In This Issue
Glyphosate licence approved for 5 years
Durston's BUY BRITISH Campaign hailed a success
We cleared out Homebase management too quickly, confesses parent company's new CEO
November plant sales up 23% so far
Houseplants see a resurgence with younger generation
Santa Paws delivers memorable experiences for Pet Owners
Christmas product sales power ahead
Free Christmas tree collection service created to help future gardening projects
Over 60 new varieties in T&M new seed range for 2019
HTA briefs Westminster on industry's post-Brexit hopes and fears
Brookfields becomes a winter wonderland
Postive response to Glee at Spring Fair 2018
Party time for Newbank founder at 90
Tong lights up Christmas once again with award-winning displays
Dogs can meet Santa Paws at Squire’s
Maxicrop arrives in SBM Warehouse
Yorkshire nursery plays key role in boosting UK tree population
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Houghton Hall, Wilmslow and Livingston are Klondyke winners for 2017
Houseplants, lights and cuttings drive sales
Reindeer falls sick at Polhill grotto launch
Bird feeding gets all decorative
Former UK Ambassador to speak at 2018 GCA conference
Christmas records almost broken already
Stylish new Plantpak range launched in time for Christmas
The best of last week's
So what went on behind closed doors at the Wyevale suppliers meeting.?
Garden centres defend use of reindeer after animal rights protests
Is Christmas peaking too soon?
Bents and Castle Gardens are GCA Christmas Winners for 2017
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Energy-saving Grab & Go cabinet wins top award
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Party time for Newbank founder at 90

The founder of Newbank garden centre marked his 90th birthday with family and friends at a surprise party at the company's Radcliffe branch.

 

John Hartle was welcomed to the centre where offices had been decked out with with pictures showing how he had built up the Newbank business over 60 years. He was presented with a cake depicting his life at the garden centre.

 

The Radcliffe Newbank centre, which opened in Bury 30 years ago and now ranks in the UK’s top 30 independents, is one of four owned by the family run chain.

 

John Hartle starting life as a farmer, raising animals and selling eggs and dairy products, but quickly developed a talent for buying and selling land at a profit. “Keep buying land as they don’t make it anymore,” was his favourite motto.

 

Early and success brought Mr Hartle to Turf Lane, Royton, where he sold farm produce with his cousin.

 

On a family trip to Wales, Mr Hartle challenged a group of youngsters who were trebling their money by selling roses at a farm gate to deliver a truck load to his farm shop. When the roses sold out in two hours, he decided to start selling plants alongside his farm produce, and Newbank, one of the country’s first garden centres, was born.

 

A second Newbank site was built on a disused and derelict farm site at Radcliffe in 1986. A fire in 2003 destroyed the farm's character-rich buildings but led to an ambitious rebuild. Newbank  expanded into Dobcross and Halifax 10 years later.

 

Jon Bottomley, John Hartle's grandson and Newbank garden centre commercial director, told the Bury Times: “Grandad has always loved plants, not just because he's been able to sell them and make money, but he has always been fascinated by them and loved learning all the names.

 

“My grandad has always been an extremely popular figure with the people who have worked for him, his friends and the local community, he loves a joke, a good story and having a laugh with people.

 

“No matter how well he has done in life, he has always been happiest at work, talking to customers and selling plants, and he has provided an amazing life for all his family.

 

“I know he has been dreading this milestone birthday, but he has no need to, it is a celebration of the amazing things he has achieved and the fantastic man he is.”

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