Haskins Garden Centre in Roundstone has joined more 150 garden centres across the UK in support of national sun protection campaign, Watch Your Back!
The campaign is backed by celebrity gardeners Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock, Joe Swift, Toby Buckland, Andy Sturgeon, Anne Swithinbank, David Domoney and David Stevens.
Now in its second year, the campaign developed by the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund is also supported by the Garden Centre Association, The Professional Gardeners Guild and The National Allotment Society.
Alasdair Urquhart, plant advisor at Haskins Garden Centre, said: “Watch Your Back! aims to raise awareness of melanoma among men aged 50 and over who spend a lot of time outdoors. They are 70 per cent more likely to develop melanoma, typically on their backs and in areas that are hard to spot – which could lead to a later diagnosis.
“Many of us forget to wear sun protection when gardening, however it is really important for us to promote ways of protecting skin to customers, as we know that they will spend many hours outside now that growing season is officially here.”
To help raise awareness, Haskins Garden Centre is promoting the following advice:
PROTECT: Wear SP30 sunscreen, sleeves, a hat and seek shade between 11am and 3pm
DETECT: Regularly check skin for changes and ensure you know what to look out for
PREVENT: Melanoma and other skin cancers, but enjoy your time outside
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, commented: “This campaign makes huge sense and reminds gardeners that their own health is every bit as important as that of their plants.”
Haskins Garden Centres are located in Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone and Snowhill in West Sussex. For more information, visit Haskins.co.uk