SOLEX Exhibition, the premier event that gathers the best and brightest of the outdoor leisure industry, has announced an Awards Ceremony & Afterparty to kick off the excitement of the summer event on the Tuesday 9 July. Marking its 16th year, SOLEX Exhibition has curated a night of celebration, networking, and a thrilling football-themed evening to coincide with the highly anticipated UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals.

With a captivating football-themed setting, the stage will be set with tv screens and hot food, as industry players gather, attendees can look forward to not only the prestigious SOLEX Awards but also to the electric atmosphere as the evening blends business recognition with the shared love for the beautiful game.

Adding to the excitement, former Ex - England footballer Dion Dublin will be joining us for the event to share insights and predictions ahead of the semi-final clash, (which we hope will feature England) as well as taking part in a Q&A session. The evening begins with a Welcome Drink and Hot Buffet, leading into the hotly awaited match on the big screen. The SOLEX Awards will be presented by Dion at half time. The afterparty, will be a chance to mingle outside the usual professional environment and promises to be as thrilling as the game itself.

The evening won't just be about football. We will have delicious food and drink, exciting entertainment, and a chance to unwind and socialize with exhibitors and visitors. So even if you're not a fan of the beautiful game, we've got you covered.

Don't miss out! Add your name to the guest list today BOOK NOW

Ready your grills, sharpen your knives, and stoke the fires! SOLEX Exhibition 2024 is about to welcome back the crowd-pleasing, taste-bud-teasing Fire Food and Outdoor Living Evening incorporating our BBQ Competition, which is set to light up the evening with charm and flavour.

Scheduled for Wednesday 10 July, the evening now in its second year, is the event that celebrates not only the mastery of the grill but the communal joy of al fresco dining.

Attendees eagerly anticipate the BBQ showdown, where teams of both exhibitors and visitors will vie for the prestigious BBQ Trophy. The stakes are high.  Each team aims to impress the judges, including industry experts with a signature dish.

Competition is set to heat up under the open skies outside Hall 5, be it under a radiant sun or cheering each other on beneath the shelter of gazebos, all competitors and spectators are poised to make beautiful bites of every challenge.

The essence of the evening is more than just the BBQ prize it embodies the thrill of the grill and the unifying spirit of good food shared.

Don't miss out! Add your name to the guest list today BOOK NOW

In order to ensure that everyone can fully immerse themselves in the Exhibition and exciting SOLEX Evening Events, we have secured Special Hotel Rates For Visitors who wish to attend these events and stay overnight on Tuesday 9th or Wednesday 10th July.

For the exclusive price of £100 per room, per night, SOLEX visitors can take advantage of this offer and enjoy a comfortable stay while attending the exhibition and events. This offer is not to be missed!

Don't miss out! Follow the link to book your stay BOOK NOW

or scan this QR Code:

N.B. Hotel rooms are subject to availability. Offer ends 30 April 2024.

Dobbies has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Jonathan Wass as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Joining Dobbies from his role as CFO of Cancer Research UK, Jonathan brings more than 20 years’ experience from across some of the biggest names in British retail. He is a former

Chief Financial Officer at Boots UK; Commercial Finance Director at Sainsbury’s; Finance Director at Morrisons; and Head of Business Accounting at Asda.

Jonathan’s appointment follows the recent announcement of Andy Hannan joining Dobbies as Commercial Director to deliver the garden centre group’s new commercial strategy. Jonathan will be tasked with setting the strategic direction of Dobbies’ financial operations, bringing his extensive experience from other retailers to the role.

Iain Scott has held the CFO position on an interim basis since September 2023. 

David Robinson, CEO of Dobbies, said: “Our senior leadership team has been strengthened in recent months, and with Jonathan joining us we are moving in a really positive direction.

“There are few CFOs with more retail experience and expertise than Jonathan and I’m looking forward to working closely with him to realise the potential of our brand and deliver continuous improvement across our business.

“A huge thank you to Iain for all his hard work since joining us on an interim basis in September last year. In his time with us he’s made a significant contribution to the financial direction of the business, for which we are incredibly grateful.”

Jonathan Wass, CFO at Dobbies, added: “Dobbies is an exciting prospect for me. It’s a strong business with a focused brand purpose and excellent potential for growth. I love the brand and as a keen gardener, I’m a regular visitor. I’m really looking forward to getting to know our customers and, of course, our colleagues.”

Dobbies has 77 stores across the UK, employs 3,800 people and has welcomed over 30 million customers in the year-to-date.

The launch of an exciting new category from Woodmansterne means customers can now get everything they need to coordinate their gift packaging.

Following the success of its W-Select programme for greeting cards, Woodmansterne is now offering garden retailers a one-stop solution for the planning and category management of gift packaging.

In addition to greetings cards, the company, voted Associate Member of the Year by the Garden Centre Association in January, is offering wrapping and tissue paper, tags and gift bags so customers can coordinate their gift buying and packaging.  Andy Paterson, Woodmansterne’s Sales Director described the move as a ‘massively significant step for the company’.

Several years in the making, the range now gives retailers the option to dedicate up to 5m of wall space for gift packaging. It’s being pitched as a premium collection working with licences such as the Emma Bridgewater, Sanderson and Quentin Blake, but as with Woodmansterne’s cards, eco credentials have been a priority.

“We have been considering the move into gift packaging for some time, having received serious requests from our customers as well as several licensors with whom we work,” said Seth Woodmansterne, Managing Director.

“However, we needed to ensure the quality of the products and the standard of design were commensurate with what customers expect from Woodmansterne. In addition, making the products plastic-free was also a top priority. Confident we have now all this in place, the time is right to expand in this direction.”

This exciting range of new products with industry leading environmental credentials, now means Woodmansterne can help retailers create unique and visually appealing gift departments. W-Select customers can also benefit from the one-stop-shop for premium quality, 100% plastic-free and bespoke in-house designs plus less admin.

Eco talking points include gift bags having a 100% woven paper handle, tags with paper string, and rolls of gift wrap protected by a paper sleeve. As well as an everyday range, Woodmansterne will also be offering the full gift packaging selection for. Christmas sales.

Jardinopia Limited is a rapidly growing privately owned multi award-winning designer and manufacturer of home and garden gift products, headquartered in Martock Somerset, and with operations in Virginia USA and Jodhpur India. We are looking for two experienced Senior Sales Account Managers/New Business Generators for both the North and South Regions of the UK to help take the business to the next level. 

We are open to looking at a flexible working model whereby you can work remotely (from home and on the road) as well as from our HQ in Martock Somerset as necessary. This is though largely a field-based role, and you will be expected to be on the road at least 4 days a week.

Reporting directly into the UK Sales Manager based in Martock, the North Territory is comprised of all English counties north of Birmingham, which we are calling ‘North’ (Cumberland, Northumberland, Westmorland, Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire). An ideal base might be somewhere in the middle of the Territory like Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire, reducing your journey times to customers where possible. 

