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These
cheeky Calendar Guys performed the ultimate pruning job when they
bared all to raise funds for a county charity.
The
laddish landscape gardeners, aged between 20 and 64, decided to
showcase their muscled bodies as well as their spadework.
But
their naked ambition wasn't simply a case of showing off. The home-grown
humour was all in a good cause - to raise funds for the Cotswold
Care Hospice.
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Click
on the link below to see photos from the naked gardeners calendar
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So
the fellas with green fingers stripped off and posed in gardens
they have designed - and the resulting pictures feature in a naked
calendar that's been snapped up so fast it sold out its first print
run in less than a week!
The
bunch of hunks, who all work for Bisley-based Graduate Gardeners,
decided to down trowels and trousers after a former colleague's
wife died.
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Nice
boots - and not a bad body either!
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Stuart
Gibbs - the calendar organiser and Mr December - said: "He
has to look after his young family after the loss of his wife to
cervical cancer shortly after the birth of their third child.
"Before
she died, they used the services of Cotswold Care Hospice - so we
felt that they were an ideal recipient of any money raised.
"We
started planning it last December not knowing that the film Calendar
Girls was going to come out.
"We
had 16 volunteers but unfortunately there are only 12 months so
the calendar features photo montages which include those guys who
didn't manage to make a month.
"Some
guys were happy to sign up straight away and were content to drop
their gear but others needed a bit more coaxing.
"We
shed a few pounds and sharpened up a few muscles to do it.
"We
had 1000 printed and we sold them all within a week. We've now had
another 3000 printed - but I don't think we'll be made into a film
because the WI ladies beat us to it!"
Hospice
spokesman Rik Kumar said: "Demand for the calendars has surpassed
all expectations.
"Cotswold
Care is so pleased that the team from Graduate Gardeners have chosen
such a novel, fun and up-front way to help us.
"For
every 1000 calendars sold, over £5000 will directly benefit our
local hospice."
The
Cotswold Gardeners Calendar 2004 can be ordered online from the
www.hospice.org.uk
for £7.50 (£9 including p&p).
The
charity calendar is also available at Ottakars book stores in Cirencester,
Cheltenham and Gloucester.
What
do you think of the Calendar Guys? Would you get your kit off for
charity? Have your say - email us at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
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You'd
never get the Naked Chef stripping off in the kitchen - but the earthy
lads known as Gloucestershire's Naked Gardeners aren't so shy!
