Tomorrow (Friday 19^th March 2021) marks the 10^th anniversary of Garden Re-Leaf Day and is set to be a day full of fabulous FUNdraising activities.

24hr challenge for Garden Re-Leaf founder 

Boyd Douglas-Davies, Director of British Garden Centres and the founder of Garden Re-Leaf Day will be spending tomorrow realising that 115km is actually quite far as he tackles the distance on a cross trainer! Talking about the challenge Boyd said: “Wow, the 10^th anniversary of Garden Re-Leaf Day has come round so quickly. There’s been so many wonderful challenges accepted and completed since we ran the first Garden Re-Leaf back in 2012, so I felt I needed to do something really special this year. With British Garden Centres having just announced its 58^th centre (Harrogate), I couldn’t see a better challenge than heading there from my office in Brigg Garden Centre. In my head it didn’t seem that far, but then 115km doesn’t in a car does it?! But to make this challenge a little tougher, the car needs to be avoided so instead I am going to walk the distance on my cross trainer; the cross trainer I have avoided for the last 10 years, so this is going to be a real challenge! 115km in less than 24 hours!”

To show your support for Boyd please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/boyd-douglas-davies100

Garden quiz to test both your green and general knowledge

Don’t worry if you have left your FUNdraising plans to the last minute as the first ever virtual Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz is taking place tomorrow night. Hosted by the ever gorgeous Greenfingers patron, Anne-Marie Powell, and sponsored by Evergreen Garden Care, the quiz will take place virtually at 7:30pm and is open to everyone. To enter simply emailGreenfingers Director of Fundraising & Communications, Linda Petrons via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to secure your ticket. Suggested donation for taking part is just £10.00 per person.

Brave the shave

Tomorrow is the day when Greenfingers Chairman Sue Allen, along with Millbrook Garden Centre’s Managing Director/Greenfingers Trustee, Tammy Woodhouse, will be saying goodbye to their lockdown locks as they prepare to shave their heads all in the name of charity.Joining them will be another Millbrook mother and daughter pair, Jo and Danielle who work at Millbrook’s Gravesend Garden Centre. All donations can be given here:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sueandtambraveshave

There and back again – 1,206 miles for Garden Re-Leaf

What started as a casual chat amongst friends has turned into a challenge of epic proportions! The Lands’ End to John O’Groats crew – made up of Hornby Whitefoot PR, Deco-Pak, Primeur, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum and GIMA representatives – have now doubled their Garden Re-Leaf virtual challenge distance, with a grand total of 1,206 miles earmarked for completion by the end of March!

The ‘crew’ have been walking, running and cycling everyday of March, and having clocked up close to their original target (603 miles – the distance between Lands’ End and John O’Groats as the crow flies) within the first 12 days they decided why not go a little bit further and tackle the return journey as well, totalling over 1,200 miles.

Kimberley Hornby, MD of Hornby Whitefoot PR who helped set up the ‘crew’ said: “We always thought 603 miles was an ambitious plan but in reality, we have been racing through the miles. As Garden Re-Leaf Day approaches, we saw us reaching our target ahead of time and decided to just keep going. With the remainder of March ahead of us to walk and raise funds, we are confident we can smash our fundraising target and would like to thank everyone who has already kindly donated.”

To donate the Lands’ End to John O’Groats crew please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/team/LandsEndtoJohnOGroatsvirtualcrew

Tomorrow also marks the day when the team from multi-discipline landscapers, Scotscape – the latest charity partner of the Greenfingers charity – complete their own Lands’ End to John O’Groats challenge. The team have set themselves a FUNdraising target of £2,000, with donations welcome via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/groundscapewalkingchallenge

Team Greenfingers hit the halfway mark!

The Greenfingers team, made up of Director of Fundraising & Communications, Linda Petrons, Director of Finance & Resources, Sally Jenkins, and Garden Project Manager, Holly Harrington, have reached the halfway mark in their one million step challenge!  With another 500,000 to go before the end of the month, why not show them your support by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/greenfingersstepchallenge

Hozelock are also undertaking the one million step challenge throughout March. Find out more at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hozelock

Stihl’s Minutes Mowed Challenge

To celebrate 10 years of Garden Re-Leaf Day, 10 Stihl reps will be competing against a team from their Approved Dealers, Sims Garden Machinery, both aiming to mow for 1,000 minutes over the next ten weeks.  To donate £10 to support this challenge, simply text:  MOWMENTS to 70085 (Texts cost £10 plus your standard rate message).

AMES Amble - donation gets raised to £2,000 by Paul North because the team have completely smashed their steps target and already well over 100,000 pledged.

The AMES team has confirmed that tomorrow staff members from across the business will be coming together to celebrate Garden Re-Leaf Day. With 50,000 steps earmarked for completion by close of play – that’s over 20 miles – the day will be focused on bringing the team together for a common goal, with every step – whether walked indoors or out in the fresh air - making a difference.  Boosting this excellent team effort will be a generous £2,000 donation now which AMES has already pledged.

Glee-full support

Originally planning to complete the Thames Walk, Glee have had to adjust their plans to meet current lockdown restrictions, however this has not dampened their enthusiasm! Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, and Commercial Manager, Daniel McAlpin, are set to walk (socially distanced of course!) between three Kent based garden centres – Coolings, Ruxley Manor and Gravesend’s Millbrook Garden Centre (where they will find four ladies showing off their new buzzcuts!). The wider Glee team will also be supporting Garden Re-Leaf Day, together (virtually) walking the distance between Hyve’s offices in central London and Glee’s ‘home’, the Birmingham NEC.  

10 km for 10years

Kate Ebbens of Capi UK has pledged to run 10km for Garden Re-Leaf Day, however due to injury she will now run on March 31^st. Capi has already pledged £500 but you can further boost Kate’s fundraising efforts by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Ebbens2.

Klondyke’s £1 per pot

£1 from every pot sold at Klondyke stores tomorrow will be donated to Garden Re-Leaf’s FUNdraising total.

19 minutes of skipping

Hannah Powell and the team at Perrywood Garden Centre are skipping their way through March. Each day they will be adding one extra minute to her skipping, ending the month on 31 continuous minutes of skipping. This means that tomorrow will see the team complete 19 continuous minutes of skipping!  You can support Hannah and the Perrywood team here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/perrywood-garden-centre

Free garden design consultancy

Tomorrow also sees Rob Jones and his team at The Garden Design Company donate a day’s salary to the Garden Re-Leaf Day grand total. Rob, also a Greenfingers Trustee, and team will be carrying out free design consultations (in return for a donation to support the work of Greenfingers) to coincide with Garden Re-Leaf, with 10 consultations already booked!  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/garden-re-leaf-day-2021

QVC and its vendors confirm their ongoing support

Supporters of Garden Re-Leaf Day for many years, the QVC family including Richard Jackson and Michael Perry, will continue to use their significant platform to raise funds for the Greenfingers charity. Garden product sales on March 27th will help to increase the 2021 FUNdraising total.

Inside Outside... a New Beginning. How the 5th room is changing the garden centre retailing market in the march 2021 issue of GTN.  Read on-line here.

• Fountasia, Order now for Spring and Christmas.
• Next Generation to lead the way at GCA, interview with Tammy Woodhouse and Will Blake.
• Onduline ‘clay look’ tiles transform a garden centre.
• Inside Outside… A New Beginning for the garden market.
• Watering wisdom and more marketing from Hozelock.
• Empowering Change for a brighter future, LOFA team up with Planet Mark.
• HTA Column, Tales of the unexpected.
• GIMA Column, Somewhere over the rainbow, a ‘New Normal’ exists.

Easter is fast approaching and for many people this symbolises a change in weather and the start of the long-awaited gardening season. 

There was a significant increase in the number of people who took up gardening last year, which lead to garden, and gardening category, sales increasing by 21% when compared to December 2020 with the previous year. 

To help maximise sales, this is an ideal opportunity to up-sell products to those new gardeners who invested in watering products for the first time last year. Offering a wide range of watering accessories, such as the Hozelock Multi Spray Pro, is a good way to demonstrate how users can get the most out of their existing Hozelock products.

Whilst stocking an advanced range of products, such as the Hozelock Easy Drip Universal Kit or Select Controller, will target those customers looking to upgrade their existing watering methods and reap the benefits of automatic watering. Tap into the thriving grow your own trend by offering the Hozelock Growbag Waterer – the easiest way to grow vegetables without the effort. This is ideal to buy at Easter as gardener’s seedlings outgrow their starter pots.

