Returning after a 13-year hiatus, the Greenfingers Charity Dragon Boat race returned this weekend (Sunday 23^rd June) with a fiercely fought competition and a fun day out for all the family. With five teams battling it out, it was the Westland Warriors that walked away champions having beat off stiff competition from fellow finalists, Evergreen Miracle (G)rowers.

Basked in glorious sunshine at Grendon Lakes, Northamptonshire, the Greenfingers Charity Dragon Boat race saw teams from Westland, Evergreen, British Garden Centres, the AMES Companies and GIMA alongside the YPHA, come together to create a truly memorable event. With friends and families cheerleading from the lake’s edge, the teams enjoyed a crash course on how to row (and avoid capsizing!) before hitting the start line to see who would reign supreme.  

Racking up quicker and quicker race times, it came down to two industry goliaths to see who would be quicker on the water. A very close call, the Westland Warriors just pipped the Miracle (G)rowers, reaching the finish line in 65.06 seconds, with the Miracle (G)rowers following just 0.39 seconds later.

The day concluded with a prize giving session, with the Westland Warriors enjoying a prosecco shower as they celebrated their win. Guests and participants also enjoyed a raffle which included prizes kindly donated by FarPlants, Westland, British Garden Centres, plus Cotton Traders.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Greenfingers Charity, said: “What a superb day yesterday was. The weather was kind but more importantly, everyone came together to have the best time. All day the air was filled with laughter, comradery and friendly competition. It was just brilliant! Of course, the day also helped to raise funds so that we can continue to build even more gardens in 2025 and beyond, and for this we will be forever grateful. We never take it for granted that so many are willing to support our work so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

“Thank you so everyone that took part, cheered on the rowers, and those that donated to our raffle. Thanks also to the teams at Grendon Lakes and New Wave events who helped make the day a reality. Same time next year!”

If you are interested in any future Greenfingers Charity events, including the forthcoming Wing Walk (3^rd September) and Charity Fundraising Dinner (28^th November) please reach out to the team for more information by emailing linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

In the meantime, you can also follow all the latest updates from Greenfingers on social media - @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn, https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/ and @GreenfingersCha on Twitter.

Photos by Paul Webb

The AMES Companies, home to Apta, Kelkay, La Hacienda, Woodshaw and Easy Fountain, is pleased to confirm that as of 1st August 2024 its family of brands will be expanding even further with the introduction of Artevasi, as the company confirms sole UK distribution of this popular brand of Portuguese pots.

This latest development marks a strategic milestone for both parties and will offer multiple benefits for UK stockists of Artevasi’s recycled plastic and traditional terracotta pot collections.

Under the new agreement, Artevasi retailers from across the UK will benefit from the customer support network that has become synonymous with the AMES Companies in recent years. UK stock holding will help to significantly reduce lead times to as little as five days – offering greater peace of mind during peak season – whilst a stabilised pricing structure and access to the full roster of sales and merchandising support will help improve efficiencies throughout the sales process and beyond.

Under the new distribution partnership Artevasi’s bestselling lines, made up of over 300 SKUs, will benefit from undisrupted accessibility throughout season 24. What’s more, customers will also have the opportunity to combine MOV with Apta orders to maximise the value of the agreement through a single order and delivery, whilst simultaneously offering customers access to a more comprehensive product hierarchy, with the upper end of the category now fully catered for.

Paul North, Managing Director of the AMES Companies, said: “We strive to create a truly great one-stop-shop for our retail customers and this new distribution agreement with Artevasi is an important stake in the ground for this mission. A highly respected brand, the agreement will make it easier for retailers to access the same pot collection, safe in the knowledge that availability and access will be greatly improved both now and in the long term.

“We thank the Artevasi team for entrusting us with their legacy here in the UK and are excited about what its presence means for the AMES Companies family of brands.”

Artevasi’s Commercial Director, Pedro Cunha, added: “Our presence in the UK is key to Artevasi's growth, which is why new relationships such as this are so important. Through this new agreement we can ensure that customer satisfaction and delivery value remain our priority. With the AMES Companies we can better futureproof Artevasi’s UK position, bring value to our customers and generate mutual growth and prosperity.”

Talking about the distribution agreement Artevasi’s CEO, Rodolfo Resende, also said: " We are committed to showing British consumers the best that Portugal has to offer and are sure that the beauty and authenticity of our terracotta pots, as well as our recycled plastic offer, combined with the AMES Companies extensive know-how and respect for nature, will make a difference in every home.”

The Artevasi offering is already finding its home at the AMES Companies headquarters in Pollington, East Yorkshire where it will join the wider AMES Companies brand portfolio which includes Apta, Kelkay, La Hacienda, Easy Fountain and Woodshaw.  Retailers wanting to find out more about the Artevasi offering are invited to contact Patrick Thick, Sales Director for the Garden Centre channel via patrick.thick@ames.com

To stay up to date with all the latest news from AMES Companies please visit www.ames-uk.com

Wyevale Nurseries’ Production Manager, Kyle Ross with GOLD award-winning Sorbaria ‘Crimson Feather’.

Wyevale Nurseries won six New Plant Awards at the Horticultural Trades Association National Plant Show at NAEC Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.

They include Bronzes for Heucheras ‘Pinky Panky’ and ‘Snowy Panky’, Bronze for Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume White’ and Silver for Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume Pink’, Silver for Mahonia ‘Meteor’ and Gold for Sorbaria ‘Crimson Feather’.

Andy Johnson, Managing Director at the Hereford-based commercial grower, says: “We’re so delighted with these wins. We put forward seven exciting new plants to be judged at the show and to have come away with six awards in total including a Gold and two Silvers is wonderful!

“Our 2024 entries were selected to mirror some of the trends our retail customers are seeing instore. They are all beneficial for wildlife and some of them are ideal for those with smaller green spaces who want something stunning in a pot that’s easy to care for. We also chose entries that can survive some of the changes in weather patterns we’re now experiencing too.

“Our knowledgeable, highly skilled and experienced team of professionals, including our Retail Sales Manager, Colin Stanley, our Garden Centre Sales Executive, Lisa Ashford and our Cash and Carry Sales Manager, Adrian Hoare, will be at the show in Hall 1 at stand 41/50 again today (June 20) and can chat about our 2024 award-winners, as well as all the plants we offer.

