Ali Dent is working on a garden ornament that is to be handed over as part of the amnesty. A British village has introduced an amnesty program for garden gnomes, under which residents can bring their unwanted garden ornaments for recycling and distribution. The residents of Hilgay, Norfolk, started this program so that people could get rid of their unwanted garden gnomes and donate them to charities. They were then restored by 65-year-old Ali Dent, who refurbished them together with her nine-year-old grandson Harry and sold them to benefit the Norfolk Hospice. Ali explained: "I must have over 50 of them now".
Recycling garden gnomes
A village started the first amnesty for garden gnomes in Great Britain to collect unwanted ornaments.
The residents of Hilgay, Norfolk, started this program to give people the opportunity to get rid of their unwanted garden gnomes and donate them to charities.
They are restored by 65-year-old Ali Dent, who recycles them together with her young grandson and sells them to benefit the Norfolk Hospice.
One person has already handed over 25 gnomes.
Ali explained: "I must have over 50 now".
My grandson comes and helps me". We just have to find the right paints, that's the most important thing".
The pile of garden gnomes in front of Ali's house is steadily growing.
Ali, a semi-retired shopkeeper, said: "People bring them to my house and leave them outside when I'm not there".
"The other day a man came and left 25 garden gnomes".
Ali has raised over €151,200 for various charities such as the Stroke Association and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was appointed an MBE in 2006 for his charitable work.