SQUIRE’S Garden Centres have presented cheques totalling £24,758 to various charities across the South East, including Change of Scene, Quest Riding for the Disabled, Alzheimer’s Dementia Support and Cherry Trees to name but a few.

Badshot Lea’s garden centre raised £1,139 alone for Change of Scene, which provides alternative provision for children and young people who struggle to cope in mainstream education.

Squire’s customers gave donations primarily in return for a visit to see Santa, who was handing out gifts in his grotto across Squire’s centres during the Christmas period.

Customers were generous with their pounds and the money raised was nearly £7,000 more than last year.

Sarah Squire, deputy chairman at Squire’s said: “As always our Christmas grottos were incredibly popular, and it was fantastic to see such generous charity donations from our customers.

“Each of our garden centres chooses which local charity they would like to support for the year, and all donations from the public go directly to that charity.

“I’m delighted that we can present cheques to all our charities, and I hope that this will help support the wonderful work that they do in our local communities.”