“We’re handing out our new full colour, printed 2025 catalogue as well. It features 14 great new additions for retailers to consider for next year too.”

The HTA National Plant Show takes place again today, Thursday, June 20, in Halls 1 & 2 at NAEC Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.

Andy adds: “The HTA National Plant Show is viewed in the industry as THE place for garden centres and retailers to find their next bestselling new plant – something that will fit the needs of their customers and that inspires them too.

“The New Plant Awards showcase the very best introductions from UK plant suppliers so these six awards that we’ve won are fabulous accolades for us!” 

Wyevale Nurseries’ six award-winning new plant entries at the 2024 HTA National Plant Show are:

Heuchera ‘Pinky Panky’ – BRONZE

Part of a new collection to take the Heuchera world by storm, just look at the foliage!

Splashes of colour across evergreen foliage, perfect in containers, or planted up in a mixed border, with its wildlife attracting properties, what’s not to love!

Rare and unusual, Heuchera Pinky Panky has truly unique foliage, boasting shocking pink splashes on leaves of smoke grey. These herbaceous perennials flower pink from March to June. The dainty flowers proving to be a magnet for bees in the summer.

A perfect potted plant for a patio or planted en masse in a border, or as part of a mixed borders, especially those with partial sun and some shade, this variety will grow to a height of 30cm and spreads to 25cm

Their masses of unique evergreen leaves provide a low maintenance space filler.

The whole collection of Panky Heuchera are absolute standouts in the garden, the unique foliage is unlike most other Heucheras. Gardeners will love the wildlife benefits presented by Pinky Panky, as well as its drought tolerance. It’s suitable for planting in any soil type and is fast-growing.

Heuchera ‘Snowy Panky’ – BRONZE

A brand new Heuchera as part of a larger collection and akin to its sibling Pinky Panky, Snowy Panky has beautiful and unique foliage. This variety is sure to be the talk of the garden.

This fast-growing Heuchera variety can be potted into a shaded environment and has no special watering requirements.

The Panky collection of Heuchera are absolute standouts in the garden, the unique foliage is unlike most other Heucheras.

Gardeners will love the wildlife benefits presented by this variety, as well as its drought tolerance. Snowy Panky is suitable for planting in any soil type and their masses of unique evergreen leaves provide a low maintenance space filler. 

The flower spikes attract both bees and butterflies while its dense foliage provides shade and shelter for the plethora of insects that flourish on the damp soil beneath.

These perennials are perfect for planting in pots or in mixed borders, especially those with partial sun and some shade.

Sister to the beautiful Pinky Panky, with splashes of colour across evergreen foliage, this perennial is perfect in containers, or planted up in a mixed border, and is sure to be a star in the garden.

Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume Pink’ – SILVER

Bred by the legendary Alan Postil at Hillier, this is the world’s most pink flowered Philadelphus!

This collection of Philadelphus is proudly grown in partnership with Newey, a collaboration between young and final plant producer that strengthens relationships and opens up new opportunities for the horticulture industry.

Grown for fragrant flowers, this shrub has a lengthy six-week flowering window and produces masses of flowers throughout summer, attracting bees and butterflies.

Being hardy down to -25c and almost indestructible, makes this an extremely robust variety to have in the garden.

A compact, mound forming shrub, the Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume Pink’ is very versatile. It is perfect for a smaller garden and can also be used in woodland borders or as a screen. It prefers a sunny to partial shade spot and can grow up to 1.5m tall in time, with a spread of 50cm.

When planted in pots or in borders, this variety can create an incredibly scented garden.

Its dwarf size means Petite Perfume Pink is easy to look after and responds well to pruning due to its naturally mound forming habit and it is incredibly drought tolerant, so regular watering is not required.

It is an incredibly manageable shrub, requiring very minimal attention and is the ideal plant for urban or coastal areas due to its high tolerance to air pollution.

When paired with the Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume White’ consumers can have scented white and pink flowers all summer long.

Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume White’ – BRONZE

Bred by the legendary Alan Postil at Hillier, this Philadelphus Petite Perfume White makes a fantastic addition to any garden. With masses of highly scented white blooms and an overall hardy nature, this shrub combines beauty and versatility for even the smallest of gardens.

This collection of Philadelphus is proudly grown in partnership with Newey, a collaboration between young and final plant producer that strengthens relationships and opens up new opportunities for the horticulture industry.

Grown for its fragrant summer flowers, Petite Perfume White has a long six-week flowering window. Its petite nature and hardiness mean that this shrub is almost indestructible.

These Philadelphus prefer a spot in partial sun, growing to approximately 1.5m tall over time, with a spread of 50cm. Planted in pots or amongst borders in well-drained soil enables these plants to distribute a wonderful fragrance, and suit even the smallest of gardens.

Similarly to its sibling Petite Perfume Pink, this Philadelphus produces masses of flowers throughout summer attracting bees and butterflies, making it a perfect addition to wildlife friendly gardens. 

Its small size and hardy nature mean that Petite Perfume White is easily manageable, and due to its drought resistance, regular watering is not required.

Planting both varieties of this Philadelphus will enable consumers to have both white and pink flowers all summer long.

The hardy nature of this shrub makes it ideal for planting in urban or coastal areas. With high tolerance to air pollution and natural drought resistance, Petite Perfume White can also look fantastic in woodland borders or as a screen.

Sorbaria ‘Crimson Feather’ – GOLD

A truly phenomenal addition to the Sorbaria family, Crimson Feather is a beautiful, hardy shrub that boasts bright golden leaves with intense new scarlet-red growth; it is truly a sight to behold. 

Sporting white blooms in July, this shrub looks superb in a pot and will grow approximately 1.5m tall and have a 1.5m spread. Preferring a full sun or partial shade spot, they are a show stopping addition to any garden. 

This fantastic shrub is more condensed than its cousin Sorbaria Sem, meaning it grows very well in a pot.

Sorbaria Crimson Feather is an amazing wildlife plant with its fan like leaves providing essential cover for invertebrates. Perfect for potting, borders or planting as a low hedge, this shrub is both beautiful and versatile. 

Being hardy and low maintenance makes it perfect for a Japanese garden or as a potted specimen.

Best results will see Crimson Feather grown in well-drained soil and little to no pruning is required to keep it looking its best.

