The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced that a number of its licensees are supporting the NHS and key workers with donations and discounts. The list – underlining the diverse nature of the RHS licensing campaign.  It  includes makers of luxury chocolate, gardening footwear and swing seats and benches.

Amelie Chocolat, a producer of luxury continental chocolates, nearly doubled its Easter sales this year. This is despite running on a reduced staff to ensure social distancing in its factory and slimming down its range of products to its best sellers. The range includes products from its B&LLA-nominated collection – the RHS Woodland Collection, the RHS Raspberry and Champagne Collection, and the RHS Cherry Chocolate Collection, and the high level of interest from chocolate lovers has not stopped after Easter as orders continue to pour in.

Amelie had already donated chocolates to several NHS teams over Easter and now that everything is in place to safely fulfil the high level of customer orders, Amelie has decided that all profit generated over the month from the 16th of April to the 15th of May will be donated straight to the NHS.

Meanwhile premium, innovative boot brand The Original Muck Boot Company, whose range includes RHS-endorsed multi-purpose gardening boots and shoes is offering a 30 percent discount to NHS staff, through the Blue Light Card and its associated portal. The Blue Light Card provides those in the NHS, emergency services and armed forces with discounts both online and in store. The Blue Light Card also allows companies to get involved with offering discounts to frontline workers – as Muck Boots has done.

Finally, the only swing seat and bench maker licensed by the RHS, Sitting Spiritually, has posted a message on its site explaining that it has been able to continue operations as its designers and suppliers are largely based in independent workshops – and founder Martin Young has added a personal invitation to all NHS and key support workers to get in touch.

Natalie Levy, Founder and Director, Amelie Chocolat, says: “We realise how lucky we are to be so busy during these difficult times, and feel we have a responsibility to help where possible. This means that, for four weeks, every time customers order chocolates from us, all the profit we make on the order will be donated straight to the NHS. We’re delighted to be able to do our bit to help our frontline workers.”

Eleanor Cornwell, EMEA Marketing Lead, The Original Muck Boot Company, says: “It’s a tough time for everyone right now, but especially for our key workers. We’re delighted to be working with the Blue Light Card to help key workers to take a moment for themselves and enjoy time in the outdoors with loved ones as and when they can safely do so.”

Martin Young, founder, Sitting Spiritually, says: “We are grateful to be able to carrying on working at this difficult time, but we know that without the staff of the NHS things would be a lot tougher. Our thanks to you all.”

These offers can be found at ameliechocolat.co.uk, bluelightcard.co.uk and sittingspiritually.co.uk/blog/article/a-message-from-martin-young. The Muck Boot Company site is www.muckbootcompany.co.uk

About the RHS

The Royal Horticultural Society the world’s leading gardening charity, was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. This aspiration underpins all that we do, from inspirational gardens and shows, through our scientific research, to our education and community programmes such as the Campaign for School Gardening and Britain in Bloom. We produce key publications, hold a world-class collection of horticultural books and botanical art, and sell the very best plants and gardening gifts.

The RHS is fundraising £40m to transform our gardens, outreach and education facilities, which includes redeveloping our flagship RHS Garden Wisley and opening a new garden, RHS Garden Bridgewater, in 2020. We are solely funded by our members, visitors and supporters. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk.”

About the RHS Licensing programme

Working with the right partners to produce high-quality, beautifully designed products is at the heart of everything we do. We select our partners carefully and offer each one a tailored support package overseen by our experienced Licensing team. Within the RHS Lindley Collections, we hold the world’s finest collection of botanical art containing more than 25,000 superb images. RHS Enterprises Limited uses this artwork collection and RHS gardening expertise to create and endorse inspirational products. In 2017 the RHS won the award for Best Licensed Heritage or Institution Brand at The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards. In 2018, again at The Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards, the RHS Flora Apparel collection by COAST won the award for Best Brand Licensed Adult Apparel Product or Range.