For over 60 years, Hozelock has specialised in meeting the needs of gardeners. Combining a knowledge and passion for gardening with innovative solutions they now have a broad range of products, with the hose range spanning across pvc, expanding and hybrid - meaning there really is a product for every gardener and gardening need.

View Hozelock’s full watering range here: https://www.hozelock.com/product-category/watering/

*https://www.insightdiy.co.uk/news/hta-garden-centre-sales-down-10-in-2020/9394.htm

The GIMA New Product Digest, Spring 2021, a valuable source of reference for the UK Garden Trade, is Live on-line now with new products for the UK Garden Trade for 2021 from GIMA Members: Azpects, Boughton Loam, Campingaz, Capi Europe, Charles Bentley, Deco-Pak, Dizmezs, DJ Turfcare, EKJU, Elho, Forest Garden, Gardena, Growth Technology, GTS (Globus), Handy Distribution, Henry Bell, Hozelock, Hygeia, Jonart, Lava-Lite, Marriages, Onduline, Patio Black Spot, Plantworks, Potting Shed Press - GTN, Primeur, Sorbus, SBM, Southern Trident, Teal International, Vitavia & Woodlodge.

The 2021 issue of the GIMA Digest, published last Autumn, has been viewed on-line over 5,200 times, by readers in 71 countries around the world, with an average read time of over 9 minutes.  This combined with the 5,107 openings of the e-newsletter version means the GIMA Digest 2021 has already helped over 10,000 potential buying opportunities.

As pupils returned to school this week under the governments ‘Roadmap’, Pershore High School in Worcestershire has also seen some unwanted visitors arrive.

The Pershore School horticultural unit, gives school students the opportunity to learn some of the skills of horticulture and gardening techniques, was broken into overnight. They could now do with your help to help replace items of equipment stolen.

Anne Watson, the teacher running the unit said: “It is heartbreaking for us all especially the students – they are having a tough enough time at the moment as it is, without this sort of thing happening."

Items stolen include:

• 5 pairs of Kent and Stowe secateurs
• 1 pair Kent and Stowe left handed secateurs
• 5 Spear and Jackson hand forks
• 5 Darlac hand trowels
• 1 Wilkinson Sword folding pruning saw
• 4 pairs of Town & Country gardening gloves
• I Kent and Stowe digging spade
• Our Stanley tool box which had all sorts of bits in there, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, spanner set, wire cutters and that sort of thing.

"The value of things taken, probably barely comes to £200, but to us as a unit, which has to be entirely self funding, it is a big blow. We are hoping that some suppliers of gardening equipment can help us out with replacing the stolen tools.  

This year especially, we have lost so much opportunity for the students to raise money by producing plants and cut flowers for sale to staff and parents as well as growing produce for the school kitchens because of the lockdowns. We are just fortunate  the one shed, which has all our Wolf Multi-change tools, donated to us by E.P. Barrus last year and used by our wheelchair bound students,  was left untouched.”

Anne continued: “It is a setback for us, especially at this time of year when we are working hard to catch up with the students and Covid regulations mean we are trying to limit the number of students who use each tool to reduce the risk of infection. We have been very lucky in the past to have so much support from garden product manufacturers and local garden centres with even things like compost and packets of seeds, along with much of our equipment donated."

The school is one of only a few mainstream schools in the country to have its own dedicated horticultural unit where students can experience some of the skills of horticulture and gardening. Four years ago the school achieved the status of “Approved Centre for Royal Horticultural Society Qualifications”. This means that students can gain a recognised horticultural grade through the RHS assessment process which helps them into employment or further education.

Neil Gow, who many of us from the garden retail industry know, volunteers at the school as a horticultural trainer and assessor added: “Students who have gained some experience with us have gone on to further qualifications at specialist colleges and got work locally in garden centres and private or National Trust gardens. We have just heard this week that another of our students has gained a place at Pershore College of Horticulture to start his course this autumn.”

If you can help out with the supply of items, contact Neil Gow via ngow@pershore.worcs.sch.uk  or the school direct:

    The Horticultural Unit, Pershore High School, Station Road, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 2BX

    T: 01386 552471 W: http://www.pershore.worcs.sch.uk/  E: office@pershore.worcs.sch.uk

After being over 50% down year on year four weeks ago, the GTN Bestsellers All Plant sales index now sites at UP 32% year to date vs last year and UP 45% on 2018 sales to the end of week 9.

• Dianthus were the highest movers up the chart last week.  Climbing 40 places to No 9.
• Sweet peas, lathyrus, were the highest placed chart re-entry at No 16.
• Strawberry plants increased in sales by 193% to move up to No 6 and Tomato plants started selling in high volumes to re-enter at No 20.
• All Plants volume sales change: Week on week DOWN 12.4%.  Year to date vs 2020 UP 31.8%, vs  2019 UP 9.7%.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

The Horticultural Trades Association’s Market Update report for March shows nationally sales of garden/gardening categories were 69% up in February 2021 compared to the same month of last year, helping to mitigate the impacts of closed catering outlets.

Average Transaction Values were up 79% on February 2020 as consumers started to prepare for the warmer spring months and the new rules permitting garden socialisation at end of March.  

Importantly, three-quarters of British adults now state they feel confident visiting a garden centre, the highest level recorded since September 2020.  

This month’s report also discusses consumers’ post-lockdown intentions and concerns. Encouragingly 18% of British adults expect to do more gardening once lockdown restrictions are eased, while eating out in cafes and restaurants are what consumers are looking forward to most.  

However, it is important for garden centres to continue to promote their safe trading environments as keen gardeners are more likely than the average British adult to feel concerned about other members of the public following COVID guidelines and venues having appropriate measures in place (TGI survey, Kantar Media January 2021). 

HTA Market Update is available free for members to download from the HTA website, by logging in and visiting the Market Update page here: https://bit.ly/3cbGBXZ  

Gardening and plant sales continued at unprecedented levels during the first week of March, according to garden centre Epos data analysed by GTN Bestsellers.

The GTN Bestsellers All Products Index of items sold was up by 93% on the same week last year and 81% up on the average for the first week of March over the previous 10 years. The corresponding week in 2018 saw the Beast from the East striking hard, and this year’s sales for the same week were up by 367% in comparison.

Plant sales performed even better, in terms of percentage growth year on year. The GTN Bestsellers All Plants Index was up by 170% taking the year-to-date position of plant sales to being up year on year by 32%.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 9

• Garden Products Top 50 – up 127%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 132%
• Veg-2-Gro Top 50 – up 226%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Top 50 – up 2%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year:

• All Plants with Barcode Index – up 170%
• All Items with Barcode Index – up 93%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

With Garden Re-Leaf Day approaching ever quicker, teams and businesses from across the garden retail sector and beyond are busy making plans for the forthcoming Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 19^th. With the event turning 10 this year teams are going BIG with their FUNdraising activities.

Brave the shave

Greenfingers Chairman Sue Allen, along with Millbrook Garden Centre’s Managing Director/Greenfingers Trustee, Tammy Woodhouse, will be saying goodbye to their lockdown locks as they prepare to shave their heads on Garden Re-Leaf Day, all in the name of charity.Joining them will be another Millbrook mother and daughter pair, Jo and Danielle who work at Millbrook’s Gravesend Garden Centre. All donations can be given here:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sueandtambraveshave

Lands’ End to John O’Groats – twice!

This year Garden Re-Leaf will see two teams tackle the infamous Lands’ End to John O’Groats challenge. The first will be a team made up of representatives from Hornby Whitefoot PR, Deco-Pak, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, GIMA and Primeur. Walking in their local areas the ‘crew’ will be completing as many miles as they can, with a running total keeping them on track throughout March. Look out for a special video post-event where the team capture the realities of virtual walking! Sponsorship for the ‘virtual crew’ can be given via https://www.justgiving.com/team/LandsEndtoJohnOGroatsvirtualcrew

Multi-discipline landscapers, Scotscape – the latest charity partner of the Greenfingers charity – will also be taking on the challenge. A team of 10 from Scotscape will be tackling 87.4 miles each during Feb 26th – March 19th. The team have set themselves a FUNdraising target of £2,000, with donations welcome via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/groundscapewalkingchallenge

One Million Step Challenge

Echoing the efforts of the Greenfingers team, Hozelock will also be undertaking the One Million Step Challenge throughout March. Why? Because they want to help Greenfingers raise awareness for the great work they are doing for life-limited children as well as highlighting the physical and mental benefits of spending time outdoors. To show your support of the Hozelock team pleasevisit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hozelock, whilst donations to the Greenfingers team – Linda, Holly and Sally - can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/greenfingersstepchallenge

Garden quiz to test your green knowledge

Greenfingers patron, Anne-Marie Powell, will be joining the team at Evergreen Garden Care to host a special gardening quiz. Designed to test your ‘green’ knowledge, this quiz is open to everyone, with tickets available from Greenfingers Director of Fundraising & Communications, Linda Petrons via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk. 