Another Seiont/Wyevale Nurseries collaboration.

Mahonia ‘Meteor’ – SILVER

Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Meteor’ is an upright, evergreen, compact shrub, which forms a tidy, rounded bush, with dark green leaves.

Meteor flowers for two months and offers year-round interest in the garden.

New growth in spring and summer is a stunning dark red, making way for plenty of delicate spires of yellow, honey-scented flowers borne in late summer and autumn, followed by blue-black berries. 

The new red foliage, unique to this variety, gives a unique selling point for this new shrub and is almost reminiscent of a Nandina. Additionally, the typically hard and sharp leaves of a Mahonia are noticeably softer on this variety.

It’s a highly resistant shrub, which is fully hardy to temperatures as low as -15c. Meteor is also a fast-growing shrub, which has shown to be resistant to temperature fluctuations.

Flowering in late summer with plenty of attraction for wildlife, this shrub can be planted in borders or containers. Reaching a maximum height of 1.2m, and a spread of 2m, it is perfect for a small shady garden.

This shrub is very self-sufficient and can be left to its own devices to grow. It is a good strong grower and has sales potential for both spring and autumn.

Minimal pruning and care are required to keep this shrub looking its best. Suitable for either container growing, or borders, this shrub thrives in good well drained soil.

This plant is a special horticultural collaboration between two of the UK’s most established plant nurseries. It’s been bred by Alan Postill at Hillier with Wyevale Nurseries chosen to grow it for the general garden centre market.

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk. 

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company were thrilled to win four awards at the National Plant Show this week. Digitalis ‘Apple Blossom’ picked up a Gold Award, Best in Category for Herbaceous Perennial and Best in Show, whilst Hebe ‘Lime Pickle’ was awarded Silver in the Shrub Category.

Digitalis ‘Apple Blossom’ has unique spires of primrose yellow to apple blossom blooms, throughout summer offering an unusual display for the garden. This gorgeous variety will create a stunning, impulse bench end display and will be available to garden centres exclusively from The Bransford Webbs Plant Company in May 2025. Hebe ‘Lime Pickle’, has striking lime coloured foliage, strongest in the colder months and will be available exclusively from The Bransford Webbs Plant Company in March 2025.

“This year’s HTA plant show was a great success," commented David Chilvers, Sales and Marketing Director. “Our fresh look logo was well received by the many customers visiting our stand and the whole event was topped off by achieving the awards, especially the ones for Digitalis Apple Blossom.”

British grown carnivorous plants for indoor use, produced in a peat-free growing media, are now being offered by The Horti House.

The new arrangement means, from next week, retailers have the additional choice of four lines in 5.5cm and 1-litre pots, to add to their orders of mixed houseplants. It’s another step in the right direction for The Horti House which is bringing together a collective of UK growers to offer garden centres regular and convenient deliveries of an extensive range of indoor plants.

“The range is still relatively small but it’s a positive move and one which The Horti House will build on over time,” says Ed Hill, Founding Member of The Horti House. Ed appreciates retailers may still have to complement their selection of carnivorous plants with those grown in Europe, but at least now a core range can be secured from the UK.

Adorned with the many recognisable logos that make up the AMES Companies family of brands, including Kelkay, La Hacienda, Apta and Easy Fountain, the new fleet of AMES merchandising vehicles is set to be a regular sight on the roads of the UK.

Replacing the previous fleet, this new set of vehicles will offer significant cost and environmental benefits – including a 450-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions over the course of the lease period – whilst also offering practical advantages for the AMES Companies merchandising team, thanks to a larger load area and improved accessibility.

Dan Charles, Head of Merchandising said: “At the AMES Companies we are consistently looking at ways to improve our efficiencies, and our fleet of vehicles was one area where we have been able to make quick and easy improvements across the board. With 10 vehicles on the road, which together cover in excess of one million miles a year, it was essential that we had vans that could withstand the needs of being on the road, whilst also ensuring that our environmental impact was being responsibility managed. There is no question that we have achieved this now.

“These new vans, already traveling the length and breadth of the country, are set to be just as recognisable as our previous fleet and will continue to bring our dedicated merchandisers to stores across the country to create eye-catching, thought-provoking and unique merchandising design solutions.”

Find out more

Further details about the AMES Companies and its family of brands, including Kelkay, La Hacienda, and Apta, can be found at  www.ames-uk.com

An exciting new partnership is making it easy for garden centres to sell a full range of Italian grown plants under the Earth Bound banner. Kent based Provender Nurseries, already an established supplier to the landscape and garden design sector, has teamed up with Innocenti & Mangani Piante from Tuscany.

Provender’s Richard McKenna, Managing Director, and Richard Burt, Sales Director, launched the new venture at the HTA New Plant Show and explained the partnership combines the quality plant production and range of Innocenti, with Provender’s meticulous biosecurity measures. Provender is about to become a UK Control Point which means its plant imports will come directly to site for checking, rather than having to be checked at borders and risk being damaged from delays.

Collections of plants suited to different situations, such as Shade Lover or Shape & Form will make buying for both retailers and consumer easy, and information will be backed up by a comprehensive website via QR codes. QR code-enabled posters and POS will also be offered, and home gardeners can also benefit from the informative website where they will be able to find their nearest stockist. 

Richard McKenna explained retailers will be able to give their customers realistic timeframes for plant availability as they will be able to see what stock is held at Provender Nurseries and therefore quick to despatch, what’s in transit and what is on order and yet to leave Tuscany. 

Earlier this month a group of Greenfingers Charity supporters came together to help revitalise the garden at the Bluebell Children’s Hospice in Sheffield.

The garden in question, the Primrose Garden, was originally created by the Greenfingers Charity in 2016 and serves as a therapeutic space for bereaved families, offering a tranquil environment that reflects the poignant stories within the hospice.

Now eight years old the garden was long due a makeover, which is where Greenfingers ambassadors, Chris Jesson, Natalie Williams and Marc Riddler – part of the Gardengram community – come in.

Enthusiastic gardeners themselves, Chris, Natalie and Marc, joined forces with the Greenfingers team for a comprehensive update of the space. The day’s activities included a thorough spring clean, a garden tidy-up, and the addition of new plants to infuse the area with fresh colour and life.

