Trade-in tools to help communities and rehabilitation

Poppleton Garden Centre wants gardeners to help with its Garden Tool Amnesty running from Saturday, February 13, until Sunday, February 28.

Centre manager Michael Parker said: "It's the third year we have run an appeal like this. The event is in aid of The Conservation Foundation's 'Tools Shed' programme, which gives free garden tools, repaired in a number of UK prisons, to schools and community gardens.

"We will give anyone who brings in their old gardening tools during the Garden Tool Amnesty a 20 per cent off voucher to redeem against any new gardening tools from our Fiskars, Yeoman or Joseph Bentley range.

"The initiative applies to tools such as trowels, spades, hand and garden forks, hoes, good old-fashioned garden rakes and lawn rakes, but not power tools, which are those powered by electricity or are petrol-driven."

The tools collected will be repaired at a number of UK prisons participating in the Tools Shed project, including HMP Moorland, near Doncaster.

Any donated tools will be delivered to the prison and refurbished by prisoners, contributing to their training and rehabilitation. The revamped tools are given to schools and community groups.

The Conservation Foundation's director, David Shreeve, said: "Tools Shed is a popular initiative that provides practical skills to prisoners, reduces waste and helps equip the next generation of gardeners."

To find out more about the Tool Amnesty at Poppleton Garden Centre, on Northfield Lane, Upper Poppleton, call 01904 795920 or visit www.poppleton gardencentre.co.uk.

For more information on how to give and receive tools, visit www.conservation foundation.co.uk or you can call 020 7591 3111.