10 km for 10years

Kate Ebbens of Capi UK has pledged to run 10 km on March 19^th, with the company throwing their weight behind the challenge with donation of £500. As if that wasn’t enough, Kate has also given up her biggest vice – coffee – for the whole of 2021. To help avoid temptation Kate is donating £1 to Greenfingers for each day she goes coffee-free! You can make  a donation to support Kate’s efforts here http://www.justgiving.com/Kate-Ebbens2

The Thames Walk

The team from leading trade exhibition, Glee, are – Covid allowing – hoping to tackle a 51 mile stretch of the infamous Thames Path, all within a day’s walking. Leading the pack will be Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein, who was the originator of the Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk back in 2015. Matthew has completed every Garden Re-Leaf Walk since, racking up 120 miles for the charity to date, one of only two people who have done so!

£1 per pot

The lovely people at Klondyke will once again be donating £1 from every pot sold on Garden Re-Leaf Day. 

Mowing Challenge

The teams at Stihl and Sims Garden Machinery will be undertaking a 10-week mowing challenge which will kick off on Garden Re-Leaf Day.  More details to follow soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Skipping into March

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Hannah Powell (@thecactussurgeon)

At Perrywood Garden Centre, Hannah Powell and the team will be skipping their way through March. Each day Hannah will be adding one extra minute to her skipping, ending the month on 31 continuous minutes of skipping!  You can support Hannah and the Perrywood team here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/perrywood-garden-centre

Mar-CHING for Garden Re-Leaf

446 children from Kings Hill School in Walsall will each be walking 1km on March 19^th to help increase the fundraising total. Whilst the Holiday Inn, Runcorn – part of the Kew Green Hotels Group – will also be marching throughout the month of March to boost the Garden Re-Leaf total. Watch out for the team on the streets of Runcorn as they rack up the miles.

If that wasn’t enough, Holly Parker, Learning and Development Assistant at HTA, has pledged to walk 50 miles every week to support Garden Re-Leaf Day.  Go Holly!

Planted with love

Friends at Kew Green Hotels’ Holiday Inn Washington will be joining volunteers from St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice in Newcastle where Greenfingers’ Garden Project Manager, Holly Harrington, has designed a stunning new garden space. Set to be completed later this month, the Kew Green team will be helping to plant out a range of plants and flowers to help add colour, fragrance and texture to the garden.

Free garden design consultancy

The Garden Design Company will see staff donate their salary on Garden Re-Leaf Day whilst Greenfingers Trustee, Rob Jones will also be offering free design consultations (in return for a donation to support the work of Greenfingers) to coincide with Garden Re-Leaf, with 10 consultations already booked!

QVC and its vendors confirm their ongoing support

Supporters of Garden Re-Leaf Day for many years, the QVC family including Richard Jackson and Michael Perry, will continue to use their significant platform to raise funds for the Greenfingers charity. Garden product sales on March 27th will help to increase the 2021 FUNdraising total.

Get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

Since its inception in 2012, Garden Re-Leaf Day has been a key event within the garden retail calendar. Each year hundreds of people from across the industry, including suppliers and retailers, come together to undertake an incredible series of fundraising events. During the last nine years the event has raised in excess of £660,000, all of which has gone towards helping the charity design and create magical gardens in children’s hospices throughout the country.

Registration for the 2021 event is now live, and Greenfingers is also on the look-out for sponsors of the event. To find out more please contact Linda Petrons by emailing linda@greefingerscharity.org.uk

FUNdraising ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

You will find a host of ideas in the Garden Re-Leaf Fundraising pack but here’s a few ways you can get involved and help Greenfingers to continue creating magical gardens in children’s hospices across the nation:

1. Plantathons are perfect for generating some buzz instore whilst simultaneously generating more stock and donating to Greenfingers. Previous events have included 12- and 24-hour Plantathons.
2. Hold a virtual quiz, with a minimum donation for all entrants.
3. Raffles and tombolas are a great way of getting lots of people involved. Gather prizes from around your store, or ask friends and colleagues to donate prizes, before selling raffle tickets ahead of the grand unveiling of the lucky winner!
4. Cake sales and coffee mornings – are simple yet effective FUNdraisers.
5. An online auction is a great way to raise funds and involve your friends and colleagues
6. Team up with friends and colleagues to complete a virtual walk or cycle challenge. Set yourselves a target – 100 miles for example – and work together to achieve it. Walk around your local area, on a treadmill, whatever it takes! Keep in touch via Zoom to keep the group enthusiasm going!

For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2021 fundraising pack drop Linda a line - she’d love to hear from you.

The First Minister for Wales has announced that garden centres can reopen from March 22, and the industry has been reacting to the news.

Chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association, James Barnes, said: “This is the news the industry has been waiting for. I am delighted the Welsh Government has listened to and finally acted on the representations we have made to them. It has been a frustrating time for our Welsh members, but their inputs and lobbying has been key part of why garden centres have been able to open ahead of other retail. Our sector has been recognised for the services they provide to their local communities, with an ability to offer enhanced safe retail environments.  

“Now we need to see similar action from ministers in Northern Ireland and Scotland, to help save our sector there and provide the health and wellbeing benefits of plants, gardens and nature. The HTA will continue to press for reopening in these nations as soon as possible.” 

Millbrook’s founder, Sue Allen, and Managing Director, Tammy Woodhouse – Sue’s daughter, have bravely volunteered to have their heads shaved in a bid to raise £10,000 for Greenfingers Charity, who build magical gardens for children’s hospices. Joining them in their hair-erasing challenge are another mother and daughter team, Jo and Danielle Nichols, who both work at Millbrook Garden Centre, Gravesend.

On Friday, 19th March at 11am, to mark the 10th anniversary of Garden Re-leaf Day (Greenfingers’ annual fundraiser), the foursome will say goodbye to their lockdown locks at Millbrook’s Gravesend centre. All money raised will be used by Greenfingers Charity to help fund a new garden planned for local hospice, Demelza, in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Speaking about their head shave, Sue said: “As Chairman of Greenfingers, I’m conscious of the fact that so many of the events we would normally rely on to help raise huge sums didn’t take place last year and may not happen in 2021… So, in an effort to make a big difference by raising at least £10,000 on the 10th Garden Re-leaf Day, we have made a huge and somewhat crazy commitment to have our heads shaved.

“It has taken a lot of soul-searching and self-questioning before deciding to go for it.  However, in part, it is a salute not only to some of those children and families in the hospices we help, but also to friends near and far who have experienced hair loss in their battle against cancers. 

“If we can raise lots of money to compensate for the income streams, we know we have lost this year, then it will be worth the cold heads, strange looks and the agonising wait 

for our hair to grow again.”

Greenfingers Charity, the charity of the horticulture industry, is dedicated to supporting children who spend time in hospices around the UK, along with their families, by creating inspiring gardens for them to relax in and benefit from.

They create beautiful, well-designed outdoor spaces for children to enjoy with their family, friends and siblings, whether through play and fun, or therapeutic rest and relaxation. To date, the charity has created over 60 hospice gardens around the country and have a further waiting list of hospices that need their help now.

Every donation, however small, will help ensure life-limited children and their families can benefit from magical and inspiring outside spaces in 2021 and beyond. Thank you!

If you’d like to support Sue, Tammy, Jo and Danielle and make a donation, please visit their JustGiving pages:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/millbrook-garden-company-ltd

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sueandtambraveshave

All donations will go together to help support the new Greenfingers garden at Demelza. 

The team at the ScanCom’s premium outdoor furniture brand, LifestyleGarden has reason to celebrate as the company has scooped the highly coveted Sedex Award for the Best Environmental Sustainability Programme.

The prestigious Sedex Responsible Business Awards, launched in 2017, were set up to shine a spotlight on responsible sourcing programmes and broader sustainability initiatives, recognising those organisations going above and beyond.

Shortlisted in 2019, the 2020 awards saw the UK team finally get to lift the highly deserved trophy thanks to the success of its groundbreaking DuraOcean offering, which has set a new standard for sustainable material innovation since its launch two years ago.

Utilising disused ropes and trawls from the maritime industry, and preventing them from polluting the oceans, DuraOcean has demonstrated the importance of recycled material, and also how incorporating such materials can enhance a brand’s offering, extend its consumer reach and help to start a very important conversation with the wider industry.

