Kilimanjaro countdown begins for Greenfingers Team
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Nicole & David Higginson
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Alexa Blackmore
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Heidi and Tara
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Matt Rowlandson and Kate Ebbens
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Matt Jones
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Helen Taylor
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Danny and Jodie
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Johan Huibers
With just three weeks remaining before the Greenfingers Charity Kilimanjaro Trek begins, anticipation is building among the team preparing to tackle Africa’s highest mountain in support of children’s hospice gardens.
The group will spend eight days trekking to the 5,895m summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising funds for Greenfingers Charity and its work creating therapeutic outdoor spaces for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Among those taking part are Nicole and David Higginson of New Leaf Plants, who are combining the trek with celebrations for their upcoming 35th wedding anniversary. David previously climbed Kilimanjaro 13 years ago for charity, while Nicole admitted she had long envied the experience and immediately signed up when the challenge was announced.
Danny and Jodie Rowlandson are also drawing on personal experience for motivation. Their son Max was diagnosed with leukaemia aged two and spent significant time in hospital during his childhood. Having seen the impact outdoor spaces can have on wellbeing, the pair said Greenfingers’ hospice gardens provide families with vital moments of escape and calm.
For Matt Rowlandson and Kate Ebbens, the climb combines fundraising with a shared love of adventure. The pair regularly take on hiking challenges together and recently summited Ben Nevis in six hours, though both acknowledge Kilimanjaro’s summit day will present a far greater physical and mental test.
Long-time friends Heidi and Tara, who have spent more than 30 years pursuing sporting and outdoor adventures together, said conversations with hospice families reinforced the importance of supporting the charity’s work. Heidi, who also serves as a Greenfingers trustee, described the challenge as an opportunity to raise meaningful funds while supporting one another through the climb.
Alexa Blackmore, Gift and Christmas Buyer for The Gardens Group, said the trek has already transformed her perspective through months of demanding training. She described gardens and outdoor spaces as places of sanctuary and reflection, adding that every family should have access to those moments during difficult times.
Helen Taylor decided to join the expedition after hearing about the trek at a funeral last year. Having recently celebrated her 60th birthday, she said the challenge offered the chance to support a children’s charity while also pushing herself physically and mentally beyond her comfort zone.
Mother and daughter duo Phillippa and Libby are treating the trek as part of Phillippa’s 50th birthday celebrations. Both have supported Greenfingers fundraising events for years and said visiting one of the charity’s hospice garden openings made the value of the outdoor spaces immediately clear.
Matt and Nic Jones are also marking milestone birthdays through the challenge, with both turning 50 shortly after returning home. The couple said personal family experiences with illness had strengthened their desire to support families facing far more difficult circumstances.
Semi-retired consultant Johan Huibers signed up seeking a challenge with purpose and hopes to raise £5,000 through the expedition. Originally from Holland and now based in the UK, he said he felt fortunate that his own children were healthy and wanted to help others wherever possible.
The wider trekking team also includes Greenfingers Ambassador Bob Marley, Richard Howard of Doddington Nurseries, Tia Blunt, Richard Quarmby, Thomas Forsyth, Greenfingers trustee Tammy Woodhouse, Rene Assies of Assies and Jess Dollimore of Ruxley Manor.
Alongside fundraising efforts, the horticulture industry is also being encouraged to support Floral Friday on 12 June, with businesses and individuals invited to wear bright floral clothing in solidarity with the trekkers as they begin their ascent.
To show your support visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/greenfingers-kilimanjaro2026 and keep an eye on the Greenfingers socials to find out more about the trekkers upcoming events.
In the meantime, you can also follow all the latest updates from Greenfingers on social media - @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn, https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/ and @GreenfingersCha on Twitter.