#ForgetMeNotMCR: Why are people planting forget-me-not seeds around Manchester?

#ForgetMeNotMCR is a charity campaign running throughout September and early October by us, Forget Me Not. We already have a CQC rated ‘outstanding’ children’s hospice in Huddersfield, and we have now taken over Grace’s Place on Dumers Lane in Radcliffe, which is due to open next year.

In North Manchester, there are 650 children who have life-shortening conditions but currently have no access to a children’s hospice. Throughout September, we’re giving out 650 packets of forget-me-not seeds, kindly donated by Suttons and with gardening advice from Thomson Ecology, to represent each of these children, and asking people to plant them at home, work or in their local communities and share photos of them doing so on social media using the hashtag #ForgetMeNotMCR. Once germinated, the seeds will blossom into a lovely surprise for local residents and businesses to enjoy and we hope the campaign will spread a little magic, while also raising awareness of the need for quality and compassionate children’s hospice care.

The campaign kicked off on Saturday 16 September when an army of 50 junior guerrilla gardeners, aged between 6 months and 14-years-old, gathered on Dumers Lane and planted thousands of seeds in and around the grounds of Grace’s Place and in Close Park, directly opposite. They also took packets to plant at home and in their own neighbourhoods. Once germinated, the forget-me-not seeds will blossom into a magical, fragrant surprise for local residents and businesses to enjoy.

As the charity partner of the inaugural Northern Blog Awards, which was held that same night at The Principal, Manchester, we also supplied packets of seeds for each of the 200 attendees’ goody bags at the ceremony and asked them to plant them.

Now, if any other individuals, businesses or community groups wish to get involved and support us with our #ForgetMeNotMCR campaign, please get in touch to ask about getting some seeds. Alternatively, you could create some forget-me-not flowers with an arts and crafts project such as knitting, crocheting, painting or mixed media. Or you could share a photo on social media with flower face paint.

Be sure to share your creations and gardening efforts on social media using the hashtag #ForgetMeNotMCR and help us spread the magic even further!

If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so via our Kickstart campaign. We’re currently aiming to raise £60,000 so we can start offering a Hospice at Home service.