In This Issue
October gardening hits record levels
Monty Don makes headlines slamming garden centres
HTA calls on Welsh government to review ‘non-essential retail’ ruling on garden centres
Fordingbridge looks to expand polytunnel arm of business
A complete makeover for lawn seed: New formulations and packaging
Another week of plant sales up by over 30%
GIMA 2021 New Product Digest now live
GCA cancels annual conference and Christmas competition
Vitax donation helps hospital’s Secret Garden grow
GIMA calls for pragmatic approach to secure Brexit deal
IPM Essen 2021 Cancelled
The Greener Gardening Company unveils key sales drivers
Christmas gifts to help protect bees and encourage wildlife
VegTrug set to launch new product range
Dobbies launches new format store in Scotland’s capital
DJ Turfcare’s launches new organic-based Lawn Boost
US ambassador plants ‘American Dream’ in Keukenhof
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Steve Harper joins Southern Trident
Festive sales driven by stay-at-home Christmas
Azpects creates retail division with new appointments
Garden product sales increase during October
FleuroStar winner Dahlia Sincerity production tripled to meet high demand
Fat Balls dominate in Wild Bird Care
RHS announces plans to run 2021 RHS Chelsea Flower Show safely
Garden centre supports virtual marathon fundraiser
The best of last week's
'New Gardeners': how are garden centres reacting to them, or not...
Paul Sykes departs Apta after a decade of growth
Smart welcomes new National Accounts Manager
Back to the ‘New Normal’
Garden centre creates 24 jobs at new restaurant
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
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Pet treat business celebrates record turnover by expanding team
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HTA calls on Welsh government to review ‘non-essential retail’ ruling on garden centres
 

The HTA has written to Ken Skates, the Welsh Government’s Economy Minister, expressing its great disappointment at the decision to classify garden centres as ‘non-essential retail’, which forced them to close on Friday.

 

James Barnes, Chairman of the HTA, has requested a meeting to review the definition of ‘non-essential’  in order to safeguard garden centres' ability to trade in future – as the Government’s own scientific advisors have suggested a different interpretation of what businesses needed to close. He’s also asked for urgent clarification on the operation of farm shops/food halls in garden centres and click and collect services.

 

“Back in May, Wales was the first UK administration to take the decision to reopen garden centres and we expected this to be a sign of support for the industry. With no evidence to show why garden centres should be closed, we were crushed to see them included yet again as ‘non-essential retail’ for this Friday’s lockdown. We are asking for the current list of ‘essential’ v ‘non-essential’ retail list to be urgently reviewed,” he said.

 

With the Welsh government’s own scientific (TAC) group advising late May as the definition of ‘non-essential’ and other places in the UK establishing June 2020 reopening as the definition, the HTA argues this is a pragmatic approach to reducing social interaction, while minimising negative economic impact. 

 

The letter calls for such a review to recognise the ease with which garden centres can provide safe and secure retail environments, with their naturally large, open and airy infrastructures providing a perfect starting point for socially distanced trading; the important role gardening plays in promoting health and wellbeing and offering a safe and positive activity to do while at home and the damage closure will do to a sector still recovering from lockdown.

 

Many Welsh garden centres, particularly in rural areas, provide essential food items such as fresh produce, bread and milk and the HTA says such stores should be able to continue trading as a community store, as a small supermarket would. Garden centre ‘Click and collect’ services were run during the previous lockdown and the HTA has urged the Welsh Government to accept this approach now saying it is a safe way to ensure people can continue to garden during lockdown and to help reduce the significant loss of sales garden centres will face.

 

Emergency funding based on rateable value will not help many garden centres, says the HTA, because the necessarily large size of their premises pushes them above the values stated for qualification despite the fact they are classed as small or medium in most other categories. 

 

“I’m concerned that many small and medium garden centres won’t have access to funding to cover losses incurred,” said James Barnes.

 

“Even for those businesses that can access funding it is likely to be well below the costs that will be concurred by the two-week lockdown. Small and medium-sized members have told us they estimate they will lose between £160,000-£170,000 over the two weeks – impacting their ability to recover and grow, potentially threatening jobs.”

 

Several Welsh garden centres told GTN Xtra how they were planning to operate during the 17 day long Firebreak:

 

Justin Williams at Fron Goch in North Wales said: "We're very frustrated. I thought we were through this level of uncertainty.

 

"My understanding is that click and collect is not permitted in Wales this time . But after last time I feel we are better closing, manning phones, socially media and spend our efforts preparing for very high levels of trade once open. 

 

"Christmas shopping is experience shopping and this year we have very little competition with people avoiding city centres including Liverpool and Manchester. 

 

"We have plenty to do with our development nearing completion. I am still hopeful this can end well, if we have an uninterrupted run up to Christmas."

 

At Pughs in South Wales, Nicola Pugh reported: "Our online shop and deliveries have continued since setting up at the beginning of the first lock down so this will be our main channel of sales for the next 17 days and we endeavour to keep adding products daily as we have been for a while.

 

"Our Food Hall will remain open and support the local communities again with essentials. With it being a two week lock down, we are not going to put too much pressure on ourselves and just ride the wave and do what we can for the next few weeks."

 

Martin Davies at Ragan Garden Centre added: "For garden centres it is in fact 16 days as we closed yesterday evening 30 minutes before the 6pm curfew. In the absence of any confirmation as to what we can and cannot do, we have decided to continue our 5 day a week delivery service locally and for those workers who are allowed to be out and about a call in and collect facility is available."

 

Please use the comments panel below or e-mail trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk with your comments about the Welsh Firebreak and it's effect on garden centre trading.

 

 

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Huw Williams
I think the Welsh government have loat the plot its whole strategy around retai lockdown is far too severe.
This will cost the jobs of many people.