Judges of the Best Environmental Sustainability Programme described the award-winning DuraOcean as a “great example of closed loop innovation turning ocean plastic into a valuable product.”

Talking about the award win, Stig Maasboel, Group CEO of ScanCom, LifestyleGarden’s parent company, said: “We are extremely pleased with the recognition this award symbolises and the fact that we are able to deliver on our strategic project for sustainably sourced and recycled plastic. As a global leader in outdoor furniture design and manufacturing it is very important for us to constantly push the bar on how to conduct our business in accordance with our group principle of ‘Doing Business the Right Way’ and successes such as this only further shows that this is the only way for us to do business.”

Stig’s sentiment was echoed by Paul Cohen, Sales Director of LifestyleGarden. He said: “The development of DuraOcean remains an incredibly proud and pivotal moment for us, and the positive response we have had from key stakeholders, retailers and end users has shown that this kind of closed loop thinking has the ability to help protect the longevity of the world in which we live. To receive this recognition from Sedex is a truly humbling experience, and we’d like to thank them for this recognition. 

“We promise to continue to keep looking at ways to reuse post-consumer waste, to create eco-friendly designs, and to encourage the furniture industry to work for a more sustainable future. In fact, we have some very exciting developments in the pipeline which we hope to share with the industry in early summer. We have been busy working on ways to build on the success of DuraOcean and hope to bring even more recycled material innovations to UK homes in the near future.

“Finally, we’re pleased to confirm that we’ll be continuing to work alongside the team at leading education charity, the Eden Project. There is no question that the Eden Project shares our ethos for sustainable design, and together this partnership has helped to build a national profile for DuraOcean and the need to protect our oceans and marine life. Our plans for the future are more exciting than ever and we can’t wait to reveal more details in due course.”

The Sedex Responsible Business Awards shine a spotlight on responsible sourcing programmes and broader sustainability initiatives, recognising those organisations going above and beyond. For the official award announcement of ScanCom and the winners from other categories, follow this link: https://www.sedex.com/winners-of-the-sedex-responsible-business-awards-announced/

Still not sure what to do for Garden Re-Leaf Day next week (Friday 19th March), and worry you might have left it too late? Worry not, as Greenfingers is pleased to confirm that it will be launching its first ever virtual Garden Re-Leaf Day Quiz, hosted by the ever gorgeous Greenfingers patron, Anne-Marie Powell, and sponsored by Evergreen Garden Care.

Taking place at 7:30pm on Friday, the quiz will test entrants on their general knowledge and gardening know-how and will provide a lively and fun way to kick start the weekend whilst rounding off a hectic day of FUNdraising for Garden Re-Leaf Day’s 10th anniversary.

Open to everyone, the virtual quiz is guaranteed to be a lively event under the watchful eye of garden designer, author and long-term Greenfingers supporter, Anne-Marie Powell. Sponsors Evergreen Garden Care will be participating in the quiz also, putting the knowledge they have gained as market leaders in garden care to the test. No pressure!

Entry to the quiz could not be easier. Simply email Greenfingers Director of Fundraising & Communications, Linda Petrons via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to secure your ticket. Suggested donation for taking part is just £10.00 per person.

Get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

Since its inception in 2012, Garden Re-Leaf Day has been a key event within the garden retail calendar. Each year hundreds of people from across the industry, including suppliers and retailers, come together to undertake an incredible series of fundraising events. During the last nine years the event has raised in excess of £660,000, all of which has gone towards helping the charity design and create magical gardens in children’s hospices throughout the country.

Registration for the 2021 event is now live, and Greenfingers is also on the look-out for sponsors of the event. To find out more please contact Linda Petrons by emailing linda@greefingerscharity.org.uk

FUNdraising ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

You will find a host of ideas in the Garden Re-Leaf Fundraising pack but here’s a few ways you can get involved and help Greenfingers to continue creating magical gardens in children’s hospices across the nation:

1. Plantathons are perfect for generating some buzz instore whilst simultaneously generating more stock and donating to Greenfingers. Previous events have included 12- and 24-hour Plantathons.
2. Hold a virtual quiz, with a minimum donation for all entrants.
3. Raffles and tombolas are a great way of getting lots of people involved. Gather prizes from around your store, or ask friends and colleagues to donate prizes, before selling raffle tickets ahead of the grand unveiling of the lucky winner!
4. Cake sales and coffee mornings – are simple yet effective FUNdraisers.
5. An online auction is a great way to raise funds and involve your friends and colleagues
6. Team up with friends and colleagues to complete a virtual walk or cycle challenge. Set yourselves a target – 100 miles for example – and work together to achieve it. Walk around your local area, on a treadmill, whatever it takes! Keep in touch via Zoom to keep the group enthusiasm going! 

For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2021 fundraising pack drop Linda a line - she’d love to hear from you.

British Garden Centres arrive in Harrogate with their 58th garden centre, due to open in April, and are looking to fill 40 new jobs.

Last week, British Garden Centres (BGC) said they are delighted to announce the location of their 58^th garden centre.

The garden centre, most recently known as Grass Roots and before that Cascades Garden Centre is just outside Harrogate on the Ripon Road. The centre has been closed for over a year but, in true BGC style, the team are working at full speed to have the centre reopened in early April.

Founder, Charles Stubbs said “I’m delighted we can bring the unique BGC offer to the Harrogate area and look forward to meeting our new customers. I’m excited by the prospect of re-opening the garden centre and we are going to pull out all the stops and open in April with our full gardening range.”

“The first thing we need to do is recruit a team, we’ll be welcoming 40 people to the family in the next few weeks,” commented Charles. “Due to lockdown restrictions we won’t reopen the restaurant until the summer but I expect that will lead to a further recruitment of 15+ colleagues.”

Tasked with getting the new centre up and running is Charles daughter, Amy Stubbs. Until recently Amy has been running one of BGCs flagship centres, Brigg Garden Centre in North Lincolnshire.

Harrogate Garden Centre is just 7 miles from Harrogate on the Ripon Road at Bishop Monkton, Harrogate HG3 3QD

British Garden Centres was started over 30 years ago by brothers, Charles & Robert Stubbs, in Woodthorpe, Lincolnshire. Over the years BGC has grown from its heartland to the business it is now with 58 garden centres spread from Carmarthen to Ramsgate, Wimborne to East Durham.

The business is still very much family led with the second generation already playing an active part. Alongside the family, 2,500 colleagues helping to grow the UKs largest family owned garden centre group.

For further details regarding the centre and the wide range of part and full-time vacancies go to www.britishgardencentres.com

In recent months Keukenhof has prepared everything to be able to open the famous spring park. Keukenhof has been in talks with various government bodies for quite some time and is convinced the park can be safely opened to visitors. The Netherlands are still however under lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and Keukenhof’s 2021 set up was modified to this end.

Unfortunately, on 10 March 2021, Keukenhof was informed that no permission would be given to open to the public on 20 March despite the measures implemented. This year, Keukenhof was set to only open as a park where people can take walks and enjoy the tulips in the open air. All the buildings were to stay closed, only limited numbers of visitors would be admitted, tickets could only be ordered in advance online for specific timeslots and mechanical turnstiles had been installed so visitors could enter the park without coming into physical contact with others.

Bart Siemerink, director: “It’s enormously disappointing to everyone involved at Keukenhof that we once again cannot open this year. According to the Covid-19 rules it would be perfectly safe to take a walk around Keukenhof. Last year, we were surprised by Covid-19 and couldn’t open the park. This year, we are fully prepared for Covid-19 and it is hard to understand that people can walk around any park in the Netherlands, except Keukenhof”.

The park measures some 32 hectares (50 soccer fields) and has 15 km of footpaths. This would allow Keukenhof to provide a nice day out in the open air, in a safe, controlled environment.

Keukenhof spent a year on preparations. Alongside the disappointment that the park cannot open on 20 March 2021, this also has major financial consequences for Keukenhof and for many of the companies involved as suppliers or from the horticultural or tourist industries.

Keukenhof is the international horticultural showcase. Keukenhof in conjunction with 700 bulb and flower companies organises what amounts to the Netherlands’ calling card. The 72nd Keukenhof season is scheduled to run until 9 May. In 2019 some 1.5 million people visited Keukenhof, of whom 20% from the Netherlands (300,000) and 80% from abroad.

As soon as it is possible to open again, Keukenhof will do so. The park is already starting to bloom wonderfully and is ready and waiting for visitors.