One of the volunteers, Chris Jesson aka the Groovy Gardener said: “Being one of the closest Greenfingers ambassador to the site, I was asked if I could assist with the planting, but irrespective of geography I would have sought to contribute one way or another.

“The garden space had become tired and neglected, and working in partnership with Greenfingers Garden Project Manager, Joanne, Operations Director, Neil, and fellow ambassadors we all worked with the same ethos to create a lovely legible outdoor space for Bluebell Wood Hospice with successional colour and structural interest that will be curated and can be manageable for the future. This included planting, watering, potting and a little bit of conditioning. We found it incredibly rewarding to know that those perennials we included will have a long-lasting legacy for supporting those in the highest times of need. There is personal achievement of course, but only to give back to the cause. Myself, Natalie and Marc and Greenfingers Colleagues' working on the garden will be delighted to track progress of how the garden fares and develops.”

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at the Greenfingers Charity, expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for the project. She said: "We are incredibly grateful to the ‘Gardengram’ community for their continued support of Greenfingers and for agreeing to take part in our latest makeover project.

“The Primrose Garden is a vital part of the hospice, providing a serene and beautiful space for families during their most difficult moments. This makeover ensures that it remains a place of comfort and reflection, continuing to fulfil its purpose in the best possible way."

Find out more

Anyone interested in assisting with future garden makeovers are invited to register their interest by emailing linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Farplants Sales Ltd - Spiraea WALBERTON’S® PLUM CARPET has been awarded the Visitor Vote, sponsored by Floramedia, at the HTA National Plant Show 2024 at the NAEC, Stoneleigh.

An award voted entirely by visitors to the show, Spiraea WALBERTON’S® PLUM CARPET has a compact bushy habit which makes it an ideal shrub for small garden space and container growing. It has outstanding disease resistance and is extremely cold-hardy. Once established, it will give you years of excellent performance with very little maintenance. 

Andy Merrick from Farplants said: “We are really, really pleased and quite taken aback. It’s a fantastic product. It’s not the best time of year to show it, so we’re pleased people have voted for it and they’ve been able to take the time to look at the product and think about what it will be like in the spring; it has great purple coverage and partners really well with MAGIC CARPET.  

“The visitor vote is the one that means a lot, really pleased. Everyone at Farplants Group will be chuffed; I know it will be communicated with the teams and Walberton, who grow this wonderful variety, and there will be a few drinks whilst watching the football tonight, no doubt!” 

Alan Down, HTA President, said: “It’s great to see visitors choosing an easy-to-grow plant that will appeal to a range of gardeners, from the first-time gardeners to those who are more experienced.” 

See the full list of winners here: https://hta.org.uk/national-plant-show/show-features/new-plant-awards 

The Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade figures for May are out today (June 19, 2024) and reveal that despite the weather there was a small positive year-to-date increase of +3.72%.

According to the data from the organisation’s member garden centres, 11 of the 13 categories recorded when compared to May 2023 were up too.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, says: “As expected, given the lack of any sort of decent weather for gardening, some of May’s traditional sales have come in slightly down on last year.

“However, it is interesting to note that the results for the two smaller turnover bands show quite nice increases, up respectively by +7.18% and +4.95%, it is the largest garden centres that seem to have suffered the most and are down slightly by -3.44%.

“As usual, in bad weather, the best performing categories were once again catering, clothing, food halls and farm shops and giftware. Overall, we are still seeing a small positive increase in the year-to-date figure and our members seem on the whole pretty pragmatic about the weather.”

Excluding the miscellaneous section (+34.52%), the GCA’s top performing category in May 2024 was catering, up +17.97%, when compared to the same month in 2023. This was followed by clothing +15.34%.

Gifts was the fourth best performer of the month in at +10.58%, the food hall/farm shop category came in next at +10.47%, then pet & aquatics +6.31%, houseplants +3.81%, garden sundries at +2.76% and furniture & BBQs +2.31%.

Christmas was +1.04% and hard landscaping at +1.01%, outdoor plants at -1.22% and seeds & bulbs -31.18%.

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.

The BoT allows members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

For further information visit: www.gca.org.uk.

Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset has partnered with Wales-based Harvst, which designs sustainable growing systems, to showcase the WaterMate Smart Irrigation System – the first and only solar powered automatic watering system to be made in the UK.

As The Gardens Group continues to demonstrate the positive impact that gardening can have on both people and planet, it has installed a WaterMate system at Castle Gardens for customers to experience this effective and efficient watering system in person.  

Aron Welland from Harvst explains: “Our values regarding water conservation and generally encouraging people to grow more are very aligned with the team at Castle Gardens, so we are thrilled that they are our first demo site in the South West. We believe that we have developed a solution for gardeners that not only saves time, thanks to smart automation, but also manages water usage for the best gardening results and to reduce waste water.”

Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, added: “This is a very exciting new product, which could resolve many barriers that gardeners of all levels of expertise can often face, such as not having the time to water effectively and efficiently. The micro irrigation drips, which feed the plants whether they are in a greenhouse, polytunnel, bed or pot, are impressive, as they are sensor controlled, meaning they will drip water based on the heat, humidity or moisture level of the soil. What is also important about the launch of this product, is how it highlights the importance of harvesting rainwater in some shape or form. As we witness the effects of climate change every season, we are reminded how precious a resource water is.”

The WaterMate Smart Irrigation System is on show and available to purchase from Castle Gardens in Sherborne, which is open seven days a week.

Longacres is to be extended by Smiemans Projecten in early 2025. The work includes the garden centre's cold sales area and restaurant.

The wide-span extension will be constructed with high performance polycarbonate and insulating sandwich panels on the roof and insulated glass in the facades.

The cold sales area, which is an essential part of the garden centre, will be enlarged to accommodate a wider range of plants and garden products. This change will not only increase sales opportunities but also improve the visitor experience.

The garden centre restaurant will also be enlarged. This will increase comfort and capacity, allowing visitors to enjoy a spacious and welcoming atmosphere. The revamped restaurant will also offer more options for events and gatherings, adding to the overall appeal of the garden centre as a destination.

Want to sell more stone and Arbours?  Try this competition idea from John Birch at Baytree Garden Centre.

John ste up a competition to win a Zest Cambridge Arbour by customers guessing how any stones in a Baytree bulk bag of Cheshire Pink gravel.