The South Territory is EVERYTHING ELSE! An ideal location might be Oxfordshire or Berkshire? You will be expected to support, nurture, and develop the existing Agency Team in place and your own House Accounts that we currently have within the Territory, as well as driving new business sales across the garden centre, gift shop and bricks and mortar retail environment generally. You will be separately targeted on both retained and new business.

As well as our own award-winning brands, we are also partnered with Penguin Books (Peter Rabbit & Beatrix Potter), Laura Ashley, Iona Buchanan & Emma Lawrence as their strategic garden products partner!

We sell our products directly to Trade (Garden Centres, Gift Shops, High St Retailers, Catalogues, Tourist Destinations, Supermarkets, Florists, eTailers and Charities), to Distributors & Wholesalers overseas, at Consumer Shows such as RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as through e-Commerce sites and 3rd party marketplaces. We also have a rapidly growing 'White Label' business where we design and manufacture exclusive ranges of garden products for some of the UK's biggest and most exclusive businesses, as well as an Indian Sourcing Service – where we manage the end-to-end procurement of a wide range of products for our customers. We opened our first High St shop in April 2023, which is thriving. 

We are seeking very experienced Senior Regional Sales Account Managers/New Business Developers that know the garden and home industry intimately, are extremely well connected with their own long list of customer relationships within the Garden Centre world, and are keen to deliver and grow a world class service to our Bricks and Mortar customer base in the UK. Our customers are as varied as Kew Gardens, Buckingham Palace, RNLI and Next - to the corner florist and gift shop! We currently have 500+ Garden Centres in the UK that we work with. This is a field-based role, and you will also be expected to travel from time to time to Trade Shows and to the HQ for meetings. Most of your time will be spent on the road visiting customers and driving new business sales.

We are looking for professional sellers with an excellent track record of growth and retention over a sustained period in the Garden Gift /Garden Centre Sector. You need a good telephone manner, first class written and oral communication, a hard-working business ethic, and can work independently alongside our customers to understand their needs, support them with product and merchandising knowledge and grow our business with them. Customer growth and retention are key to this role! You will also be confident and successful selling to new customers and can demonstrate a long track record of doing so within the Garden Center Sector. You will be familiar with Sales Administration and Data Management tools (we use Blue Alligator and Zen Desk).

We have around 2,000 products that are unique to us, and this is continuously growing. We are launching 10 new Ranges this year alone. You must be an expert in applying sales tactics, running the administration processes needed to support the sale, and data gathering for the business. You will be able to quickly drive growth through the integrated use of upselling and safeguarding existing accounts & finding new business. We need you to have your own car to use for the first year in the role.

In exchange for your experience, world class skill sets and dedication to driving customer account retention and growth, we are offering a market leading and uncapped remuneration. The compensation will be c£50K dependent on experience, and an uncapped commission scheme on all Bricks and Mortar Sales in the Territory. We would expect you to quickly earn a 6-figure salary if you are successful. We are also offering a life changing opportunity to secure a percentage of our business!

You will be particularly interested to us if you have a strong background in selling garden gift products to the Garden Centre Sector, have or are selling to garden understand Zen Desk and Blue Alligator, have managed a large Territory previously, working with and maye as an Agent, and can show us that you fully understand this sector and are well networked within it.

This is an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity to work with and alongside some of the world’s biggest companies on innovative new product launches, and to work in a fast-paced dynamic business team that sell their products to some of the biggest companies in the world. Agencies and Companies need not apply. We are looking for individuals in the UK only that are prepared to own the Bricks & Mortar sales strategy in the Territory and the ongoing success for our company.

If that's you, and you can demonstrate a strong understanding of all of the above and be prepared to show us what you've achieved in your career so far with clear unambiguous examples - then we want to hear from you straight away. 

Please contact Tony in the first instance at Tony@Jardinopia.com who would be delighted to hear from you.

The GIMA Awards is a must in the garden industry events calendar, renowned for recognising excellence in new product development, marketing initiatives, and export achievements over the past 12 months.  The results will be announced at the Gala Dinner taking place on 7th November at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, South Wales.  The event is an excellent way to close the 2024 season, with a fabulous evening of dinner, drinks and networking.

If you've introduced a ground-breaking gardening product or executed a standout marketing campaign between June 2023 and May 2024, your time has come to shine!

There are 17 categories to choose from, each offering an unrivalled opportunity to get your brand in front of an influential panel of judges, composed of top UK garden retailers and esteemed journalists. This year’s confirmed judges to date include key stakeholders from Haskins, Blue Diamond, Yorkshire Garden Centres, Polhill and Stratford Garden Centres plus top gardening influencer, Mr Plant Geek, and representatives from Garden Trade News publisher, Potting Shed Press.

2023 winners – to name just a few - have included Sipcam Home & Garden, Smart Garden Products, Burgon & Ball, Zest Outdoor Living, Westland, Treadstone Products and CJ Wildlife. All the winners reaped major brand advantages in the form of increased exposure amongst buyers and coverage in trade and consumer gardening press.

New for 2024

New for this GIMA Awards in 2024 are some exciting changes to the crucial marketing categories.  We invite creative businesses and marketing professionals to enter their latest campaigns into the following:

• Best Point of Sale
• Best Online or Social Campaign
• Best Multi-Channel Marketing Campaign

Mark your calendars with the following key dates:

• Products and Marketing Awards Deadline: Friday, 31st May 2024
• Supplier of the Year and Export Achievement Award Deadline: Friday, 16th August 2024

Entry fees for GIMA members are £60 + VAT per entry, while non-members can enter at £120 plus VAT per entry. The judging venue for this year's awards will once again be the centrally located Warwick Racecourse, situated with the setup and judging processes are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 9th July, and Wednesday, 10th July.

Early Bird Discount!

If you book and pay for your tickets for the GIMA Awards Gala Dinner by 31st May 2024, you’ll be eligible for a 5% discount on bookings. This is an exclusive offer so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.

To enter the awards, book your tickets and find out more information, visit: www.gima.org.uk

Retail and economic challenges, sustainability, and adaptation to changing market dynamics were just some of the key topics that were explored at the annual GIMA Day Conference, which took place at Horticulture House, Chilton.

The event saw the day split into key themes that brought together industry leaders, experts, and GIMA members to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the garden industry.

Market & Retail Outlook

The conference kicked off with David Denny, Director of Research and Insights at HTA, who delved into market predictions and trends in the horticulture sector. Dave highlighted the increase in rental properties and how it will change the style of gardening for the younger generation. He also spoke about the emergence of a new breed of influencers among older consumers on TikTok, the importance of integrating health and wellbeing into garden centre marketing, and the significance of embracing inter-generational opportunities, with new gardeners now sourcing information from parents and family.