Seeds and all things spring are the very symbol of new beginnings. Given that the signs of spring are increasingly visible and we are now beginning to see signs of some normality soon returning to our daily lives, it is about time we all look forward to a fresh start.

To tie in with this and to say a long-lasting thank you to those who have sacrificed so much for us, Mole Valley Farmers have teamed up with Suttons, giving all NHS staff an extra boost by offering each of them a free packet of Suttons seeds.

Graham Venning, Mole Valley Farmers Garden Category Manager says “We are all aware of the tremendous pressures NHS staff have been put under and whilst this isn’t over yet, Mole Valley Farmers and Suttons wanted to sow a bit of positivity and thank those who have given so much by helping them get a well-deserved moments peace in their garden. We are able to see happier times on the horizon but will not forget the hard work NHS staff have done and continue to do.”

Every NHS staff member will receive a free packet of Sutton seeds when visiting any Mole Valley Farmers or Mole Country stores nationwide from the 15th March – 5th April. All that NHS staff need to do is go down to their local store and present their NHS card.

More information can be found on the Mole Valley Farmers Facebook page.

In this issue:

Patio Black Spot – the Winning Formula

Weathering the Perfect Storm – Brexit and all that

New line up for LOFA Council    

Contemporary style from Firmans

Primeur – the one to watch for 2021

Get Set for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

Why Meadow View are Re-fuelling sales  

Cultivation Street’s 9^th year

How will the Lockdown Gap be filled? – GTN Bestsellers Analysis

GTN Bestsellers Top 100 Garden Products of 2020           

Last chance to see the Woodlodge Snowlodge 

HTA Column – Perfect Opportunity for Plant Sales

or use this link: https://issuu.com/gardentradenews/docs/gtn_february_2021?fr=sOTBkNDMxMzEzMjA

It’s never too early to get your Christmas strategy in order. Festive Focus Day equips you with everything you need to know to make sure your 2021 Christmas ranges fly off the shelves.

Take a look at Christmas future with forecasters, Trend Bible as they dive into the emerging trends that will define Christmas 2021 using this link or click below

The winners of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 have been announced LIVE! on-line during Glee's Festive Focus Day today.

And the winners are...Watch the LIVE announcement during Glee's Festive Focus Day here or click below

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 – The Winners

• The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – Sponsored by Woodlodge - £500 stock for the winner – Barton Grange. 
  • Highly Commended: Pengelly, The Old Railway Line

• The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – Sponsored by GTN Bestsellers -subscriptions worth £580 for the winner – Pughs Radyr.
  • Highly Commended: Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Pengelly

• The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team – Sponsored by Garden Radio – 1 years’ service with bespoke messages, worth over £500 for the winner – The Old Railway Line.
  • Highly Commended: Barton Grange, Colemans Garden Centre, Planters Tamworth, Squires Badshot Lea

• The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – Sponsored by SOLEX - 2 x Hotel Rooms at SOLEX 2021 for the winner – Altons BBQ World
  • Highly Commended: Hillmount

• The Greatest Christmas Pets Team – Sponsored by Smart Garden Products, Zöon -£500 stock for the winner – The Old Railway Line
  • Highly Commended: Planters Tamworth, Squires Badshot Lea

• The Greatest Christmas Community/Charity Initiative – Sponsored by Kaemingk – A display from their UK showroom for the winner - Pengelly
  • Highly Commended: Daisy Nook, Dobbies, Perrywood, Thetford

• The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea – Sponsored by Glee – 2 x Hotel Rooms at Glee 2021 for the winner - Groves
  • Highly Commended: Altons BBQ World, Hillmount, The Old Railway Line

• The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video – Sponsored by Premier Decorations - £500 stock for the winner – The Old Railway Line
  • Highly Commended: Bosworths, Glendoick, Pengelly

• The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team – Sponsored by Elho - £500 stock for the winner - Baytree
  • Highly Commended: Lakeside Plant Centre

• The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team – Sponsored by Global Journey - £500 stock for the winner – Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange
  • Highly Commended: Baytree

• The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by DCUK - £500 stock for the winner – Squires Badshot Lea
  • Highly Commended: British Garden Centres Thatcham

• The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - Sponsored by Ascalon - £500 stock for the winner - Pengelly
  • Highly Commended: Jacksdale, Lakeside Plant Centre

• The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Kaemingk - A display from their UK showroom for the winner – Busy Bee
  • Highly Commended: Glendoick, Planters Tamworth, Sapcote, The Old Railway Line

• The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Festive - £500 stock for the winner – Barton Grange
  • Highly Commended: Baytree, Hillmount, Perrywood

• The Greatest Christmas Supplier – As voted for by garden centres taking part in The Greatest Christmas Awards - Kaemingk
  • Finalists: Festive, Gisela Graham, Noma - Leisuregrow, Otterhouse, Premier, Smart - Three Kings, Snowtime, Swift Imports

With almost 100 individual entries for the awards submitted before the New Years Eve deadline the judges spent many hours reviewing the entries, scanning websites and social media to produce the following list of Finalists:

Altons, Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Baytree, Bosworths, Busy Bee, Christies of Fochabers, Colemans Garden Centre, Daisy Nook, Dobbies, Garden Centre Overstrand, Glendoick, Grange Farm Nursery, Groves, Haskins, Hillmount, Jacksdale, Lakeside Plant Centre, Millbrook, Old Barn, Otter Nurseries, Pengelly, Perrywood, Planters Tamworth, Planters Bretby, Pughs, Rosebourne - Weyhill, Sapcote, Squires Badshot Lea, St Peters - Worcester, Thatcham - BGC, The Old Railway Line, Thetford, Waresley Park.

See photos from all the Finalist centres below.  Well done to them all!

Watch out for more detail about the winners in future issues of GTN Xtra and the January issue of GTN which will be published later this week.

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Growing Media sales may have dropped by 20% week on week but they were still 132% up on the same week last year. And year to date growing media sales, with only 9 weeks of the year gone, are already 30% up on last year.

Highlights of the week were:

• Westland The Gardener’s Multipurpose Compost 50 litres moves 33 places up the chart to No 1.
• Westland New Horizon All Plant Compost 40 litres is the highest re-entry at No 4.
• Westland Container & Basket Planting Mix 50 litres is the only growing media Top 50 new entry for the week, in at No 33.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Britons could soon be paying up to 50% more for their garden sheds due to a global shortage of timber.

Warm winters, an increase in home renovations and the impact of COVID19 have seen prices soar in recent months.

Now experts at leading shed manufacturer Kybotech are warning prices will rocket as summer approaches and customers could be left waiting months for their outdoor building.

They’ve vowed to lock prices on their sheds and garden buildings for now but warn an industry wide hike will eventually have an impact.

They say a combination of warmer winters, increased demand from China, inflation rates, a rise in home renovations and the impact of the COVID19 pandemic across the world have all played a part in the price hike.

And they believe smaller suppliers will be unfairly hit as they do not have the buying power of the bigger garden building manufacturers.

Warm winters in Scandinavian countries, like Sweden, have led to less trees being felled with muddy terrain being impossible for heavy vehicles to navigate.

Home renovations and DIY projects have gone up over the last year with locked down Britons stuck at home and there has been a huge increase in demand from China.

Kybotech, owner of BillyOh.com, has seen sales of Log Cabins increase by 142% over the last 12 months with an increased demand for outdoor living, working and storage space.

Kybotech founder, Charles Walton said: “We’re now in the second year of timber shortages and the impact is beginning to be felt. We’ve had two consecutive warm winters which has meant considerably less timber being felled and resulting in a massive global shortage. Other factors have come into play too which have compounded the problem.

“Combined they have the potential to push up timber prices by as much as 50% and at some point a proportion of that cost will be passed on to the consumer.

“It won’t just be businesses like ours which will feel the impact of the shortage. Construction companies and small builders will struggle to get the softwood they need to peg out buildings. It will be felt across many sectors.”

Walton continued: “We are committed to keeping our prices low for our customers, but the industry-wide price rise will directly impact our garden buildings. At some point and as the shortage worsens, we will be left with little choice but to increase our prices.

“It’s impossible to put a date on when customers should expect that, but our advice is to buy while prices are still low. Everything from our playhouses to our log cabins will inevitably be hit with a new price tag over the next few months.

“For now, we have the capability and resources to keep our prices as they are and we’re committed to doing that for as long as we can.”

The first week of March sees another record high for garden product volumes for this time of year. Up by 127% on the same week last year and up by 414% on the same week in 2018.

