to be sharing some festive joy in the run up to Christmas, celebrating community groups, charities, clubs and neighbourhoods who make a difference to their local areas.

Not Your Average Community will see three local groups from across the UK win £1,000 to spend on decorations to brighten up their local area for Christmas.

For more details visit https://www.dobbies.com/not-your-average-community.

*little dobbies Stockbridge is excluded from the Christmas Grotto and restaurant offering.