Mark Whiteley from GIMA Associate member Xenia Broking and Fiona O'Brien from Tokio Marine HCC provided members with essential insights into credit insurance and a retail sector update. Fiona revealed that retail sales have continued to decline over the past 10 years, with sales volumes at their lowest since pre-pandemic in 2018. January saw a sales recovery from December and was up by 3.4% but consumers continue to be pessimistic with their spending. Among the key takeaways were the continued dominance of online spending, declining inflation amidst challenging retail conditions, and market suppression challenges.

Jack Cooper, Commercial Director at RT7 Digital, shed light on the evolving landscape of e-commerce, emphasising the increasing importance of platforms like Amazon for product research and the transition from one to multi-channel vendor strategies. With 59% more searches now made on Amazon than Google, Jack revealed that the garden and outdoors category is worth on average a staggering £99.63 million a month and gave key considerations when setting up an Amazon channel.

Sustainability and the Journey to Net Zero

The mid-morning sessions delved into sustainability initiatives within the industry, with Mike Burks from The Gardens Group sharing his strategies for minimising environmental impact in his three garden centres. He highlighted the importance of selling ranges, including Christmas in an environmentally sound way and how his buying team prioritises natural products, made from recycled material that are locally made before anything else. This buying process saw the Garden Group see a 16% increase in sales compared to a 5% industry increase in 2023, and Mike urged how businesses must adopt sustainable buying policies.

Ben Duckworth from Greenarc, also an associate member of GIMA, provided insights into reducing carbon impact and cultivating change within businesses, touching upon net zero objectives that must be achieved by 2050, green technologies and the significance of having an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy. He went through the Net Zero scopes, 1,2 and 3 which involve direct emissions, indirect emissions from purchased energy with the hardest being the emissions across the business chain.

The conference concluded with a dynamic member GIMA panel debate, offering shared insights and addressing current challenges faced by manufacturers in the garden industry. Guy Jenkins from Johnsons Lawn Seed, Jenny Douthwaite from Primeur, David Halsey from Maze and Matt Jones at Sipcam covered topics such as credit risk management, sustainability initiatives within the business, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and supply chain issues.

Vicky Nuttall, Director of GIMA said: “In a landscape currently marked by economic shifts and evolving consumer behaviours, the annual GIMA Day Conference highlighted the challenges, and resilience in the garden industry. From navigating retail challenges to embracing sustainability, the industry continues to transform. I would like to thank the speakers, associate members and delegates for their time and hope the insights gained will guide and support GIMA members in their quest for future growth.”

Find out more

Any businesses interested in joining GIMA can contact the GIMA team at (01959) 564947 or info@gima.org.uk. Full details regarding GIMA’s multiple member benefits can be found at www.gima.org.uk

Despite facing a deluge of rain across the United Kingdom, the Horticultural Trade Association’s (HTA) Market Update in March 2024 reports that garden centres in February 2024 remained positive, with a +6% increase in overall garden centre sales compared to the same period last year.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented:

“In February 2024, England experienced extremely heavy rainfall, with the southern half of the country being hit the hardest, receiving nearly 15 times the amount of rainfall compared to February 2023. Despite this, garden centre sales saw a rise of 6% compared to February 2023 and 11% compared to February 2022, indicating a positive start to the upcoming Spring season.

“Although some gardening categories faced challenges, such as a 6% decline in hardy plant sales and a 4% decrease in seed sales compared to the previous year, customers continued to invest in bedding plants (up 6%), bulbs (up 6%), and indoor plants (up 5%) in February 2024. Gardening sales in the first two months of the year are typically small, but these figures suggest that consumers are taking a proactive approach in preparing for the Spring gardening season and enhancing their indoor spaces while waiting for the weather to improve.

“Our Market Update also shows a dip in consumer confidence, which fell 2 points in February 2024 due to the announcement of the UK entering a recession. However, confidence levels were still 18 points higher than the previous year. Notably, concerns for the National Health Service (NHS) have surpassed financial worries for only the second time since the onset of the pandemic, reflecting shifting priorities amidst ongoing societal challenges.

“Besides domestic factors, global dynamics continue to influence the market landscape. Uncertainty in the Middle East contributed to a surge in crude oil prices, subsequently impacting fuel prices. Furthermore, shipping container costs remain elevated, at 82% higher than last year. This adds pressure on business overheads alongside rising wage bills as the National Living Wage sees upcoming revisions in April.

“Looking ahead, the HTA is mindful of not only the potential challenges posed by unpredictable weather patterns and potential delays in plant supply but also the impending changes to imports from the EU with the introduction of Border Control Posts and switching off the Point of Destination checks that currently happen. As spring approaches, our peak season, our members are under huge pressure to ensure a steady supply of plants available within garden centres at a suitable price point. We are still asking the government to keep the current on-site expert plant checks system actively working until such a time when we have clarity and confidence that BCPS can effectively handle our goods. We also need to ensure that significant cost and administration burdens are not placed on our member businesses, predominantly SMEs. Our members remain agile in adapting their strategies to navigate these uncertainties effectively, but we need to ensure they are supported to keep Britain gardening and green.”

Members can read the full report on our website.

With the decline of front gardens across the country giving way for tarmac, gravel and block paving, our streets are changing by not only looking less green and beautiful but also having an impact on rainwater drainage and the local wildlife.

On Tuesday to raise the importance of a front garden, David Domoney and his team transformed a front garden in a real-time live television broadcast in under two hours.

Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley threw to David from ITV’s This Morning at the top of the show and followed the transformation throughout the program to the big reveal at the end.

Live from Sheffield, David worked with volunteers from Tillers Turf, British Garden Centres, and horticultural students from Sheffield College to breathe new life into the unused space. 

Facing the huge challenge of transforming a front garden live on ITV’s This Morning, David Domoney took on the task of a tired and overgrown plot whilst the nation watched on.

“The most difficult part for us, was a ticking clock, the biggest effort was just clearing the space to get started,” said David. “Once we could clear away the overgrown foliage, the work could start on cleaning, cultivating, and preparing the soil for the turf to be laid.” With time being precious, David gained the help of Richard Owens from Tiller Turf, who diligently prepared the soil and laid out the new lawn. 

Whilst the turf was being laid the teams from British Garden Centres, led by Amy Stubbs, and horticultural students from Sheffield College, worked with David to plant an array of seasonally colourful plants including forget-me-nots and feature bay trees.

The phrase ‘kerb appeal’ is often referred to by property experts, and research indicates that 57% of Brits would pay more for a property that has a gorgeous garden. And through the regular updates throughout the popular ITV morning programme, David and his team of helpers illustrated the progress being made. 

