In This Issue
Joe Swift opens The Plant Room by Camden Garden Centre in Richmond
Little Dobbies brings Garden Centre Christmas and houseplants to Richmond High Street
On Point with new sales innovation from Onduline
October sets new records for sales
Lincs plant centre sold to investment group
Autumn planting increase is here to stay
GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards are back
AMES UK invest in new production facility
Third little dobbies store opened in London
Bents tackle energy supply with solar solution
MP visits Pengelly Garden Centre
UK decking brand reports turnover rise and USA expansion
GTN October 2021 Issue available on-line
Garden Project Manager – Greenfingers Charity
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Family-owned Highfield Garden World raises the roof
Marriages topple RHS from the No 1 Wild Bird care spot
Petrol shortages take effect on garden product sales
AMES UK recognised for support of their workforce
Christmas 5% down in October
Dobbies spreads festive joy this Christmas
Still much more autumn gardening growing on
Cherry Lane to host its first sensory Santa event
Spring Fair hosts Halloween tea for Retail Trust residents
A fruity half term for Veg-2-Gro sales
The best of last week's
Gates becomes 50th garden centre to install WinRetail
The Gardens Group aglow with new Christmas displays
Sales of furniture and BBQ top BoT for fourth month running
The Greenfingers Charity team is expanding
Popcorn Kitchen prioritises premium garden centres
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
All the latest news from the world of pet products
Pets at Home CEO Peter Pritchard to step down
Eco pet firm secures funding from US garden firm
Pets costing the UK £4.5bn a year
Situations Vacant
Garden Project Manager – Greenfingers Charity
Salary: Negotiable
 
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Family-owned Highfield Garden World raises the roof

 

Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire is on track to finalise its planteria redevelopment, complete with revolutionary opening roof, before the end of the year. With a similar new roof reportedly having resulted in a 25% plant sales uplift elsewhere, many in the industry are watching Highfield’s project with extra interest.

 

With heritage dating back to 1920, Highfield Garden World was founded by the Greenway family, and today has five family members across three generations working within the business. In a rare moment when all five (six including Bobby the dog!) were in the same spot at one time, the photo shows the family inspecting the cleared planteria area before the first steels were installed for the new build. 

 

Five family members across three generations work within the business at Highfield. Left to right:  Emma Russan, Tim Greenway, Saffron Weaver, Joan Greenway, Sue Weaver + Bobby the dog/

 

Transforming the look and feel of the planteria

Director Tim Armstrong explained;  “The new retractable roof promises to transform the way our planteria feels for customers and staff.   Whatever the great British weather is doing, we can open and close the roof in sections on demand so that no day is too hot, too wet, or too windy.  It means customers will be more tempted to browse our plants, trees and gardening products all year round come rain or shine.  It also means staff won’t swelter on sunny days.”  Tim continued;  “We’re planning a number of other new features as well, and have decided to keep the one-way system throughout the site which we originally introduced due to COVID.  The customer’s journey has flowed more freely since the one-way path was introduced, and it helps ensure they have a chance to enjoy every department without missing any out during their visit – including the planteria.”

 

Fully retractable roof brings tangible benefits all year round

The Rovero roof’s flexible functionality brings other benefits too.  Tim explained a couple of them;  “Here at Highfield, we have wonderful views but being on the top of a hill also brings a fair amount of wind which knocks taller plants over at times.  The new roof will put paid to that problem.   Another benefit is that, because the roof’s 12 bays can each be opened or shut individually, when it’s raining we can let the rain water the plants which need it, while covering those that don’t.  We’re also looking at introducing flood benches for plant irrigation, and we’re installing a 216,000 litre tank which will capture rainfall when the roof is closed. This approach to maximising rainfall is not only more environmentally friendly – it reduces the need to water by hand as well as reducing the health and safety risks posed by water spillages whilst watering by hand.”

 

The garden centre and rural business development specialists Malcolm Scott Consultants worked alongside the Directors at Highfield to develop the concept and apply for the planning permission. Work on the new planteria began in September and the project, when complete, will cover an area of 3240m2 .

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