In This Issue
Dobbies buy Johnsons of Boston
Best Easter fortnight since 2012 - GTN Bestsellers exclusive analysis
Iglu 360 is the perfect outdoor dining experience for garden centres
Partnership blooms as 'Caulders at Scotmid' springs up
Easter sales records, reports GTN Bestsellers
Dobbies announces ‘Not Your Average Gardener’ awards
Industry help gets horti education unit back up and running
If plants are in stock they are selling
RHS and BBC launch ‘grow and show’ competition
Deco-Pak marathon Mar-CHING for Garden Re-Leaf Day
New rules allowing socialising in gardens deliver strong boost to garden centre sales
Squire’s financial results encouraging despite challenges
Large Fire at Longacres Shepperton - UPDATED
Nicholas Marshall returns... again
Jumping for joy as Cardwell Garden Centre re-opens
Gardening voted as one of the most popular pastimes
Bents announces fundraising total and welcomes new charity
Lawns and gardening promote better mental health
Desch Plantpak presents: Colour Your Story, autumn/winter
Inside Outside... A New Beginning for the garden market - Read GTN's March Issue on-line now
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Planters announce closure for Duke of Edinburgh's funeral
Gaps on shelves as sales stay high
Zoo proposal for former garden centre rejected
50% more veg being grown
One million take part in record-breaking RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
Growing Media up by 109%
Watch Your Back! returns with new scheme designed to keep everyone in horticulture sun protected.
Buckingham Palace Garden to open to visitors
RHS and Ulster Weavers announce new kitchen textiles range
Wildflowers for The Queen - a celebration of wildflower meadows
The best of last week's
Easter thank you to growers, manufacturers & distributors from British Garden Centres
Derek Bunker adds his thanks to suppliers for "their efforts throughout this amazing period in garden centre history"
East Yorkshire garden centre sells for £1.5m
Garden Centres re-open in Scotland... and it snows!
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
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
Vital to launch educational Pet Club
Dog theft increases by 19% during lockdown
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Email trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 07973 504214

 

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Gardening voted as one of the most popular pastimes
New research by Hozelock

 

More than eight in 10 adults have taken up a new hobby during lockdown to boost their mental or physical health, with walking, reading and exercising the most popular pastimes.

 

A study of 2,000 adults found more than a third have taken up a new activity since the start of the pandemic, with 81 per cent choosing one with some form of mindfulness to help keep them calm.

And 75 per cent want any hobby to involve some exercise.

 

It also emerged 82 per cent chose a hobby because it was good for their wellbeing, with gardening, cooking and baking also popular.

 

Growing fruit and vegetables were also among the top 40 hobbies people have chosen because they have a positive impact on their health. 

 

Other factors which impact the choice of activity include the cost (55 per cent), how easy it is to get started (54 per cent) and skills which can be learnt as a result (37 per cent).

 

Sarah Dixon, from Hozelock which commissioned the study, said: “Many of us have had more time on our hands during the past 12 months, so it is only normal that we are filling this time trying out new hobbies and interests. With so much uncertainty in the year, it is great to see that people are choosing activities which will improve their mental health and provide some structure to their day and weekends. 

 

“Gardening is one such hobby, not only is it accessible for everyone but it is always incredibly rewarding to watch plants grow.”

 

The study also found 77 per cent agreed it’s been important to keep their mind busy since spending more time at home in the past year.

 

And 74 per cent felt hobbies have given them something to concentrate on, while 63 per cent credited the activities with helping them to stick to a routine while at home.  

 

Of the 35 per cent who have taken up a new hobby during lockdown, 23 per cent did so in order to improve their home or garden, 42 per cent to fill spare time and 29 per cent to avoid thinking about the pandemic. 

 

The weather (24 per cent), friends (23 per cent) and TV shows (16 per cent) have also inspired people to take up new past times. 

 

More than half of adults count gardening as a hobby, with 70 per cent spending more time sprucing up their outdoor space during the lockdown than ever before. 

 

Green-fingered adults enjoy the physical benefit without feeling like they’re exercising (54 per cent), seeing their achievements such as plants growing (50 per cent) and creating a calming, inviting space (46 per cent). 

 

And while 35 per cent of those polled via OnePoll opt to garden on their own, 46 per cent do so with their partner and 18 per cent with their child.

 

It also emerged that during the average week, people typically spend two hours and 14 minutes on exercise-based activities, an hour and 13 minutes baking and 1 hour and 28 minutes gardening. 

 

Emily Butt, Founder of the not-for-profit organisation Garden to Wellbeing added: ““Having experienced first-hand the range of benefits that nature has on both our physical and mental wellbeing, I’m delighted that more people are enjoying gardening as a fun and therapeutic hobby. Gardening not only improves physical health, it can also reduce levels of stress and anxiety and increase confidence. With ongoing support from organisations such as Hozelock, including generous product donations, Garden to Wellbeing helps connect people with nature through workshops and ongoing programmes, giving everyone the opportunity to benefit from gardening."

 

Top hobbies Brits have started because they’re good for their health: 

  1. Walking           
  2. Reading          
  3. Exercise          
  4. Gardening       
  5. Cooking           
  6. Baking
  7. Swimming       
  8. Crosswords     
  9. Jigsaw puzzles           
  10. Growing fruit & veg     
  11. Dog walking    
  12. DIY      
  13. Board games  
  14. Video gaming  
  15. Crafts  
  16. Photography
  17. Sudoku            
  18. Colouring in    
  19. Football           
  20. Birdwatching   
  21. Drawing/sketching
  22. Knitting
  23. Meditating       
  24. Painting           
  25. Writing/journaling
  26. Cross stitching            
  27. Learning a musical instrument           
  28. Tennis
  29. Fishing
  30. Zumba
  31. Horse riding    
  32. Woodwork       
  33. Martial arts      
  34. Writing music  
  35. Graphic design           
  36. Home brewing drinks  
  37. Astronomy e.g. using a telescope      
  38. Netball
  39. Calligraphy      
  40. Pottery
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