As time was called on the makeover work, David was able to take Lesley and Ruby on a guided tour of their new front garden. Lesley was overwhelmed by the results, thanking everyone, with highlights for her including the new bench with a dedication to her late mum, and the special Front Garden Facelift blue plaque created by This Morning. 

“A big thank you to everyone who helped with this garden transformation. The volunteers and support from the horticultural industry meant we could help a very deserving family,” David concluded.

David is planning more of these transformations and will be working with local garden centres in the locations.

Thanks to AMES who helped all the team with carbon steel tools.

It has become a more than good custom that at Easter, during the Holy Mass celebrated by the Pope, all kinds of colourful flower arrangements decorate St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, in Rome. The tradition originates from the moment in which Dutch florists decorated the square for the beatification ceremony of Titus Brandsma in 1985, and has since become a symbol of the good relationship between The Netherlands and the Vatican. Also this year, large amounts of Dutch flowers will transform the square into a hugely colourful spectacle. 

Under the leadership and inspiration of Piet van der Burg – chief arranger of the project, who hails from Berkel en Rodenrijs – flower bulb growers, cut flower growers and growers’ associations have been working hard for months, now, to realise the Dutch floral splendour in the Vatican once again. Various parties from the floriculture sector contribute to the success of the project with their products and services. The financial support of a number of important sponsors also makes it possible to let all the flowers, as well as the group of volunteers who will give it all its final shape and lay-out in Rome, shine in full bloom in St. Peter’s Square in time.

Organisation

Transport company Van der Slot from Noordwijkerhout – involved in this Easter flower tradition from the very beginning in 1986 – will once again ensure that all flowers and other materials reach their destination in Vatican City. On Tuesday 26 March 2024, Van der Slot Transport will leave with a big truck combination full of Dutch products. After all the flowers have been blessed during a ceremony at Keukenhof in Lisse, the transport goes straight to the Eternal City – Rome. Monsignor Hans van den Hende, bishop of the Diocese of Rotterdam – to which Lisse also belongs – and also president of the Dutch Bishops’ Conference, will perform the blessing at 11:30 AM. From 11:00 am that morning, the gates of Keukenhof are open to anyone who wants to be present at this ceremony.

In Rome, head arranger Piet van der Burg, supported by a team of volunteers, will steer the entire operation of the flower decorations in the right direction. On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, the Dutch flowers will be officially presented to Pope Francis, by the Frisian Church – the Dutch Roman Catholic parish in Rome, where Revd. Antoine Bodar is the rector. “The Solemnity of Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection, always represents a new beginning, new hope, new life,” Revd. Bodar says. One could actually say that, especially in our current time, seeing the state of the world today, the message of Easter (the victory of life over death), also expressed in the beauty of the flowers in St. Peter’s Square, is perhaps more urgent than ever.

Floral splendour

The floral décor adorns more than 170 square meters of St. Peter’s Square with dozens of arrangements around the high altar, on the stairs and on the central balcony of St. Peter’s basilica – from where Pope Francis will pronounce the papal blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”). In this way, the Dutch floriculture sector displays a unique and wide range of products to the world. The entirety will be an interplay of mixed colours, in which purple, yellow and white predominate. The well-known bulb flowers traditionally form the basis of the entire arrangement, with the cut flowers incorporated in a colourful way. This year, the gerbera will be the main flower. Growers’ association Summit Gerbera is donating no fewer than 3,500 large-flowered and mini gerberas in a wide variety of colours. Meijer Roses from Pijnacker is making 1,200 white and purple/pink Avalanche roses available this edition. Evanthia and FlowerXL are bringing 1,000 robust stems of matthiola StoX in 4 colours and the Zentoo Growers’ Association is contributing 600 stems of single-flowered chrysanthemums. Vreeken Bouvardia and Peelen Anthuriums offer beautiful cut varieties. Delphinium nursery N.G. Wigchert from Noordwijkerhout is a regular sponsor with richly flowering delphiniums in three colours. Tak Global, in collaboration with Coloríginz / OZ Import, adds forsythia and a wide range of cut foliage.

This year, there also is a large-scale contribution again from the flower bulb region with more than 21,000 bulb flowers. UNEX Inc. from Voorhout sponsors all tulip bulbs. Roma Nova and nursery Van Der Slot Lisse facilitate the cultivation until flowering. Last year, Mr and Mrs Oskam – owners of the firm W. Oskam & Zn. BV from Voorhout, which annually supplies their Tête-à-Tête daffodils to the flower project – received a papal decoration for their continuous contribution. Also this year they will grow the flower bulbs in containers, which will adorn the steps of St. Peter’s Square over a length of 465 meters. And so this colourful tradition continues – thanks to the generosity, support and efforts of many.

Publicity

On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, the entire Easter High Mass will be broadcast from Rome by broadcaster KRO-NCRV, from 9:50 AM on TV channel NPO 2 – followed by the Pope’s traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”) at 12:00 PM. This year, there is once again plenty of attention in the media for the flower gesture from the Netherlands. KRO-NCRV will also broadcast a report, between the end of High Mass and the “Urbi et Orbi” (so: sometime between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM), in which the viewer is taken from a number of occasions during the preparation period in The Netherlands to the unfolding of the floral splendour in St. Peter’s Square. This report will be repeated in the KRO-NCRV program “Kruispunt”, at 05:30 PM, again on TV channel NPO 2.

Party for Perennial this spring at your charity party of the year! Let’s come together to make a difference for all those working with plants, trees, flowers or grass.

Gather your friends and colleagues from across the industry and mark your calendars for Thursday 9 May, 7pm at Core Bar, London. Get ready for an evening buzzing with camaraderie, excitement and generosity in support of Perennial, the charity helping people in horticulture.

In the charity’s 185th year, the fundraiser, proudly sponsored by Core Landscape Products, is a memorable way to dig deep for your industry peers while making new connections and catching up with familiar faces. The ticket price of £35 includes bubbles on arrival and some delicious nibbles, plus the chance to win some great prizes in the Party for Perennial raffle.

“Phil and the team at Perennial play a vital role in our industry. We have been big supporters of the charity for the last few years and try to help wherever we can. Party for Perennial is always a great night out and with the chosen venue being called ‘CORE’ it just made sense to sponsor this fantastic event,” says Manni Keates, Managing Director of CORE Landscape Products.

Anita Bates, Perennial’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising comments: “Our popular annual party is a highly rewarding evening spent with friends and colleagues and an entertaining way to help us raise money to support more people in horticulture. Every time our Perennial Partners and supporters buy a ticket and dig deep, people and their families have a chance to build better lives. Whether taking on a Milestone challenge in May or hosting a fundraising event, your wholehearted efforts all year make a difference in the ways we can help. It’s only through growing our partnerships with businesses and organisations that we can reach more people. Tickets are on sale now, so please put the date in your diary and join us!”

