WHEN Maintenance Gardener Brett Donnelly struggled with back problems which were crucifying his career – he thought there was no one he could turn to for help.
Three bulging discs in his back meant an operation which took him out of work for four months.
But it wasn’t until recently that he learned about Perennial – the UK’s only charity that helps everyone in horticulture, including their families, when times get tough.
Every other year they publish a naked calendar – persuading very familiar faces in the industry to strip off – with the aim of raising much needed funds to help those in need.
And Brett discovered that 2024 was a year off.
So the bold 48-year-old from Cornwall decided to take matters into his own hands – and publish his own.
He told Sun Gardening: “I had prolapsed discs and it stopped me working for ages. As a gardener you need to be out there whatever the weather and I just wasn’t able to work – it was a really worrying time for me and my family.
“I didn’t know about Perennial back then – but they’re such an amazing charity I wanted to do something to raise awareness, so other gardeners didn’t have to go through what I did.
“Gardening is a tough job – it takes it’s toll on your body – and in Winter it’s especially hard.
“But Perennial offer advice and support for those like me.”
He added: “Every year the horticultural industry does a World Naked Gardening Day where gardeners all over the globe post pictures of them gardening naked.
“I did one posed with a sledgehammer and it went down very well – so it seemed to make sense to do a calendar. My wife thought it was a great idea, so we published it together.”
Wife Marie, 52, said: “When he did the put the photo up for Naked Gardening Day, it was very well received and loads of people said how much he looked like Fred Sirieix from First Dates, who went in the Celebrity Jungle, which made us laugh.
“So we decided to go with the calendar to raise money for Perennial. It was really fun to do!!”
Perennial has been going for 180 years and started out with as a benevolent fund to pay Head Gardeners pensioners.
A Perennial spokesperson said: “The financial and social pressures on those working in and retired from horticulture are acute, particularly in the economic downturn, as horticulture professions are still relatively low paid and just as physically gruelling.
“Perennial is a lifeline for many, providing free and confidential advice and financial assistance to over 1,600 people every year.”
To purchase your £10 copy of Brett’s calendar – visit his Facebook page – Brett Donnelly & Son Garden and Property Maintenance.