As a result John told GTN Xtra he had sold more bulk bags of Cheshire Pink in the past few weeks than he did all of last year and he sold 25 Arbours on Saturday alone as a result of the competition.

The winner, who was from Kent and in the area visiting friends, guessed closest just 460 stones away from the total of 48,102 stones in the bag.

Well done to the winner, and to John at Baytree for a great promotional idea.

The team at Tingley Garden Centre have used Yorkshire-grown bedding plants to create a floral tribute to honour rugby league legend Rob Burrow.

The team at Tingley Garden Centre planted a 7.4m²  memorial tribute at Headingley using pansies grown by Dalby's in York.

The garden was designed by Marc Salama, Commercial Plant Manager at Yorkshire Garden Centres. "We were honoured to be invited by Leeds Rhinos to be involved with this special floral tribute for a true Leeds legend who will always be in our hearts.

"We selected the pansy flower to represent the famous blue and amber colours of the Leeds Rhinos. It is often said that a pansy flower is ‘smiling' with its heart-shaped, overlapping petals. This reminds us of Rob and his devotion to raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association whilst still smiling and remaining positive throughout his diagnosis," he said.
 

A spokesman from Leeds Rhinos said: "A big thank you to the team at Tingly Garden Centre for providing our grounds team with 1,500 plants for a new floral tribute to Rob Burrow in our memorial garden at AMT Headingley."

Tingley Garden Centre is part of the Yorkshire Garden Centres family, which comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley, and Bingley Garden Centres plus Dean's in York and Scarborough.

Natures Menu Pet Food is launching a groundbreaking partnership program with garden centres across the UK. Bringing its Pet Pantry concept to market, this non-seasonal pet food solution is a growth-building opportunity that will drive footfall to garden centres.

The strategic move marks a significant expansion of Natures Menu's distribution channels, introducing a year-round opportunity for pet owners to access premium pet food in a convenient way.

Natures Menu prides itself on offering nutritionally balanced pet food made from high-quality natural ingredients. The garden centre offering gives pet owners even more flexibility to locally purchase their pet’s favourite meals all year round.

Mark Stayman, National Sales Manager at Natures Menu said: "We are thrilled to embark on this journey with garden centres, enhancing accessibility to our premium pet food offerings. Our objective extends beyond mere distribution expansion: we aim to establish Pet Pantries at garden centres as go-to destinations for pet parents seeking top-tier nutrition for their beloved pets."

With almost a third of the British population (30%) owning a dog or cat, establishing a pet category will benefit garden centres seeking incremental growth and repeat footfall.

Nikki Richardson, Morely Nurseries said: "Our pet section has never looked better, having grown more than 40% year-on-year. This is testament to the wide range, premium products and knowledgeable team at Natures Menu – a brand I’m very passionate about. I always encourage my customers to change to raw pet food so their dogs can receive the best from their daily diet.”

Natures Menu offers a comprehensive "one stop shop solution" being the only business covering all pet food technologies under one roof. The brand will showcase its latest offerings including its brand-new Freeze-Dried range at the Glee Trade Show on 10-12th September 2024, at the NEC, Birmingham.

The initial objective for the garden centre partnerships is ambitious, with plans to establish Natures Menu in 600 garden centres by December 2024. The expansion showcases Natures Menu’s commitment to broadening its reach and ensuring accessibility to premium pet food products.

To access the Natures Menu trade portal, visit: https://trade.naturesmenu.co.uk/login 

Leading horticultural brand Hillier has launched its first-ever range of garden furniture, designed to elevate buyers’ al fresco dining experiences. With an eye on both classic comfort and 2024 home and garden trends, the two new sets of outdoor furniture mark an exciting next step for Hillier.

Those looking to add comfort and style to their gardens can choose from the Tenby or Henley ranges, which both offer a variety of furniture which can be mixed-and-matched to suit the needs and styles of any garden.

The Tenby range

No matter the size of the garden, there is a Tenby garden set to fit. The Tenby 6 Seat Garden Dining Set has a larger 150cm diameter table, featuring a handy 70cm Lazy Susan that can be detached to reveal a built-in ice bucket.

For larger options, there is also the Tenby Luxury Corner Garden Dining Set, which can comfortably seat eight people and can be adjusted between 46cm and 68cm. A slightly smaller, but no less impactful, choice is the Tenby Mini Corner Garden Dining Set which can seat seven people. Alternatively, the Tenby Premium Corner Garden Dining Set comes complete with two stools and a spacious recliner.

The Henley range

Combining long-lasting durability with a chic design, the Henley garden furniture set is crafted with a lightweight aluminium frame and a resilient, weatherproof rattan-effect weave.

The Henley 6 Seat Garden Dining Set, which features an even more spacious 150cm diameter table.

Also featuring the same sized table is the Henley Corner Garden Dining Set, which seats eight people on its comfortable corner sofa and two padded benches. A perfect choice for a more petite garden or patio area is the Henley Garden Bistro Set, which comes complete with two chairs and a 70cm table.

Ideal for storing garden accessories, or perhaps children’s toys, the Henley Garden Storage Box is the perfect accompaniment to any range.

Furniture buyer for Hillier, Olivia Moores, said: “With 160 years in the garden industry, Hillier is well-placed to create a range of furniture for modern buyers. We’ve noticed a shift in tastes from traditional, modular designs, towards casual and comfortable yet high-quality chairs and sofas. So we devised our own range of furniture that can be grouped together in a way to suit each buyer’s needs, giving plenty of choice and flexibility, without compromising on style.”

“Most home and garden 2024 trend reports mention versatile pieces of furniture which suit many needs at once. That’s why it was so important to us when designing the Henley and Tenby ranges, that we created beautiful pieces of furniture which fill many needs for buyers. Both the Henley and Tenby sets feature curved lines with rounded edges and a flush finish, with the Tenby particularly embodying this trend.

For more information on both the Henley and Tenby garden dining sets, please visit http://www.hillier.co.uk

Burgon & Ball, creator of beautiful premium gardening tools and accessories since 1730, recently worked in collaboration with the RHS to deliver the RHS Family Gardening Festival.

Falling during the half term holiday, and also coinciding with National Children’s Gardening Week, the event saw a host of fantastic activities taking place in all five RHS gardens.

Gardeners of all ages participated in interactive planting activities, creative crafts, inspirational storytelling, shows and fun garden trails to explore.