Perennial knows only too well that times are tough, particularly amidst the current cost of living crisis. Consequently, there’s been a significant 21% increase in individuals seeking personal support. The charity’s online tools have also become more important with a 27% increase in people accessing digital resources.

There are lots of reasons why people turn to the charity, such as bereavement, the impact of an accident, health issues or a family breakdown. As the only UK charity helping everyone working in or retired from horticulture and their families, Perennial relies on support from the industry.

All proceeds from Party for Perennial ticket sales and raffle help support people in need. Every time Perennial's supporters dig deep, they make a difference to the lives of people in horticulture and their families.

Let's make this an unforgettable event while making a positive impact in our community!

Book tickets and join the fundraising at www.perennial.org.uk/party

After some serious negotiating RHS Director General Clare Matterson has persuaded the co-designers of the RHS No Adults Allowed Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, pupils from Sulivan School, London, to agree that adults can enter the children’s garden if they pledge to do one of the three things:

• Plant a Tree
• Donate to RHS Campaign for School Gardening to help give other kids access to nature
• Find a flower that starts with the first letter of their name

Adults will have to share what they’ve pledged at the world famous flower show to be given a special sticker designed by the children to allow access on to the first ever garden designed by children at the Show.   The RHS and Garden Designer Harry Holding have held numerous planning, design and creative sessions with children in the lead up to RHS Chelsea including planting up herbs, learning about balcony gardening and garden design, designing trophies and arts and crafts.

Clare Matterson CBE, RHS Director General said; “I’ve done some tough negotiating in my time and this was no walk in the park, but the children and the RHS are all delighted with the results.  The Sulivan school pupils came up with the three activities, which they’d like adults to pledge to do one of, and we’ll be asking visitors what they did or plan to do before they enter the garden at the show.  We know gardeners are a good bunch and so we trust that people will do what they pledge and it’s all in the name of having some fun too.

“The children, aged between 9 and 10, chose planting a tree as they know how important trees are for the future of this planet and how valuable they are for wildlife.  They came up with the idea to donate to RHS Campaign for School Gardening as they believe that all children in school should have access to gardening and nature knowing first hand the positive impact it has on their learning and development in school.  They also believe strongly that learning should be fun, hence the final activity option – to find a flower that begins with your name!”

The Children from Sulivan School said: “Originally, we only wanted children in the garden, so that we could keep it to ourselves and run around. But the class also wanted the world to see our hard work and how great a children’s garden could be. We thought we could use this opportunity as a chance to help the planet, convince other children to become gardeners and to have some fun. So we have agreed to allow adults in to the garden as long as they complete one of our pledges.”

The RHS No Adults Allowed Garden, designed by Harry Holding and the pupils from Sulivan School, is a joyful journey through a fantastical landscape where children - and now adults - can explore the magic of lush woodland, bountiful meadows and a wetland with heightened colour and oversized bog plants.

The adventure culminates at the final destination – a natural den set within a pool of water. Sliding down into the water, this sunken space is a sanctuary where they can play, learn, and explore the natural world around them.

Visitors will be able to donate to support RHS Campaign for School Gardening if they wish to whilst at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The RHS as part of its ‘A lifelong adventure with gardening’ Strategy to 2030, believes everyone’s adventure with gardening will be different and wherever and whenever it starts, the RHS will be there to support anyone, of any age or background, every step of the way. For children it wants to spark a curiosity with plants and nature through outdoor adventures to ignite a lifetime interest in gardening. 

In what has been challenging trading conditions, it’s encouraging to hear that 94% of exhibition space at this year’s Spoga+gGafa has already been accounted. Taking place from June 16-18 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, the event is the world’s biggest trade fair for outdoor decoration, bbq’s and accessories. 

Visitors from the UK thinking of attending might want to book hotels and flights sooner rather than later, as Cologne is hosting several UEFA Euro 2024 matches this summer. Although no games are being held during the show, Hungary will be playing Switzerland on 15 June and then Scotland will be playing Switzerland on June 19. Hotel prices are already said to be on the rise and flights to nearby Cologne Bonn airport will be in demand. 

This year’s Spoga+gafa theme, Responsible Gardening, echoes the demand for environmentally sensitive gardening throughout the sector with more and more companies looking at products and services which relate to sustainability, regeneration and other environmental considerations.

Outdoor Adventure is a new sector this year reflecting the increase on time spent and eating outdoors, and Cooling World follows the growing trend in Europe for mobile coolers to take out on day trips. 

www.spogagafa.com

British Garden Centres has announced its renewed commitment to providing customers with quality and value through an extensive range of locally grown plants, cultivated right here in the UK. 

At British Garden Centres, we are dedicated to growing our plants locally to ensure quality, sustainability and support for local communities. Our team of passionate horticulturalists has taken every step to cultivate the best available stock for our customers.

Our three nurseries, namely Fretherne Nursery, Woodthorpe, and Temple Nursery, are run by a team of experts who are dedicated to bringing the highest quality plants to our customers.  By choosing British-grown plants, you are not only supporting local growers but also bolstering the horticulture industry in the UK. Our nurseries cultivate a wide variety of seasonal plants that are bursting with colour and ready to add instant impact to any outdoor space.

We are proud to have seen 8 million plants sold in 2023, with 600,000 of those being houseplants, which clearly shows that the plant parent trend is here to stay. The top-selling houseplant in our collection is the Phalaenopsis 2-spike orchid, with an impressive 50,000 units sold throughout the year. This remarkable success of the plant is a testament to both our dedicated and knowledgeable nursery staff and how nature can bring joy and positivity into our homeowners' lives.

Looking ahead, the Temple Nursery has a planned programme of growing 255,482 plants for the upcoming 2024 season, showcasing our commitment to continued growth and productivity in our plant offerings. With our extensive range of home-grown plants, we are confident that we can provide our customers with the best possible products to help them create their dream outdoor spaces.

Julian Palphramand, Head of Plants at British Garden Centres said: “As a proud family-led business, we take great care in growing the finest quality plants in our nurseries. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond our cultivating process, as we meticulously select and transport our plants to our 62 stores located across the country. We are dedicated to providing our customers with exceptional plants and garden products that reflect our passion for horticulture and our love for nature.”

As the spring season unfolds, garden centres will want to ensure they have the right stock to entice customers back time and time again. Apta – one of the sector’s leading pot and planter brands – has created five special spring promotions, including up to 39% off RRPs to ensure that garden retailers across the country can offer their customers access to some of the newest planter designs.    

First seen at Glee 2023, Apta’s latest promotional pot offering draws upon exclusive ranges that, once sold won’t be restocked, so garden centres are encouraged to stock up now to avoid missing out.

With 39% off RRP, Apta Short Egg Pot – available in black, green and blue – comes in a pallet of 27 sets, offering consumers the choice to mix and match, or colour block around the garden, on doorsteps and windowsills.

