In This Issue
Vote now for the Best Buyers of 2022 - The Buyers Power List at Glee - Voting closes at midnight tomorrow (Monday 27th June)
New products, Glee style...in association with GTN. Over 300 new products have been entered for the Glee Awards
Impatiens Walleriana 'Glimmer Appleblossom' wins Best in Show at New Plant Awards
Greetings from Woodmansterne
Fifty new products and advanced customer services announced by Garland Products
Come celebrate 30 years in business with EKJU
HTA launches its first Ornamental Grower of Year Awards
spoga+gafa 2022: Back with a strong appearance
Average start to June, according to GTN Bestsellers
Making peat free work for everyone - watch video discussion from the Glee studio
Squire's turns plastic bag charge into children's charity cash
elho celebrates becoming the first European company to be certified by TÜV
Two-thirds of households have high front hedges putting homes at increased risk of burglary warns Crimestoppers
Bumper Glee Preview in GTN June issue - read online here
Encouraging customers to make the switch to peat free gardening
Business Development Manager – Home & Garden
Get your copy of GTN Xtra
Petunias outsell Zonal Geraniums
Tomorite dominates
Record year for Veg-2-Gro
Average start to June for growing media sales
New setup of Novelty Contest at PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt
Fat Snax are bestsellers
Positivity prevails at sun-drenched FlowerTrials
The best of last week's
Business as usual at Key Essentials after the untimely death of Mark Smith
Frosts in discussion with Webbs over sale of Millets Farm Garden Centre
Bents creates new job roles to focus on its people
Have your customers singing in the rain!
Wildlife World's new products at Glee 2022
Zero In provides big opportunity for more sales of outdoor insect control products
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
Situations Vacant
Business Development Manager – Home & Garden
 

Campingaz is recruiting a new sales role focusing on the garden channel...

Read more»
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.

Email trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 07973 504214

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Two-thirds of households have high front hedges putting homes at increased risk of burglary warns Crimestoppers

A poll of 1,000 UK households with garden hedges, commissioned by John Lewis Home Insurance, reveals a widespread lack of awareness of the importance of  hedges in keeping our homes secure. 

 

Over two thirds (67%) of those surveyed admitted that their front hedge exceeds the one metre height recommended by the police and charity Crimestoppers. Nearly one third keep their hedge at double the recommended height, or even higher.

 

Rear garden hedges can also help protect homes but the police advice for them is  the opposite of front hedges. You should keep them over 1.8 metres to make it hard for thieves to climb up and over them, yet nearly half of households (48%) surveyed said their rear hedge is 1.5 metres, or lower.

 

John Blackstaff, Plant Nursery Manager at the John Lewis Partnership’s Leckford Estate provides the following tips on choosing the perfect security hedge:

 

“There are a number of hedge species that make great security hedges without compromising the appearance of your garden. I recommend Pyracantha, (firethorn), which is evergreen, vigorous and thorny, as its name suggests. It has white blossom, which is very attractive to bees and other insects, followed by berries in autumn in shades of red,yellow and orange which birds enjoy. 

 

“A Holly bush(Ilex aquifolium), is also a good traditional evergreen species, whose prickly leaves will ward off intruders. It comes in a wide range of varieties with green or variegated foliage and berries in autumn and winter. 

 

I’d also suggest Julianae, which is an evergreen type of berberis, (barberry,) which has prickly, dark green, glossy leaves and long thorns. For something a bit brighter, try a deciduous variety like Rose Glow, which has lovely copper and pink leaves.

 

Blackthorn, (Prunus spinosa) and Hawthorn, (Crataegus monogyna) are two more fantastic native hedging species. Both will blossom in spring and provide stylish yet impenetrable barriers.“

 

Less than one in five (18%) people consider the impact the height of their front hedge has in securing their home.  Nearly half (48%) of those asked don’t change the height of their hedge, or keep it at the height that’s practical for them, and one in ten choose the height based on their neighbour’s hedge. One in eight say ‘style’ over safety most influences the height of their front hedge. 

 

James Barwell, Head of  John Lewis Home Insurance said; “As people prepare to go away this summer they’ll be thinking about how they can keep their homes secure.  Our survey found a lack of awareness of the importance of hedge height and confusion about whether hedges should be high or low to deter burglars.  Over half (55%) of households think their front hedge should be over 1.8metres or don’t know what height it should be, and a similar number (54%) think their back hedge should be below 1.8metres, or don’t know what height it should be to help protect their home.”

 

“During the lockdown many people bought more items for their homes and gardens as they became the place where we did everything - working, entertaining, sleeping and eating. We saw sales of tech  fire pits, garden furniture and  pizza ovens rise, so it’s really important to keep these items safe, so we can keep enjoying them.”

 

Mick Duthie, Director of Operations at the charity Crimestoppers said; “In these difficult financial times, protecting yourself as much as possible from crime is always wise, especially from the harm caused by burglary which can have a devastating impact.  We therefore strongly urge people to look at their garden hedges this summer and if needed cut them to help cut crime. 

 

“Those surveyed said they keep their front hedge high to prevent people climbing on it, or seeing in but we know that what matters most to criminals is not being seen. A high front hedge gives them cover while they’re in your property or garden, and a low rear hedge gives them easy access to escape out the back.

 

“It’s not just the height of your hedge which can put off burglars. We recommend keeping all hedges thick, prickly and dense to further deter intruders.  This is particularly effective for back hedges, as a robust hedge can block the escape of thieves who attempt to exit via the back garden.”

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us Digg | Comment (0)
Comment
Name:*

Email Address:*

Comment:*