Burgon & Ball supplied all the gardens with a wide range of items from the new Growing Gardeners family gardening range. The 17-piece RHS-endorsed collection is new for this season and has been created to make gardening with children easy and fun.

In an innovative step, the range of tools and accessories is backed by an online resource with family-friendly ideas, projects and inspiration from the trusted experts at the RHS. The concept builds on the love for gardening together that families discovered during lockdown. It’s ideal for families who want to enjoy gardening together but aren’t sure where to start.

The range proved very popular with the young gardeners and their families during the week of events, with the stand-out favourite being the ‘Make your own Seedling Paper Pots’ pot maker. This was used in planting sessions where young gardeners made their own paper pots and planted sunflower or tomato seeds to take home and watch grow.

Rainer Schubert, managing director at Burgon & Ball, says: “We’ve been delighted with the success of the events at the RHS gardens. Our new Growing Gardeners collection is all about getting families gardening together, and it’s been fantastic to see it being used and enjoyed by the next generation of gardeners.”

For more information on the new RHS Growing Gardeners collection, contact your Burgon & Ball area sales manager, or visit www.burgonandball.com

GTN June/July 2024 – SOLEX Preview.  In this issue: Bring on the plants – GTN talks to Hannah Cook, Welcome to NOVA’s new Experience Centre, A Bridgerton Chelsea Flower Show, More showrooms to visit , Outdoor adventures with Fandango Fire Tools, SOLEX 2024 – GTN’s 26-page show preview, SOLEX show floor plan, Welcome to the SOLEX Afterparty and Awards, Celebrating BBQ Hero’s at SOLEX, Bramblecrest on a mission, News and latest products from SOLEX exhibitors, SOLEX green initiatives, Greenfingers opens new garden, NOVA brand and business model revamp, GIMA golf day, Glee’s 50 Year Hero’s, Chelsea’s plant winners- GTN’s Planteria, Promoting the industry - HTA Viewpoint, Innovation driving retail – GIMA Viewpoint.

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Bents Garden & Home has taken a significant step as it plans for the future by promoting Emma Kelly to Commercial Director, a position that has been specifically created to support the management structure at the family owned and run business.

Emma has been with Bents for nearly 10 years, joining in 2014 as Buying Manager, leading the buying and ecommerce functions.  She progressed to Head of Operations in 2018, expanding her leadership role to include retail and logistics and in 2023 taking on responsibility for all dining departments.

Her new role will include additional directorship duties and deputising in the absence of Managing Director, Matthew Bent.

Says Matthew:  “Having worked with Emma for many years, we are confident that she shares the same work ethics and vision as the family and the Bents business.  Her attention to detail and understanding of what is needed to achieve our goals is invaluable and we are delighted to be able to announce her promotion to Commercial Director.

“She has already played an integral role in the development of our business, demonstrating unwavering commitment and passion over the past decade.  We are looking forward to having her input as we look towards the future and plan out the next steps for Bents.”

Says Emma:  “It is great to be part of such an ambitious family owned and run business and I have loved taking on new challenges and developing my role over the past decade.  This is another fantastic step and I am relishing the opportunity to get involved and be part of the Bents family business at this level.”

Neal Ritson, who won the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation’s Brian Crosby Scholarship in 2023, will be running Ultra X Wales 50 on the 28^th July 2024, raising funds for the Foundation.

50km across Snowdonia National Park, tackling 1,830m of elevation. That is hard core!

Neal said:“I am using this opportunity to fundraise for the Foundation, this fantastic charity helps to support Horticulturalists of the future. They have helped me and I’m really glad to now be able to give something back.”

Please sponsor him via his JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/neal-ritson-ultra-50

Every little helps to spur Neal on, think of that distance but the climb too …

Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres and Hilliers made the most of the marketing and sales opportunities at BBC Gardeners World Live 2024

Blue Diamond sponsored the new Urban Garden section of the NEC show.

British Garden Centres took their exclusive garden furniture range to the show alongside their sponsorship of the main stage.

And Hilliers sponsored the Plants stage in the Flower Pavilion.

See GTN Xtra's gallery of photos from Press Day on Wednesday before the show opened to the public to see which suppliers were also taking advantage of the Birmingham consumer event.  Watch out for more details to follow about Urban Wyrm - worm casts as a soil conditioner and additive for gardeners.

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company’s Digitalis purpurea Apple Blossom has been recognised as Best in Show at the New Plant Awards, sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), at this year’s HTA National Plant Show, happening today and tomorrow (19 and 20 June) at the NAEC, Stoneleigh.

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company - Digitalis purpurea Apple Blossom was awarded top in the herbaceous perennials category. In shades of primrose yellow to apple blossom, with a frilly appearance which attracts bees to the garden, this unique pale pink and purple flowerform has a creamy bud, and throws up multiple flower spikes which impressed the judges.

Emma Allen, RHS head of Horticultural Relations said, “We had amazing fun judging last night and we were spoilt for choice. I really hope you love the New Plant Award winners as much as I do!”

Martin Simmons, HTA Member Engagement Manager said, "This year’s New Plant Awards showcased a spectacular range of innovative and beautiful plants, with numerous stunning entries making the judging process particularly challenging.  We award bronze, silver and gold in each category, and across all categories there were 36 bronze, 20 silver and 16 golds. From the gold entries we choose the best in each category. The compliments and positive feedback from the judges underscore the quality and innovation in this year's entries.”

David Chilvers, Sales & Marketing Director at The Bransford Webbs Plant Company said, "We’re really pleased to have won the New Plant Award here at the HTA National Plant Show this year. Thank you to the HTA and all the judges."

The winners:

Herbaceous Perennials category

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company - Digitalis purpurea Apple Blossom – BEST IN SHOW

Annuals, bedding and container & basket plants

Ball Colegrave - Bidens ferulifolia Bee Happy Double Orange

Flowering Houseplants

Profitplant BV - Cyclamen persicum Illusia

Foliage Houseplants

Javado UK - Aglaonema  Grand  Blossom

Cacti & Succulents

Javado UK - Cotyledon Hybride Elephant Trunk

Trees

Frank P Matthews Ltd. - Prunus Crystal Falls®

Shrubs (including Conifers) & Climbers

Newey Ltd - Lavatera Lilia Twirl ‘HYFIRL’

The new plant area at HTA National Plant Show is bursting with ideas for new plants and the New Plant Awards are a showcase for dozens of new plant introductions. Awards are given to the most innovative and exceptional varieties introduced to the market within the last year.