With a pallet featuring 36 sets, the Charleston offers contemporary style with a classic colour palette of black, green, white and grey. Even better, with 38% of the RRP, the Charleston is an attractive pick-up line this spring.

The Thai Brown planter enjoys 30% off RRP this spring. With four sizes to choose from, perfect for creating nested displays, the latest promotion will see 15 sets available on a single pallet.

Completing Apta’s spring promotion are the Saigon and French pot designs. Available in 27 sets (and 36 sets for the Saigon), consumers can save up to 39% on the RRP. With Saigon, shoppers can choose between the cone or low bowl design in blue or green, whilst the French Pot sees bright designs in yellow, blue and white.

Retailers interested in optimising Apta’s spring sales promotion are invited to contact their sales agent before 30th April to find out more.

Find out more

To stay up to date with all things Apta, including accessing the dedicated trade portal where you will find a comprehensive image library, POS guide and Product Database alongside the 2024 catalogue, please visit www.apta.co.uk.  Further details about the AMES Companies can be found at www.ames-uk.com

Gordale Garden and Home Centre, a beloved family destination in Cheshire West and Chester, has announced the remarkable success of its annual Charity Santa’s Grotto. This heart-warming event, held in collaboration with The Hospice of the Good Shepherd, has not only spread festive cheer but also raised an impressive £35,836.04 for a worthy cause.

About the Charity Santa’s Grotto:

• Dates: The grotto opened its doors on Saturday, December 2, 2023, and delighted visitors until Saturday, December 23, 2023.
• Ticket Sales: Families flocked to Gordale to meet Santa in a magical Winter Wonderland. Tickets were available online in advance, with prices set at:
• £7.50 per child (includes a gift)
• £4 per infant (under 12 months) (includes a gift)
• £1 per adult
• 100% Charity Contribution: The Hospice of the Good Shepherd received the entire ticket price, ensuring that every visit to Santa’s Grotto directly supported this vital local charity.
• Sold-Out Success: Demand was overwhelming, and all tickets were snapped up early making the event sold out by 10th December.
• Grotto constructed and built by the in-store team of elves at Gordale, before the reins were handed over to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, who staffed the grotto with volunteers.

Gordale Garden and Home Centre, has become a cherished part of the community. With free parking for over 500 cars, an inviting coffee shop serving homemade treats, and a commitment to supporting local causes, Gordale continues to be a beacon of warmth and goodwill.

The charity grotto was just part of the Gordale Gives Back campaign which was launched Christmas 2023 to help support the local community during the festive period. In addition to the Charity Grotto, the friendly Gordale employees also arranged a collection for the local food bank, and became a Mission Christmas Cash for Kids drop off point – ensuring Christmas arrived in every household.

Mr Peter Nicholson, Managing Director of Gordale Garden Centre, expressed his gratitude: “We are immensely proud of our community’s generosity. The success of Santa’s Grotto reflects the spirit of giving that defines Gordale.”

Ms Sam Eastwood, Community and Events Fundraiser at Hospice of the Good Shepherd, added: “The funds raised will directly impact our patients and their families. We extend heartfelt thanks to Gordale, our volunteers and everyone who participated.”

Looking Ahead:

While Santa’s Grotto may have concluded, Gordale remains committed to fostering community connections. Visitors can explore the garden centre’s offerings, enjoy their landscaped grounds, and experience the magic of nature throughout the year.

Leading garden ladder specialist, Henchman, has been awarded the prestigious iF Design Award 2024 for not one, but two of its pioneering garden products - the Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladderand Henchman Lifting Harness.

Created and produced in partnership with Tone Product Design, both of Henchman’s new innovations received the esteemed accolade following a rigorous two-stage design evaluation by a team of independent experts.

Widely considered as one of the most important design awards in the world, this year saw over 10,800 innovations entered from 72 countries, with only the highest quality products being shortlisted.

Setting a new standard in safety at height, the new and improved Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder came to market in the summer of 2023. The innovative product is the only of its kind on the market to be certified to EN131 standards, featuring three individually adjustable legs with extra wide feet, patent-pending hedge-proof locking pins and a platform with guardrail, allowing users to work wobble and hands-free. Available in both standard and Pro ranges, the ladders range from 5ft to 16ft.

The second product to be recognised was the Henchman Lifting Harness, which launched earlier this month in March 2024 and was noted for its outstanding ergonomic design. The harness and unique boom arm system is designed to counterbalance the weight of heavy outdoor gardening tools, and is compatible with a wide range of equipment such as hedge cutters, pole saws, strimmers and blowers. The clever piece of kit is designed to reduce back strain and arm fatigue, allowing users to work in greater safety and with more concentration and control.   

Owen Simpson, managing director of Henchman, commented on the win: “Having only recently scooped awards for both products in the European Product Design Awards as well, we are over the moon to be able to add yet another global accolade to the credentials of our latest launches.

“The iF Design Award is highly regarded in the world of product design, and it is fantastic to receive recognition for the expertise, time and hard work put into the research and development of both the Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder and Henchman Lifting Harness.  

“This year marks Henchman’s 30th anniversary, and with four award wins already under our belt and some exciting plans in the pipeline, it promises to be a memorable one for the company!”

Find out more about the awards and view the winners at: https://ifdesign.com/en/

To browse Henchman’s range of ladders and gardening equipment visit https://www.henchman.co.uk/.

Sheffield-based Burgon & Ball is launching an elegant new design collection in its top-selling ‘RHS Gifts for Gardeners’ range of gardening gifts.

Entitled ‘Asteraceae’, the new design showcases flowers from the daisy family. Adding exciting new gifting options to update and refresh the ‘RHS Gifts for Gardeners’ range, it also includes new twists on top-selling lines from previous RHS Gifts design collections. Beautiful gift packaging features the eye-catching new design, and in tune with consumer expectations, the packaging is plastic-free and easily recyclable.

Flowers from the ‘Asteraceae’ family have a starring role to play in our gardens as summers become longer and autumns get warmer. These resilient late-season flowers keep the colour going in a longer season, also offering an important source of forage for pollinators when other flowers fade.

The elegant new pattern has been created by Burgon & Ball, incorporating specially selected illustrations from the RHS Lindley Collections of historic botanical art. The watercolour paintings by Caroline Maria Applebee date from circa 1810 and feature China aster and coreopsis. A soft sage green background is the perfect foil for the jewel-bright colours.

The line-up of new products includes a couple of activity-themed gift sets. Focusing on planting, there’s a gift-boxed set of the new RHS-endorsed planting trowel plus a new design of dibber, also RHS-endorsed. The tools have a lifetime guarantee and purple-painted FCS® wooden handles, a nod to the vibrant tones of the China aster. And for the herb grower or keen cook, a set of a herb stripper and a snip are presented in an appealing tin bearing the Asteraceae pattern.

