Mud is a well-documented cleansing aid, good for the body and general mental health, especially if you’re a hippopotamus or a horticulturist! UK horticulture trade charity Perennial is hoping people (not hippos) will get very muddy to raise much-needed funds for the charity this September.

The Go Nuts for HortAid Challenge takes place on Sunday 18 September in Dorking, Surrey and registration is now open. The iconic 5km muddy obstacle course is one of the most popular challenge events in the UK and Perennial is hoping to attract teams (of between 5 and 10 people) from across the horticulture industry to take part.

Chris Crooker, Events Manager at Perennial says: “We have a team of Grubby Gardeners and a team of Dirty Designers already signed and Janine Pattison Studios is also entering a team. But we’re looking for many more to pledge to raise £200 and #getmuddy for HortAid this year.

“The event is supported by BBC Surrey who will broadcast live as they watch teams conquer 5km, 60 obstacles and lashings of mud all along the way! It’s fantastic fun and can be tackled by all ages and abilities – military training is certainly not required!”

Perennial is the only UK charity dedicated to helping all those who work in horticulture, from arborists to garden designers, when times get tough. A UK-wide network of professionally trained caseworkers provide one-to-one help, advice and financial assistance for those facing life’s many challenges including illness, injury, bereavement, debt or financial hardship. Money raised for HortAid through challenge events such as the Nuts Challenge, allows Perennial to reach more people in need of help.

Janine Pattison, a Dorset based garden designer, has signed up as part of the Muddy Buddies team from Janine Pattison Studios. She says: “JPS is a creative and unique landscape design practice based in Poole, Dorset. Over a vast range of both private and commercial projects, we regularly tackle complex challenges including poor drainage, protected trees, steeply sloping sites and harsh coastal conditions. 

“However, on 18 September 2016 five members of the JPS team (The Muddy Buddies) will be running, jumping, slipping and sliding across a 5K assault course – head to toe in Surrey mud. Perhaps this will be our biggest challenge yet, but it will be worth it if we raise £1,000 for our industry charity.”

You can support the Muddy Buddies securely via JustGiving here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JaninePattisonStudios

To find out more about Go Nuts for HortAid or any of the other HortAid challenge events, visit www.hortaid.org.uk