The HTA has released its latest Market Update for June, reflecting on the performance of garden centres amidst the UK’s wettest spring since 1986.

The challenging weather conditions, with rainfall reaching 155% of the long-term average and sunshine at only 83% of the seasonal norm, significantly impacted garden centre sales.

However, general sales were buoyed by strong performing catering (+13%) and food and farm shop (+12%) sales, providing customers with extra incentive to visit when the weather is less favourable for gardening.   

HTA Chief Executive Fran Barnes remarked: "Challenging weather conditions once again led to a noticeable decline in garden centre sales for gardening enthusiasts. On the other hand, footfall was still strong with non-garden/gardening categories, particularly in catering and food, performing well, demonstrating the resilience of our sector.  

“Consumer confidence is on the rise, and with improving weather, we expect to see increased gardening activity. The growing consumer optimism and high wage growth position the industry to take advantage of any pent-up demand for gardening products. Nevertheless, we are mindful of the cost pressures facing businesses, particularly rising wage bills and shipping costs. Our focus remains on supporting our members through these challenges and advocating for favourable conditions for the horticulture sector, especially during this critical election period."  

Report Headlines:  

Sales Performance: Overall garden centre sales and transaction numbers declined by -3% in May. Garden/gardening category sales were particularly hard-hit, showing an -8% decrease, with outdoor plant sales suffering the most. Sales of hardy plants declined by -18% compared to May 2023, and bedding plants, garden tools, and outdoor living items like garden furniture and BBQs also saw significant declines.  

The growth in non-garden/gardening category sales, particularly in catering and food, underscores the strategic value of diversified offerings in weather-dependent industries. The +6 % increase in gifting and wild bird care products from May 2023 further supports this notion.  

Year-to-Date Comparison: Despite May’s setbacks, year-to-end May sales in 2024 are up +4% compared to 2023.  

Consumer Confidence: Consumer confidence rose by 2 points in May as consumers became more optimistic about their personal finances amidst falling inflation (CPIH 3%) and high wage growth (5.8%).  

Challenges and Opportunities: Businesses continue to face cost pressures from rising wage bills and increasing shipping costs. Improved weather conditions are anticipated to stimulate gardening demand, providing a potential boost to garden centre sales in the coming months.  

The full report, including detailed analysis and strategic recommendations, is available to HTA members on the HTA website.

With the launch of its Good Times campaign, a licensing deal with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), a finger on the pulse of innovation, and partnerships with like-minded businesses, Tim Pennell, Bramblecrest’s Head of Sales and Marketing, is certainly on a mission. His aim is to promote Bramblecrest’s extensive garden furniture and outdoor living products and be one of the sectors most recognised brands.

Read the full article in GTN's June/July 2024 SOLEX Preview

Leading garden centre rejuvenation experts, Fordingbridge, have just completed their third upgrade project for Trowell Garden Centre in Nottingham. The major works, started in January this year, involved transforming two original canopies –installed by Fordingbridge circa 20 years ago – into hard roofing to create a vast new, fully insulated extension to the centre.

The extended area will add a total of 200 m2 to the centre’s popular Digg café and external plant sales area, enabling the garden centre to capitalise on its most popular areas, that brings people into the centre year-round.

The works also involved the addition of a five span trellis canopy adjoining the newly extended café area to enable the centre to create an impressive new showcase area for seasonal planting and furniture right next to its popular café.

Owners of Trowell Garden Centre, David and Barbara Henshaw, said: “This new area has totally transformed the experience we can offer our tens of thousands of visitors and will hopefully bring in even more. As ever, the team at Fordingbridge were super professional and the speed at which the project was completed was really impressive.”

CEO of Fordingbridge commented: “If you’re looking to create new year-round retail and café spaces, upgrading existing canopied areas can be a great, very cost-effective solution. It keeps costs and disruption to a minimum and as Trowells newly enhanced Diggs café proves, the end result can be stunning.”

To discover more about Fordingbridge’s services visit www.fordingbridge.co.uk.

The award, named in honour of horticulture's super hero Peter Seabrook, in tribute to the years he devoted to promoting new plant varieties both to gardeners and within the horticultural trade, is one of the most prestigious awards in the plant sector. This years winning plant, which is being introduced to the UK market by Herefordshire based Allensmore Nurseries, Hydrangea macrophylla First Editions® Eclipse® has been selected as the top plant entered into the competition by the panel of expert judges.

The award was presented by Fran Barnes, the Chief Executive of the HTA and Roger Seabrook, son of the late Peter Seabrook, in front of an audience in a packed Let’s Talk Plants theatre at the garden show on Friday. There to receive their award were Alice Button the Trials Officer and Production Director Kevin Campbell both of Allensmore Nurseries.

Over 100 plants entered were judged by the panel and are now on show to the public at the event. Over 90,000 visitors to the show, are now being asked in the Visitors Vote for their choice of ‘top of the pots’. GTNXtra will bring you the result of that poll as soon as the votes are counted.

Pictures at top: Left to right Kevin Campbell, Alice Button, Fran Barnes, Roger Seabrook and event organiser Neil Gow from the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation.

Wyevale Nurseries is unveiling its first collection of trees for retailers at the HTA National Plant Show this week after a 15-year absence from the market (June 19 & 20, 2024).

The Hereford-based leading commercial nursery is launching the range of 10 litre potted trees at the show and will be taking orders for deliveries from August onwards.

Wyevale Nurseries’ Garden Centre Sales Manager, Colin Stanley explains: “We have been asked by many of our retail and garden centre customers about growing trees again for them, so after 15 years, we’ve returned to our retail tree roots with our first crop for the retail market this autumn.

“Retailers and garden centres are seeing an increase in demand for trees from consumers and this is creating a pull for the product. Gardeners are keen to plant trees in their green spaces, where they can, and they are also keen to include fruit trees, so they can embrace Grow Your Own.

“This is a trend our customers say looks set to continue. We’re also seeing garden centres, who currently may not be our clients, coming to us asking for trees, as they are finding it harder to import them from Europe due to increased legislation. Many also want to buy British and there are limited suppliers who can fulfil their needs of British sown and British grown, which we can.