Staying with herbs, there’s a set of three ‘Asteraceae’ herb pots, handily sized to hold supermarket herbs. Packaged nested in a card sleeve, they’re compact to store and display, to maximise space for retailers.

The final two new lines in the ‘Asteraceae’ collection offer new exciting presentations of established favourites. An RHS-endorsed pruner and holster set is presented in a new keepsake tin printed with the Asteraceae pattern. The pruner has a ten-year guarantee and purple comfort-grip handles. And in a complete design refresh, there’s a new-look indoor watering can, with a distinctly contemporary feel.

Favourite gift options from other design collections in the series make a welcome return with ‘Asteraceae’. In RHS-endorsed tools, the ever-popular trowel and hand fork set is here, now with a new butterfly etching on the trowel head and as always, offering a lifetime guarantee. There’s a gift-boxed RHS-endorsed secateur, with a ten-year guarantee. All tools have custom-coloured purple handles.

Completing the line-up, the much-loved Kneelo® memory foam kneeler shows off the sunny new pattern to perfection, while the gardening gloves have cushioned palm and anti-debris gathered wrist, and are washable at 30 degrees to keep them looking good.

The new collection looks simply gorgeous when displayed on the stylish ‘All You Need’ merchandising kit, and will make an eye-catching attraction in any gifting display. Available now and with RRPs from just £9.99 up to £26.99, this year there’ll the perfect gardening gift for every budget in the new ‘Asteraceae’ RHS Gifts for Gardeners collection.

GTN February 2024 - GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards Bumper Issue

In this issue:

• The Greatest Christmas Awards presentations at Spring Fair
• GCA Conference Award winners
• Primeur: the home of doormats
• Environmental perceptions of garden centres
• Westlands New Horizon Community Fund
• Busy Bee tops the customer vote for Christmas greatness
• 23 pages of judges photos and comments from The Greatest Christmas Awards start here: Barton Grange, Cooks, BGC Harrogate, Pugh’s, Gates, Haskins Snowhill, Woodlands, Kent, Squires Badshot Lea, Polhill, Old Railway Line, Klondyke High Legh, Poundbury, Birkacre, Alton, Blue Diamond Newbridge, Garsons Esher, Brimsmore, Glendoick, Chessington, Wentworth, Klondyke Astbury Meadow, Cambridge Home & Garden, Bents, BGC Studley, Coolings, Newquay, The Grange, Garsons Titchfield, Keydell, Perrywood Tiptree, BGC, Dobbies, Gouldings Santa Experience, Dobbies Edinburgh and Tewkesbury, Mackenzie & Cruickshank, Munros, Pengelly, Planters Tamworth
• Thank you to our Sponsors
• Flashes of Christmas Inspiration
• Harrogate Show Ideas for Christmas 2024
• Planting Manifesto Ideas – HTA Column
• Supply Chain Challenges – GIMA Column

Or use this link

Jardinopia Limited is a rapidly growing privately owned multi award-winning designer and manufacturer of home and garden gift products, headquartered in Martock Somerset, and with operations in Virginia USA and Jodhpur India. We are looking for two experienced Senior Sales Account Managers/New Business Generators for both the North and South Regions of the UK to help take the business to the next level. 

We are open to looking at a flexible working model whereby you can work remotely (from home and on the road) as well as from our HQ in Martock Somerset as necessary. This is though largely a field-based role, and you will be expected to be on the road at least 4 days a week.

Reporting directly into the UK Sales Manager based in Martock, the North Territory is comprised of all English counties north of Birmingham, which we are calling ‘North’ (Cumberland, Northumberland, Westmorland, Durham, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire). An ideal base might be somewhere in the middle of the Territory like Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire, reducing your journey times to customers where possible. 

The South Territory is EVERYTHING ELSE! An ideal location might be Oxfordshire or Berkshire?

You will be expected to support, nurture, and develop the existing Agency Team in place and your own House Accounts that we currently have within the Territory, as well as driving new business sales across the garden centre, gift shop and bricks and mortar retail environment generally. You will be separately targeted on both retained and new business.

As well as our own award-winning brands, we are also partnered with Penguin Books (Peter Rabbit & Beatrix Potter), Laura Ashley, Iona Buchanan & Emma Lawrence as their strategic garden products partner!

We sell our products directly to Trade (Garden Centres, Gift Shops, High St Retailers, Catalogues, Tourist Destinations, Supermarkets, Florists, eTailers and Charities), to Distributors & Wholesalers overseas, at Consumer Shows such as RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as through e-Commerce sites and 3rd party marketplaces. We also have a rapidly growing 'White Label' business where we design and manufacture exclusive ranges of garden products for some of the UK's biggest and most exclusive businesses, as well as an Indian Sourcing Service – where we manage the end-to-end procurement of a wide range of products for our customers. We opened our first High St shop in April 2023, which is thriving. 

We are seeking very experienced Senior Regional Sales Account Managers/New Business Developers that know the garden and home industry intimately, are extremely well connected with their own long list of customer relationships within the Garden Centre world, and are keen to deliver and grow a world class service to our Bricks and Mortar customer base in the UK. Our customers are as varied as Kew Gardens, Buckingham Palace, RNLI and Next - to the corner florist and gift shop! We currently have 500+ Garden Centres in the UK that we work with. This is a field-based role, and you will also be expected to travel from time to time to Trade Shows and to the HQ for meetings. Most of your time will be spent on the road visiting customers and driving new business sales.

We are looking for professional sellers with an excellent track record of growth and retention over a sustained period in the Garden Gift /Garden Centre Sector. You need a good telephone manner, first class written and oral communication, a hard-working business ethic, and can work independently alongside our customers to understand their needs, support them with product and merchandising knowledge and grow our business with them. Customer growth and retention are key to this role! You will also be confident and successful selling to new customers and can demonstrate a long track record of doing so within the Garden Center Sector. You will be familiar with Sales Administration and Data Management tools (we use Blue Alligator and Zen Desk).

We have around 2,000 products that are unique to us, and this is continuously growing. We are launching 10 new Ranges this year alone. You must be an expert in applying sales tactics, running the administration processes needed to support the sale, and data gathering for the business. You will be able to quickly drive growth through the integrated use of upselling and safeguarding existing accounts & finding new business. We need you to have your own car to use for the first year in the role.

In exchange for your experience, world class skill sets and dedication to driving customer account retention and growth, we are offering a market leading and uncapped remuneration. The compensation will be c£50K dependent on experience, and an uncapped commission scheme on all Bricks and Mortar Sales in the Territory. We would expect you to quickly earn a 6-figure salary if you are successful. We are also offering a life changing opportunity to secure a percentage of our business!