Highlights of the week were:

• Woodlodge 12cm Long Tom Pot is the highest placed chart re-entry at No 12.
• Westland Organic Chicken Manure Pellets 2.25kg + 25% Extra Free is the highest of three new Top 50 entries at No 33.
• Hozelock Multi Spray Gun with free Waterstop is the highest chart climber, up 17 places to No 26.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Harrogate Christmas & Gift 2021, which had been postponed from its original date in January to May, has now been cancelled for this year. The next event will now be in 2022 from Sunday 16^th January to Wednesday 19^th January 2022 at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Simon Anslow, show organiser explains: “Following the government’s announcement that the UK will not be able to resume events until 21 June, it has been decided to now focus on the 2022 show. It is very disappointing for everyone involved, but hopefully life and business will be back to normal by January next year and we can all look forward to another bumper show.”

Further news and updates are on the website at www.harrogatefair.com

Last week was the fifth week in a row that Wild Bird Care sales were up on last year but cumulative sales are still 11% down at the moment.

Highlights of the week were:

• Gardman Sunflower Hearts 1kg were the highest chart climber, up 24 places to No 3.
• Honeyfields Suet Pellets Fruity Flavour 750g are the only new entry for the week at No 49.
• RHS Suet Balls 60 Tub move back up to No 1.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

After much discussion with LOFA Members, SOLEX exhibitors and visitors, LOFA have made the decision to cancel the SOLEX Exhibition this year and re-schedule for July 2022.

LOFA's Marketing Manager Gina Hinde told GTN Xtra:  "We have obtained feedback from, and listened to, lots of views from our exhibitors and their customers and no one we have spoken to feels comfortable attending an exhibition this year.

"Every year we look forward to connecting with exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals and although there are positive signs that events may be able to restart sometime this year, thanks to the Government’s “way forward” plan, the current restrictions will compound the challenges faced in organising this event,  and unlike other exhibitions we are unable to move the SOLEX Show to a later date in the year, because of the long lead times required for orders.

"We wanted to make the right decision for everyone involved and we did not want to continue with a show that would not be up to our customary high standards and so, have decided not to run SOLEX in 2021 but move the exhibition to July 2022 when we can come back bigger, better and hopefully Covid free!

"We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment to many, so in place of the in-person SOLEX exhibition we are planning another VIRTUAL SOLEX this year, and we will share our plans for this in the coming weeks."

Solex 2022 – NEC, 12-14 July 2022

Garden centre gardening sales broke all records in February 2021 with sales booming to near Bank Holiday levels during the last week of the month. 

The GTN Bestsellers All Sales index for the month was up by 37% on last year, and up by 37% on the average of all the previous 10 years. And that’s without any footfall for restaurants and coffee shops and all the gifting sales that usually generates.

While we know many centres got ahead of the game with getting stock in early, this unseasonal rush through the tills could start to see new pressure on orders and supplies for Easter and the Summer Bank Holidays. Let’s hope the supply issues with containers are resloved by then!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 8.

• Garden Products Top 50 – up 137%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 237%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 139%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – up 31%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 8.

• All Plants with Barcode index – up 185%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 138%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Following an imposed year off in 2020, the leading trade association, GIMA, is pleased to confirm that its annual awards evening will be making its highly-anticipated return on November 11^th, 2021.

Taking place at the ever-popular Celtic Manor Resort, this year’s event will be a night to remember, celebrating not just a return to normality but also the best that the garden retail sector has to offer.

Whilst the Covid pandemic resulted in the event being cancelled for the first time in its 40-year history in 2020, the industry has not stopped. Suppliers have stayed busy creating exciting new product, marketing and merchandising innovations throughout the 2020 and 2021 season. These launches and initiatives are what will be celebrated in a special glittering night of awards and merriment, with all of the usual categories – including the GCA Supplier of the Year (GCA), Gardenex Export Achievement and the Sword of Excellence (last won by Primeur in 2019) - set to make a return. A new Sustainability award will also be joining the line up to recognise a product, business initiative, or wider business ethos that demonstrates how suppliers are successfully driving the sustainability agenda.

Commenting on the welcome return of the GIMA Awards, GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We could not be happier to confirm that the annual awards ceremony will be back later this year. I know how missed the event has been, so being able to confirm its return is a very special moment for us. 

“This year’s awards may be a little later in the year than we are used to but that won’t stop us celebrating in style! We are very much looking forward to throwing open the doors to Celtic Manor once again and being able to celebrate the incredible hard work that our suppliers have achieved in the face of adversity over the past two years.”

To mark the ruby anniversary of the event, GIMA is asking attendees to add a splash of red to their glad rags to help mark the celebrations even further. 

This year, the GIMA Awards will be sponsored by a wealth of fantastic industry brands, including Glee which returns, once again, as headline sponsor, as well as the HTA, GCA, Gardenex, Garden Trade News, Gardenforum, Garden Radio, Garden Centre Retail, Garden Centre Update, DIY Week, CM Ventures and Hornby Whitefoot PR.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available - please contact GIMA to find out more. 

Entry is now open!

Entry to the 2021 GIMA awards is now open. This year, the entry criteria has been extended to cover both the 2020 and 2021 season, giving suppliers the chance to showcase efforts that may have been missed during the pandemic. The closing date for entries will be 28^th May, with the judging process taking place at the end of June at Warwick Racecourse. This year’s judges will include representatives from Bents Garden & Home, British Garden Centres, The Gardens Group, Altons Garden Centre, Dobbies and Wickes.

To find out more about how to enter the 2021 GIMA Awards or to book your place at what is set to be a night to remember please visit www.gima.org.uk

A garden centre in Northern Ireland has vowed to reopen in April “regardless of decisions that come from Stormont”.

The Garden Depot in Strabane was forced to close its doors because garden centres aren’t classed as an essential retailer under Northern Ireland restrictions.

The current regulations, in place until April 1, will be reviewed on March 18 but The Garden Depot owner John McGuinness is determined to reopen on April 5 whatever the Northern Ireland Executive’s next move.

Writing on the centre’s Facebook page Mr McGuinness said: “We are sick of having no answers, no help and I won’t let my business go under. We were all promised financial help from government and since November we haven’t seen anything. 

“Our Garden Depot must remain closed yet it is ok for Asda, Home Bargains, builders merchants and other retail outlets to sell garden compost, plants and everything that our Garden Depot has available. 

“Unacceptable actions from our government, all their promises about looking after local businesses and keeping traders open. Our town is a ghost town. I feel for any business owner that may not see the light but I won’t let that happen! Come April 5th we will be fully stocked and open ready for trading.”

Due to the continuing uncertain situation regarding COVID-19, Koelnmesse has responded to the call by the green garden lifestyle industries and, for one year only, moved spoga+gafa 2021 to 8 to 10 August 2021. In parallel, Koelnmesse is working on digital formats that will complement spoga+gafa in the Cologne exhibition halls.

In an announcement today Koelnmesse said:  "Even though the majority of exhibitors and the market partners were optimistic, there was ultimately no choice but to reschedule the international garden trade fair from late May/early June to early August in view of the overall situation caused by the pandemic. This conclusion was reached in conjunction with the industry’s decision makers, despite intensive preparations and the #B-SAFE4business package of measures designed to allow trade fairs to go ahead under coronavirus-compliant conditions.

"The decision was underpinned by an international visitor and exhibitor survey conducted in February. The results revealed that the proposed August dates were strongly preferred. In August 2021, it will therefore be that time again, and spoga+gafa, the world’s largest garden and lifestyle trade fair, will open its gates from 8 to 10 August 2021. The trade fair thereby offers its international partners the unique opportunity to gather multisectoral insights into the world of garden lifestyles first-hand once again.

"In addition to members of the EFSA (European floral and lifestyle suppliers association), such as Capi Europe and Esschert Design, Fiskars, G.Wurm, Tel International, Hartman, Müsing, Old Com and other top global BBQ companies have already confirmed their participation at spoga+gafa in August 2021. The spoga+gafa partner associations BHB (Retailers’ Association for Building, Home Improvement), BIAG (Barbecue Industry Association Grill), IVG (German Garden Industry Association) and VDG (German Garden Centre Association) will also be involved.

"Because of the postponement, the exhibitors are, however, being given the option to withdraw from their contracts if they do so in writing within the next two weeks. In that case, any payments already made to Koelnmesse will be fully reimbursed. The deadline for such cancellations is 24 March 2021.

"This year, as part of Koelnmesse’s digitalisation strategy, spoga+gafa will be held as a hybrid event for the first time. The familiar, physical product presentation and networking formats will be supplemented by new, digital concepts, thereby ensuring greater international reach.

