In This Issue
From record low to record high in 10 weeks - GTN Bestsellers reports an all time record for Bank Holiday week
Bosworths expand to 2 centres with The Walled Garden at Elton Hall
Smart Garden Products named in the FT 1000
Home and Garden UK Ltd still alive and trading
Record high still to be broken...
Blue Diamond buy Orchard Park Garden Centre
Summer planting goes mad at last
World Bee Day creates a buzz at Poundbury Gardens
UK garden product suppliers to meet buyers from Germany, Poland and Baltic States
Report highlights uptake and benefits of primary school gardening
Hawley Garden Centre are finalists in The Greats and The Retas
Crest Garden repeat successful trade shows
Gardening can relieve stress and anxiety says Thrive
Garden centre directors raise £3,400 riding the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire challenge for charity
Pershore High School Students Grow for Gold at Chelsea Flower Show
Deputy Centre / Planterea Manager
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Garden product sales lagging behind...but why?
Veg plant sales hardest hit
Growing media sales bounce back
Wild bird care lines from Gardman return to Bestsellers list
Japanese horticulturist aiming to save Blenheim’s Unique Garden Heritage
Summer celebration of art, creativity and imagination at Borde Hill Garden
The best of last week's
Record sales on record breaking Bank Holiday - updated with figures from Dobbies
Bids start coming in for Bunnings/Homebase
Blue Diamond staff get naked for pictures on social media
Carol Paris launches new garden centre group Somerton
Decco appoints Andrew Ballantine as new Chief Operating Officer
Cherry Lane acquires David's Nurseries in Worcester, as revealed by GTN Xtra
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Millbrook Mill to open in 9 weeks
Situations Vacant
Deputy Centre / Planterea Manager

Hillview Garden Centres have a vacancy for Deputy Centre / Plantarea Manager at Scotland Nurseries Garden Store...

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Blue Diamond buy Orchard Park Garden Centre
 

Blue Diamond celebrated the acquisition of their 21st garden centre last week following the completion of the purchase of Orchard Park Garden Centre in Gillingham, North Dorset.

 

MD, Alan Roper, told GTN Xtra that it was an ideal addition to the group; "it is in a very good AB1 customer catchment area in a growing town and there is planning permission in place which will allow us to add 3,500 sq m to take the centre to 5,500 sq m overall.  Orchard Park is a very well located centre.  It has a loyal customer base and we were particularly attracted by the opportunity of developing the centre and moving the business forward.”

 

Richard Cumming, Managing Director of Orchard Park said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Blue Diamond will be taking over the business. We’ve worked hard with our staff to create a business which is successful at a local and regional level and has lots of potential”.

 

The garden centre was built in 2004 on a green field site and has developed a strong customer base. It is on an 8 acre site and has an existing planning consent to expand it more than three-fold to create a lifestyle centre.

 

Gilbert Evans acted on behalf of Orchard Park, Mike Gilbert commenting, “there’s a strong demand for well-run garden centres with potential.  We approached a limited number of parties and received very strong interest.  We’re all delighted with the result.”

 

Robbie Cumming, Richard's son told GTN Xtra: "This is great news, and I just wanted to say I am so chuffed for mum and dad who retire after having given absolutely everything to their careers in horticulture and garden retail.

 

"Both started from scratch with a small plant and nursery built on bare farmland (Milton Garden Plants as some may remember), battling against all odds financially (not to mention three football mad boys) to become a local institution. Outgrowing the original site, they had to start again in the larger local town and build a new business from the ground once more.

 

"Orchard Park is the centre of what is now a thriving business park and a genuine focal point for the local community. So congratulations to Alan and all at Blue Diamond, who obviously know a good thing when they see one."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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