You will be particularly interested to us if you have a strong background in selling garden gift products to the Garden Centre Sector, have or are selling to garden understand Zen Desk and Blue Alligator, have managed a large Territory previously, working with and maye as an Agent, and can show us that you fully understand this sector and are well networked within it.

This is an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity to work with and alongside some of the world’s biggest companies on innovative new product launches, and to work in a fast-paced dynamic business team that sell their products to some of the biggest companies in the world. Agencies and Companies need not apply. We are looking for individuals in the UK only that are prepared to own the Bricks & Mortar sales strategy in the Territory and the ongoing success for our company.

If that's you, and you can demonstrate a strong understanding of all of the above and be prepared to show us what you've achieved in your career so far with clear unambiguous examples - then we want to hear from you straight away. 

Please contact Tony in the first instance at Tony@Jardinopia.com who would be delighted to hear from you.

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In celebration of Keukenhof’s 75th anniversary, her Royal Highness Princess Margriet opened the anniversary edition of the flower exhibition in Lisse. During its 75-year history, Keukenhof has not only become a symbol of the Netherlands but also a stalwart of the ornamental flower and tourism sectors. It owes its success to generations of dedicated, flower-loving people.

Princess Margriet oversaw the official start of Keukenhof’s anniversary year by opening the Symphony of Colours concert. Musical director Eric van Tijn composed a unique track for the opening, blending classical music, contemporary pop and dance numbers. The concert and song selection, performed by soprano Laetitia Gerards, were an occasion to celebrate the dazzling colours and blooms of spring: the symbol of new life. Keukenhof’s Symphony of Colours concert heralds a new season while triumphantly celebrating 75 years of the park’s colourful history.

In an interview with TV presenter Patrick Lodiers, Keukenhof’s new director Sandra Bechtholt said, ‘People come from all over the world to admire our flowers. We should proudly tell our story because it’s truly special. Our park’s global standing and dedicated team are the key ingredients for the next 75 years of success. As the new director, I’ll have the honour of plotting the roadmap!’

Since its beginnings 75 years ago, Keukenhof has been a firm favourite of the Dutch Royal family. On 2 May 1950, the Royal family visited the flower display of which Queen Juliana was a patron. Some of Keukenhof’s first guests include Princess Margriet and the other young princesses who, together with a select group of friends, judged the winning gardens.

Keukenhof was the initiative of a group of bulb growers and exporters looking to showcase the Netherlands’ ornamentals sector. The flower show’s first season was an instant hit, attracting 236,000 visitors. Originally designed in English landscape garden style by the Dutch architect Jan David Zocher, the historic 32-hectare park is now home to a dazzling seven million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulbs. The park’s flower shows in the pavilions are supported by hundreds of contributors who supply flower bulbs, and six hundred growers who supply flowers and plants. Chief park manager Stefan Slobbe and designer Frans Beijk treated the guests to a glimpse of the garden team’s day-to-day work.

With an anniversary display, an international postage stamp, an anniversary concert courtesy of the Metropole jazz and pop orchestra, a documentary and many more activities, this lively season promises to be unforgettable.

Keukenhof will be open from 21 March to 12 May inclusive in 2024

Dobbies, is gearing up for its busiest season of the year with more than 17.5 million summer bedding plants starting to make their way into 71 stores across the UK in pots, packs, containers and hanging baskets.

Seasonally relevant just now are Pansies, Violas and Osteospermum as customers look to fill their garden spaces with spring colour.

It might only be March but already Dobbies has seen an increase in footfall across its stores this month, compared to this time last year, as customers look to get inspiration for their garden spaces.

Dobbies is predicting an early surge in interest of its garden living collections ahead of a summer of sport. The Euros, Olympics and Paralympics, and two T20 World Cups are likely to encourage more outdoor entertaining and, as a result, the garden centre is increasing its choice of garden furniture and outdoor cooking ranges including a new collection of own-brand BBQ tools.

Andy Hannan, Commercial Director at Dobbies, said: “Spring is always a favourite time of year for us here at Dobbies because we know the joy a garden full of spring blooms can bring. We’re expecting a busy start to the gardening season with our bedding plants expected to fly off the shelves. Anecdotally, we’ve already seen customers take particular interest in our garden living collections. There’s an excitement about the forthcoming summer of sport and people are making early preparations to make sure their gardens are in tip-top shape for hosting.”

Now that the blisters have started to heal and the intrepid walkers, runners and cyclists have had the weekend to recover, see all the "official" photos taken by Paul Webb at the Garden re-Leaf Day Greenfingers Charity Sponsored walk 2024.

See the gallery of photos below...

For the northern sponsored walkers it was more a case of drying out after their treks across the peak district around Holmfirth before setting off home.

See event organiser Jane Lawlers "official" photos...

The Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report for February saw clothing romp ahead at +20.9% with catering just behind at +19.55% when compared with the same month last year.

Just three of the categories recorded by the GCA were down when likened to February 2023, according to the figures submitted by its member garden centres.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks says: “Clothing did very well and once again catering produced a very strong performance, continuing its super strong growth.

“Overall though, it was a disappointing month for total sales in February, which were only up a touch at + 0.91%. But as was the case all through last year, these figures have been significantly undermined by another poor month for furniture and BBQs at -29.34%. Houseplants, -17.59%, and hard landscaping -7.86% were also down when compared to last year.

“Plus, it was the wettest February on record with some areas having more than four times their monthly average of rain, which made it impossible to get out on the ground and it was bound to dampen enthusiasm for doing anything outside. Or even thinking of new garden furniture in readiness for entertaining outdoors in the spring and summer. 

“But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, all other categories were up, suggesting general trade was actually quite good. On the whole, the outlook is sunny, despite the grey clouds overhead.”

Excluding the Christmas section, which was showing in February at +24.63%, the GCA’s next best performer was the food hall/farm shop category, up +14.69%, when compared to the same month in 2023.

This was followed by pet & aquatics at +9.49%, gifts at +9.21%, excluding the miscellaneous category, which was up +7.91%, with seeds & bulbs in at +6.78%.

Outdoor plants also recorded a positive, if small, return in February, in comparison to the same month last year, and was up +0.47% and garden sundries was at +0.07%.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

GTN March 2024. In this issue:

• Gift Packaging from Woodmansterne
• Group Commitment – GTN Interview with Caroline Owen, Chair of the Tillington Group
• New retail solutions from Artevesi
• What’s Hot in 2024 – New products launched at the Garden Press Event
• Maximising seed sales at Mr Fothergills
• 25 years of Greenfingers FUNdraising
• Garden Re-Leaf Day 2024
• Strictly Blue Diamond – Exclusive Awards coverage
• New at Solex for 2024
• Products to delight from Spring Fair
• Be the best plant specialists – GTN Planteria special report
• A brighter shade of green – LOFA Column
• Three days of PATS in September 2024
• Celebrating 125 years – HTA Column
• The start is everything – GIMA Column