"spoga+gafa will therefore continue to be the place for new developments, innovations and trends – for exhibitors, buyers and decision makers – in 2021. On-site and online."

The spoga+gafa 2021 is open to trade visitors on 8 and 9 August from 09:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. and on 10 August from 09:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. Further information is available at www.spogagafa.com.

Representatives from Scotland’s horticulture sector have joined together to call for garden centres to be re-opened before the end of March.

Eighteen high profile organisations, businesses and individuals have put their signatures to an open letter to the Scottish Government. With the peak Spring season fast approaching - 70% of bedding plants sold between March and May - it is a crucial time for the hard-pressed Scottish domestic horticulture industry. 

Organised by the Horticultural Trades Association, well-loved gardening name Jim McColl, National Farmers Union Scotland, Scottish Retail Consortium, Royal Horticultural Society and other garden industry bodies, joined with Scottish headquartered businesses such as Dobbies and Klondyke and Scottish independent garden centres and growers to make this urgent appeal to the Government.  

It comes a week before Ministers meet to review and give further detail on the routemap out of lockdown, first outlined by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon on 23 February. The open letter set out seven key reasons for why garden centres should begin trading again:

• Health and Wellbeing: Gardening brings well documented and significant benefits to mental health and well-being.  
• Stay at Home: Allowing garden centres and retail plant nurseries to reopen would support the Government’s efforts to encourage people to remain at home by giving them a safe, healthy activity to do.
• Safe Trading environment: Garden centres are spacious, well ventilated with large outdoor areas. The industry is committing to implement enhanced social distancing measures in conjunction with the Scottish Government.
• Economic turmoil: The garden retail sector is proliferated by smaller, independent businesses key to their local communities. Facing the loss of the crucial Spring gardening season a second year running will mean disaster for some businesses, possible closures and job losses. 
• Plants are being thrown away: Scottish growers overwhelmingly supply Scottish garden centres. Growers are throwing out thousands of plants which should have been on sale in March because they don’t have this ‘route to market’.
• An industry worth saving: The Scottish ornamental horticulture industry contributes £2.2 billion to Scottish GDP directly and indirectly and supports 53,900 jobs. 
• Click & Collect doesn’t work: Click and collect and home delivery services are at best only achieving 3-10% of the usual levels of demand.  

Jim McColl said: “Over a 62-year career in horticulture, north and south of the border, I have worked with people of all ages, from all walks of life, and seen first-hand how gardening has a significant influence – helping people to forget what is bothering them. I have no doubt this positive impact has been magnified in recent times as people learn how best to manage the effects of this pandemic.  

"Reports abound of how people have found solace and contentment simply by spending a wee while in the garden. It doesn't take long before the worries of the wider world seem some way off! Stand back, have a look at what you have achieved in the last 30 minutes and feel relaxed - time for a cuppa or even a dram! " 

Horticulture’s unique supply chain for perishable, seasonal products is a particular risk from continued lockdown and Chairman of the HTA, James Barnes, says the letter is a clear indication of the strength of feeling within the industry:  “The signatories of this letter include representatives from grower, retail, landscaper and charity organisations, all of which are important employers and contributors to the economy and society as a whole. They are joined by our own HTA members and together show how deeply we as an industry are feeling a lack of recognition for what we have to offer and what we stand to lose.” 

The letter has been shared on the HTA website and sent to the editors of several national newspapers. 

Meanwhile, the petition to get Scottish Garden Centres re-opened is still open and needs all the help anyone in the UK Garden Centre Industry can give them:

And you might like to watch this video created by Helen MacDonald of Merrythatton Garden Centre that includes footage of the First Ministers rather flippant reply to a question asked in the Scottish Parliament about garden centre re-opening...

Without the usual trade shows early in the year, buyers are having to adapt their buying habits around ever changing Covid restrictions and subsequent business needs. 

Many Heaven Sends customers are visiting their Showrooms based in Sutton Coldfield for the first time and finding it an attractive alternative to the usual busy trade show halls. Will Showroom buying be the new normal for the Garden Centre industry?

Spanning two floors, the Showrooms provide buyers the space and time to make considered selections in a safe, relaxed environment. With plenty of inspiring displays and expert advice on hand, visitors can confidently make their key festive selections from the extensive ranges. 

Alison Hughes and Elaine Willis (pictured above) from Poplar Nurseries and Garden Centre were one of the first visitors to the Heaven Sends Showrooms to view the new Christmas range.

Alison said: “It was our first visit to the Heaven Sends Showroom. It was very beneficial to spend time being able to browse in a spacious, Covid-friendly showroom. We found some inspiring ideas for Christmas 2021. We think this may be the way forward for future buying, as we didn’t have time to endure the hassles of a busy trade show.”

There are thousands of new lines from the Christmas 2021 collection to discover… from the latest trend of whimsical gonks, to traditional dazzling glass baubles, there’s something for every business.

New Christmas and Halloween 2021 collections, along with the Everyday gifting ranges are available for pre-order at the Showrooms and online at heavensends.com. 

To help us follow Government Covid Guidelines, spaces are limited, so please reserve your appointment early to avoid disappointment. Spaces are already filling up fast for March so please be sure to get in touch with ‘The Angels’ to secure your preferred date as soon as possible. Appointments are available 7 days a week.

Email showroom@heavensends.com or call  +44 (0)121 351 7457. 

Address:  One Maybrook Business Park, Maybrook Road, Sutton Coldfield, B76 1AL.

Heavensends.com

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In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.

To add your garden centre Christmas photo tour to GTN Xtra simply get snapping and enter The Greatest Christmas Awards.  See the categories here.  Send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details

Here's a sneak preview of the photo tour submitted by Squires at Badshot Lea as part of their entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020.

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 so get snapping and enter your garden centre team today!

Full details are here.

Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below.  Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today.  Full details can be found here.

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care Bestsellers chart for last week are here

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

New research by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association reveals that a staggering 3.2m households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the covid-19 pandemic.

In its latest Pet Population Data survey, the PFMA said the big increase was driven by younger families, with two-thirds of new owners aged between 16-34.

Although 74% claimed their pet had helped their mental health through the pandemic, the study raised pet welfare concerns. 

Nicole Paley, PFMA deputy CEO, said: “Our research confirms the belief that many more people are benefitting from pet ownership and we are reassured by the mental health findings. However, it is clear that we need to consider the welfare of these new pets. As our survey highlights, introducing a pet to a household in covid times can have repercussions or create some unexpected difficulties.”  

According to the survey there are now 34m pets in the UK, including 12m cats and 12m dogs, 3.2m small mammals such as guinea pigs and hamsters, 3m birds and 1.5m reptiles. There are also 5m aquaria. This equates to 17m households responsible for a pet’s welfare. 

Over a third (38%) of new owners claimed that having a new pet was like having a new baby and almost a fifth (17%) of families with children admitted that training was more challenging than expected.

“We also looked in more detail at the future concerns of new pet owners,” added Nicole. “Perhaps worryingly, although just 15% have a pet-friendly office environment, only 10% were concerned about returning to work and spending less time with their pet. This figure rises among younger generations with 15% of 16 to 34-year-olds concerned about spending less time with their pet in the future.   

“We must work together with the pet care sector to ensure the 3.2m households with new pets get the support they need. This is in terms of access to educational material, training and adequate flexible working from home or pets in the office policies.” 

In the PFMA survey of more than 5,000 households, 5% of new owners had already given up a pet. 

The PFMA is collaborating with welfare organisations like the RSPCA and Battersea to ensure support and advice is readily available to new pet owners as lockdown restrictions are eased.

RSPCA pet welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “As the PFMA figures demonstrate, a huge number of people have added a new pet to their family during lockdown while other pet owners have made the most of spending more time at home during the pandemic to enjoy the company of their pets.  

“Many of our pets are now used to having us around all the time while others have never known any different so we have real concerns that life post-lockdown, both in terms of a new routine and spending time alone, could be really difficult for them to adjust to which is why it’s so important that owners start to prepare them now. In the absence of this preparation, pets could be facing their own crisis.” 

Battersea’s canine behaviourist and training manager Janine Pemberthy commented: “As many of us eagerly prepare to start spending more time outside our home again, whether it be to go into the office, visit friends or head to the pub, it is vital that we ensure our pets are also prepared for this big lifestyle change. 

“There’s a whole generation of new dogs that don’t yet understand that lockdown life isn’t the norm, and as a result we believe there may be some key areas that owners will need to work on with their dog, such as separation anxiety and meeting new people and other dogs, before we all return to ‘normal’ life. 