“We’re offering an excellent range of 10L trees including ornamental and fruit trees in a trio of collections featuring many of the very best selling and most popular varieties available. We’ve included something for everyone!

“At the show we’re launching an Ornamental Collection and a Fruit Tree Collection, as well as a mixed Ornamental & Fruit Tree Collection. These are perfect for our customers who have smaller plant areas, as it allows them to offer these top selling varieties, when it may previously have been difficult for them to do so due to order numbers and space.”

Wyevale Nurseries’ Ornamental Collection includes Betula Jacquemontii ‘Snow Queen’, Crataegus ‘Crimson Cloud’, Prunus ‘Snow Goose’ and Sorbus ‘Vilmorinii’. Its Fruit Tree Collection includes the popular Golden Delicious Apple, Morrello Cherry, Victoria Plum and Conference Pear.

Colin adds: “We’re going to be displaying some of the varieties from our collections at the National Plant Show and are very happy to chat to anyone interested in finding out more. We can also take pre-orders at our stand for those that want to get ahead for the autumn season too. Come and see us, we’re in Hall 1 at stand 41/50.”

Wyevale Nurseries supplies garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk. 

Now that the weather has warmed up and this year’s stocks of products are selling through, forward thinking garden retailers will be starting to plan for 2025. With that in mind, GTN compiled a directory of supplier showrooms that are “Open for Business” this summer so that buyers can plan showroom road trips.

4 Seasons Outdoor

Preview The World’s finest Garden Furniture Showroom by watching their video:  https://youtu.be/0H1wcnlyMlE. Their trade only showroom is in Reading. Contact Chris@4so.co.uk

Edelman

Come and explore their latest colourful trends and themes in the 7,000m2 showroom, Reeuwijk, Netherlands. Contact david.brett@edelman.eu or ron.allison@edelman.eu 

Floralsilk

Floralsilks’ beautiful trade showroom is spread over 6,500 sq ft where you’ll see ranges from equisite florals and foliage to Christmas in all its glory. Contact sales@floralsilk.co.uk

G Plants

Discover top-selling brands Bee Friends, BEES Gifts, Speedy Seed and Green Ribbon at the G Plants headquarters in Blackburn. Contact sales@gplants.com

H& H Group

Best-selling personalised lines plus much, much more. Appointments for Showroom visits available Monday – Thursday in July. Contact sales@historyheraldry.com

Hamac

Just 30 minutes from Belfast, the Hamac showroom has over 3000 products on display with hidden gems to discover. Contact sales@hamactrading.com

Handy

Make a date for the Handy Dealer/Retailer Open Day at Moulton Grange Country Estate in Northampton on 5^th September. Tickets from: www.handys.co.uk

Hartman

See the Hartman 2025 collection including new cushion technology – Cloud Cushion and 100% recycled cushions during June, by appointment only, at the Hartman HQ in Telford. Call 01952 231231

Innovators International

Enhance your garden furniture ranges with quality stylish pieces from Innovators International.  By appointment only. Contact sales@innovators-international.co.uk

Ivyline

Stoneleigh Park is the location for the Ivyline showroom. Open Monday to Thursday 8am-5pm, Fridays 8am – 3pm and all visitors are treated to a complimentary lunch. Contact sales@ivylinegb.co.uk

Kaemingk

Discover the latest Spring Summer 2025 Trends at their UK Showroom, open from July 1^st 2024. Hall 3 Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth and at Aalten, Netherlands. Contact l.aarnink@kaemingk.com

LifestyleGarden

A showroom on two levels that is packed with responsibly crafted garden furniture also acts as a hub for retail staff training sessions.  Contact sales@lifestylegarden.co.uk

Norfolk Leisure

If you missed the Norfolk Leisure 2025 Season Showcase during May, contact us for a showroom visit at Setchy near Kings Lynn. www.norfolkleisurelifestyle.com

Nova Outdoor Living

The NOVA Experience centre is now open. NOVA is allocating half days and full days for bookings. If you wish to book your visit to the Experience Centre, visit www.novaoutdoorliving.co.uk

Panacea Products

Trade only visitors are welcomed at the Panacea Swindon showroom to see their high quality and exciting new product development. Contact sales@panaceaproducts.co.uk

Pinnacle Agri

Get a full product demo and factory tour of the Glee New Product Award winning Firestorm Heater at New Cross Farm in Herefordshire.  Contact trade@firestormheaters.co.uk

Primeur

See the full award winning Primeur range plus the newly launched Mighty Mats doormat collection in Skipton, North Yorkshire.  Contact sales@primeur.ltd.uk

Sipcam

Find out more about Sipcam, an international leader in crop protection and development of bio-technologies, at their Derby showroom. Contact www.ecofective.uk.com

Smart Garden Peterborough

Visit the Eureka building in Peterborough to see the two floor, 6,000 sq ft Smart showrooms. Smart typically add 400 new products each year, so its well worth a visit. Contact sales@sgpuk.com

Trans-Continental

Throughout July Trans-Continental invites customers to an exclusive showroom visit at its headquarters in Blackpool. Strictly by appointment only, contact sales@transcon.co.uk

Smart Abingdon

Spend the whole day reviewing the entire Smart collection at their Abingdon HQ. 5,000 sq ft of showroom and meeting rooms await trade only visitors. Contact sales@sgpuk.com

STV

A warm welcome awaits you at the STV Showroom where you’ll also meet the people who make the products your customers buy. Contact info@stvuk.com

Tom Chambers

The Tom Chambers Lifestyle showroom opens on June 3^rd. See their collection of garden furniture for 2025. Contact your Tom Chambers agent for a visit appointment.

Westland

Immerse yourselves in all the Westland brands to boost your sales and discover their latest innovations and marketing campaigns.  Contact your Westland sales representative to arrange a showroom visit.

Wildlife World

Wildlife World’s showroom promises to inspire and educate visitors on the importance of coexistence with nature. Contact stephen@wildlifeworld.co.uk to book a visit.

Woodlodge

Discover the extensive range of Woodlodge pots and accessories plus the W Living range of outdoor furniture in the new 20,000 sq ft showroom. Contact showroom@woodlodge.co.uk

See the printed versions of GTN's Summer Showroom Directory below: