In This Issue
Squires grow to 16 centres with purchase of Heathlands from Wyevale
Canadian Cannabis Grower buys UK Bedding and Ornamental Grower
Growing Sustainably with Vegepod
Primeur take top prize as GIMA Award winners announced
2020 – Work begins for creative minds and practical brains of Garden Pride
Smart Garden Products voted GCA Supplier of the Year
Picture Special of the glitzy GIMA Awards evening
A cheque for £8,000 presented to Greenfingers
Hillier to supply plants on a contract-only basis from December
Choice Marketing recruits three new members
Heat takes the edge off sales
Ansell GC rises from the ashes...with Newspan in support
Dobbies submits plan for Dunfermline expansion
2019 plant sales down on 2018 at half year
Fryers launch two charity roses at Hampton Court Garden Festival
Growers stay upbeat despite labour and plant health challenges
Two step up to centre manager roles at Squire's
See you all at Solex
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Solex Awards to be presented at the show on Tuesday
End of June was too hot for garden product sales
Smart Garden Products makes Stock Exchange 'inspiration' list
Growing Media leads the way
Planners throw out Fresh@Burcot housing application
Wild Bird Care holds its own
GCA announces regional award meetings
Veg--2-Gro is a star for 2019
Candleight ignites garden centre interest with new display unit
Five winning plants for 2020? Try these...
Choice adds three more garden centres
The best of last week's
The magnificent GIMA Team WingWalk for Greenfingers Charity
GYO leads the way as Dobbies roll out Elho concept
Garden Centre Photo Tour - RHS Wisley New Plant Centre
Hillier begins re-brand of four former Wyevales
Beware hosepipe 'backflow' warning as weather warms
New Hopetoun Gardens owners hand control to employees
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
It’s a chaotic yet profitable recipe for garden centre catering
Work starts on new 250-seater restaurant at Notcutts Woodbridge
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Growers stay upbeat despite labour and plant health challenges

All 15 members attending the HTA Ornamentals Committee meeting last week reported they were ahead of budget with strong demand for UK grown stock across amenity and retail sectors.

 

Geoff Caesar, the committee chair, said: “It was felt that given all the challenges and uncertainty with regard to the economy that ornamental production had fared very well. Strong sales have meant that businesses are in a positive mood although there is widespread recognition that the sector has a number of real issues to deal with in the times ahead.”

 

Shortage of labour – both agency and permanent staff – is proving a challenge across the country. As a way of addressing this, several businesses are looking to take a more flexible approach by recruiting more permanent part-time workers.

 

 

Several businesses spoke about opportunities for mechanisation, although the requirement for capital investment meant this was still a few years away.

 

With new legislation coming into force in December 2019, plant health is a key concern. HTA horticulture manager Alistair Yeomans explained how he is engaging with APHA on plant passporting in order to get clarification on arrangements. He updated members on the current status of the Plant Health Assurance scheme and the work that the work of the Plant Health Biosecurity Alliance.

 

Among the other issues discussed were plastics in horticulture, growing media, pressure on water resources and packaging recovery notes.

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