“To help with this preparation, Battersea is hosting a series of virtual training classes focusing on specific areas of training for puppies and young adult dogs, and we encourage all members of the family to take part. Rescues like Battersea are here to help owners long before they need to make the difficult decision to give up their pet and we’d urge anyone struggling to care for their dog to get in touch.” 

To coincide with National Pet Day on the 11th of April 2021, IAMS is investing in a three-month brand campaign spanning TV, radio, digital and print media. The campaign aims remind pet owners that IAMS’ exceptional nutrition containing high quality animal protein provides pets with the fuel they need to thrive.

Celebrating over 70 years of nutritional expertise, the campaign will see the return of the renowned taglines, ‘I AM AN IAMS CAT’ and ‘I AM AN IAMS DOG’ to reinforce the health benefits of feeding pets IAMS for Vitality. Every bowl of IAMS provides pets with complete and balanced nutrition, combining high levels of animal protein with an irresistible taste and no artificial flavours, fillers or GMOs.

The multi-channel media campaign will include new TV adverts for both cat and dog, to run across national TV, social media and YouTube. This will be supported by a radio campaign in partnership with Smooth FM and Classic FM, consumer print advertising and a robust digital programme of display, pay per click (PPC) and social media advertising. 

The brand campaign will support the IAMS for Vitality range, a premium, high-quality pet food which was developed to help give cats and dogs healthy, active and happy lives. IAMS offer expert nutrition in a wide range of tasty recipes for each and every pet, no matter their life stage, breed size or nutritional needs. IAMS for Vitality is specifically formulated to meet the high animal protein demands of cats and dogs, as well as providing all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients needed to support healthy vitality.

Krisztina McCumesky, Senior Brand Manager for IAMS UK comments: “We’re so pleased to be bringing back our nostalgic ‘I AM AN IAMS CAT’ or ‘DOG’ message for this new brand campaign and have chosen to launch the campaign to coincide with National Pet Day. After all, pets have helped us so much throughout the COVID pandemic, we want to celebrate the role pets play in our lives and show how we can support their health through a nutritional diet, allowing them to truly thrive.

The national launch marks a large investment in the brand with the campaign running across a number of months, helping to support our retailers and boost brand sales. We believe we've chosen the right combination of media targets and channels to promote the health benefits of IAMS for Vitality in an engaging way to pet parents across the UK, whilst reminding them that IAMS has always had their pet's best interests at heart.” 

Assisi Pet Care Ltd, the company behind Hollings, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of natural dog treats, has acquired family-owned Town & Country Petfoods Ltd, for an undisclosed sum.

Established in 1974 by the Parkinson family, Town & Country is based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, where it has a 26-strong team. It markets an extensive range of dog and cat foods and treats, primarily under the popular HiLife brand.

Based in Skipton, Assisi Pet Care was established in September 2020 as a joint venture between founder Peter Mangion and Harwood Capital with the objective of creating a significant player in the dynamic and fast-growing European pet care market. Assisi immediately acquired Hollings Ltd, the long established and market leading natural dog treats business.

The acquisition of Town & Country, which completed on 2nd March 2021, broadens the Assisi offer into dog foods, as well as into the cat foods and treats categories. As well as supplying its HiLife branded products, Town & Country also provides own label products to many leading supermarkets and pet care retailers.

Peter Mangion, Assisi CEO, said; “We are very grateful to the Parkinson family for partnering with Assisi and for trusting us to help take the Town & Country business and its successful HiLife brand to the next phase of its development.

“I am personally delighted that family members Tony and Peter Parkinson, and their sister, Julie Bitowt, have agreed to remain with the company as we integrate our existing sales, marketing, finance and operations functions, into the well-established Town & Country teams based at Melton Mowbray.

“Having completed our first acquisition just five months ago, Assisi’s rapid growth trajectory is on track and we are grateful for the continued support of Harwood as we move, with pace, to deliver on our  ambitious strategy to become a leader in the European pet care sector. This transformational deal has created a £35m turnover business which is well-placed to offer a huge array of products to the rapidly expanding pet care market.”

Tony Parkinson, Town & Country’s managing director, said: “As a family, we are very pleased that our brand and our Melton Mowbray team will be playing such a pivotal role in Assisi’s exciting and ambitious plans. The high quality of product and service that pet owners and trade customers have come to expect from HiLife will be the benchmark for the expanding business. We believe that the creation of this larger business will bring a fresh, much needed presence in what remains one of the most satisfying markets in which to operate.”

The advisers to Assisi on the deal included Kaira Clarehugh and Jonathan Simms (corporate) and Andrea Unwin (banking) of Clarion who provided legal advice; corporate finance advice from Park Place; Steve Williams and Mark Hunter of Murray Harcourt; Russ Cahill of Tax Advisory Partnership. BDB Pitmans advised Harwood; and the management was advised by Raworths.

Town & Country was advised by Clearwater International, Browne Jacobson and Duncan & Toplis.

Kaira Clarehugh added: “Peter has an exciting vision to become a significant presence in this fast-growing market. This latest acquisition marks another important milestone in his ambitious buy and build mission.”

With pet ownership surging throughout the pandemic, Beco, the UK’s most sustainable pet brand, is winning over both new and existing customers with a major packaging refresh.

Using category leading packaging and a bold new design that will stand out on shelf, Beco’s new look is designed to communicate its core mission to encourage pet owners to love their planet as much as they love their dog.    

With phenomenal year on year growth - DTC sales have risen 167% - it is clear that Beco’s commitment to use the best ingredients and materials from nature to make unique products and recipes in a more sustainable way is in line with what a new generation of pet owners are demanding from the pet brands they buy.  

Beco’s new packaging is made from plant-based materials and printed with water soluble inks, ensuring it is fully compostable.  Further to that, Beco has removed all plastic from all their food and accessories lines.

Developed with branding agency Otherway, and inspired by outdoor adventure brands, the new natural colour palette and imagery evokes feelings of outdoor exploration and adventure, celebrating the joy of dog ownership, but still ensuring the planet is preserved.

The new logo mark also has a special touch to reflect Beco’s personal credentials - it is founder George’s Labrador, Tarka, who also has a pivotal role of chief product tester for everything Beco makes.  

George Bramble, Beco founder, says, “It’s not good enough anymore to just look after your pet; we have to also look after the rivers they splash in, the fields they get lost in, and all the animals they love to chase.  We need to take collective responsibility and make conscious decisions about how we can preserve the natural world for us and the pets we love.”

Jono Holt, Otherway founder, says, “The new Beco brand look is inspired by our love of nature. No one connects with the outdoors more than dog owners. Come rain or shine they’re out there. We wanted to capture this passion in everything we designed from food packaging to poop bags. Beco has been in the market for the past 10 years at the cutting edge of sustainable product innovation. They needed a brand to give them the recognition they deserve.”

This year’s PATS Sandown, the UK’s Spring pet industry exhibition due to take place on 11th-12th May 2021, has been cancelled following the PM’s announcement that indoor events won’t be allowed until 17^th May.

In a statement to the House of Commons on 22nd February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out how the UK will emerge from lockdown, including the resumption of large indoor and outdoor events from the 17th May (with limits on capacity).

“Obviously, the PM’s announcement meant that PATS Sandown could no longer go ahead on its planned dates of 11th-12th May,” said organiser Gordon Thomas, Director of Impact Exhibitions and Events.

“We could have looked at moving PATS Sandown to a later date but felt the best option was to focus attention on staging a great exhibition at PATS Telford on 26th-27th September. More than 100 companies have already committed to exhibiting at Telford, a clear indication that the pet industry can’t wait for a return to ‘live’ shows.”

Following the announcement of the roadmap out of lockdown, the Event Industry Alliance said: “The inclusion of events in the latter stages of the reopening roadmap is a welcome development and we are confident that we will be able to further demonstrate our ability to deliver Covid-secure events in the pilot the government has announced.” 

PATS Telford is set to return to Telford International Centre on 26th-27th September 2021.

“It’s very sad that we’ve had to cancel PATS Sandown. We know how important PATS is as a forum where our community comes to learn, source product, meet suppliers and network,” added Gordon.

“PATS is the place for the pet industry to come together as one, under one roof, to share knowledge, experience and new ideas and the great relationships that this trade is renowned for. 

“As our community looks to rebuild and recover in 2021 our team will be working hard to ensure we return later this year with an event that brings everyone back together for the reunion we will all be crying out for.

“We really look forward to welcoming everyone back through the doors at PATS Telford in September 2021 and again at PATS Sandown in March 2022.”

For more information about PATS visit www.patshow.co.uk