One of the runners is Linden Groves, our Head of Operations & Strategy, and she gives us the latest update.
There’s now just over a week to go until the London Marathon, on 27 April, and it’s looming pretty big in my consciousness! In order to build energy reserves, actual training is now ‘tapered’ down to relatively short distances in my local parks, where there are always friends and neighbours around to give a friendly heckle as I run past. I’ve treated myself to some floral shorts to go with the bespoke Gardens Trust vest, which boasts a design spattered with bandstands, fountains, trees, and happy park visitors, based around the Gardens Trust logo, of course. Hopefully this will attract lots of cheers for the Gardens Trust on the day.
I am absolutely tickled pink to have met my fundraising target of £2500, thanks to donations from Gardens Trust members, supporters, friends, neighbours and family. A huge thank you to everyone who has donated, and for all the lovely supportive comments too. As the big day approaches I’m feeling pretty nervous, so to have all this support behind me is a real boost.
There are 4 other runners taking part for the Gardens Trust too, and it has been great to be part of such an inspiring group. Gary Spreadbury is a professional gardener and, on the day of our last catch up, was juggling training with planting an immense cercis, but none the less spoke so movingly about his experiences as a head gardener in a public park that I was then inspired to go out and do my fastest ever training. Ruth Tufnell is an art teacher with a passion for the health benefits that historic parks and gardens can bring, whilst Max Buttinger puts us all to shame with the intensity of his training. Ruth Holmes has worked for the Royal Parks and previously been Chair of London Parks & Gardens, and currently works as Head of Landscape and Urban Design, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and LLDC Developments, continuing to champion historic designed landscapes at every possible opportunity. I’m so grateful to them all for their dedication. Do please cheer them on!
Support our runners at the London Marathon
With race day fast approaching, here are some ways you can support our five fabulous runners at this year’s London marathon.
🌿 Cheer Point – Bring Your Supporters!
We’ll have a dedicated Gardens Trust cheer point near to miles 13 and 22 along the route. We will be close to Swedenborg Gardens (the nearest tube station is Shadwell DLR). We’d love for you to join us there to cheer our on our dedicated team – the more, the merrier! Look out for our flag and enthusiastic supporters in Gardens Trust t-shirts.
💚 Donate
All of our amazing runners have their own reasons for wanting to support the Gardens Trust – read their stories here and follow the links to donate via Enthuse.
📲 Watch and share
Along with watching the race across London itself why not catch up on Linden’s Marathon training journey over the past year – including visits to Kenwood, Wicksteed Park, Sheffield Botanical Gardens, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Benmore Botanic Gardens and King Lynn’s The Walks. Whilst there, Linden interviewed some of the people who help to look after them too. Watch, like and share these on social media to spread the word about our amazing historic parks and gardens!
