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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Dobbies buy Johnsons of Boston

Yesterday afternoon, local newspapers reported that Dobbies had bought Johnsons of Boston Garden Centre...


 

Yesterday afternoon, local newspapers reported that Dobbies had bought Johnsons of Boston Garden Centre.

 

Read the full report on Lincolnshire Live here

 

In the Johnsons of Boston newsletter last week, it said "Our managing director and Johnsons owner David Isaac is retiring after nearly 23 years of building Johnsons into the business it is today. He will be handing over the reins to new owners. In David’s words ‘The company is set for an exciting phase in its evolution.’"

 

The garden centre has has a food store for many years, providing a key local service to the area around the garden centre which is on the East of Boston on the A52 in Lincolnshire.  GTN Xtra understands the current NISA offering will be replaced by Sainsburys after Dobbies formally take over the site on Monday 19th April.

 

In preparation for that switch over they are currently offering customers a chance to pick up a bargain this week.  "As we make space for new lines & get ready for a refit a general spruce up & Spring clean, we are offering customers a chance to pick up a bargain this week!" it says on the garden centre facebook page.


"Many lines are heavily reduced in Fine Foods including general groceries & beers wine and spirits. Take this opportunity to stock up and bag a bargain!  We can’t wait to tell you more! We will be making an announcement very soon watch this space for more exciting news!  Milk, bread etc available as usual and Hambletons butcher and Deli are trading as normal."

 

Johnsons of Boston was established as a garden centre in 1971. Prior to that it was been a specialist rose growing nursery.  In 1998, the Johnson family decided to sell up, and the garden centre was bought by David Isaac and his family.

 

Along with the Fine Food Hall, it has a popular Restaurant and Coffee Shop plus franchises including Studio 10 Hair Salon, Boston’s premier Aquatic and Pet store, Tufts & Tangles Dog Groomers,  Spilsby Jewellers, and Seacroft Mobility.

 

Best Easter fortnight since 2012 - GTN Bestsellers exclusive analysis

The 2021 Easter fortnight was the biggest in terms of volume sales since Easter 2011 and up by 16% on Easter 2019...


The 2021 Easter fortnight was the biggest in terms of volume sales since Easter 2011 and up by 16% on Easter 2019.

 

Making Easter garden centre trade comparisons is always difficult as the dates vary each year and of course the weather can be a big determining factor.  However, looking back over 10 years of GTN Bestsellers All Products Sold data shows that Easter 2021 was 28% busier than the average for the Easter fortnight between 2011 and 2019, and 59% higher than the last time Easter happened at the same time in April 2012.

 

Week by week sales analysis of the GTN Bestsellers Epos data shows that volume sales dropped slightly during the second week of Easter 2021 but were still way ahead of sales records for the same week since 2015.

 

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis and Top 50 Bestsellers charts for Easter 2012 in the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter.  Subscribe here.

Iglu 360 is the perfect outdoor dining experience for garden centres
GTN Xtra Promotion

More popular than ever, the Iglu360 is the must have for the latest contemporary look to upgrade your garden centre restaurant...


More popular than ever, the Iglu360 is the must have for the latest contemporary look to upgrade your garden centre restaurant, ensuring to be the most booked-up attraction throughout the UK...

  • Popular during Winter as they provide a heated covered outdoor seating area.
    Just as popular in Summer when the clear PVC cover can be simply removed (partially or completely).
    Great return on your investment, as guests are prepared to pay extra for this novelty and also extends your indoor seating capacity to the outdoors. 
    The Iglu360 dome is comfortable for up to 8 people.

 

Why?

  • Thanks to over 14 years’ experience in the event and hospitality industry, we have a keen understanding of our customers needs.
    The demand for heated, outdoor seating continues to grow.
    Customers value a personal and intimate experience where they can spend quality time together.
    Revenue from Iglu bookings exceeded our catering revenue, confirming their popularity with our customers.
    Our Iglu’s create perfect exterior seating areas for all seasons.
    For pop-up bars and events, we have created our screw-free speedy bracket system. Fast and easy setup within 15 minutes and without to use of power tools.
    Our Iglu’s have been manufactured using high quality 40mm plywood and 0.8mm durable PVC covers. They are manufactured in the UK to the highest quality.

 

| FAST AND EASY SETUP
| EASY TO TRANSPORT
| DURABLE MATERIALS
| ANY COLOUR OPTION POSSIBLE
| GREAT RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT

 

 

Download the Iglu360 brochure here

 

 

 

 

www.iglu360.uk 
sales@iglu360.uk 
+44 (0) 1202 985255 

 

 

 

 

 

Partnership blooms as 'Caulders at Scotmid' springs up

Scotmid Co-operative and Caulders Garden Centres have partnered to launch a pop-up, “Caulders at Scotmid” at the convenience retailer’s Uddingston store, to provide the area with a range of gardening supplies until the end of June...


 

Scotmid Co-operative and Caulders Garden Centres have partnered to launch a pop-up, “Caulders at Scotmid” at the convenience retailer’s Uddingston store, to provide the area with a range of gardening supplies until the end of June.

 

The pop-up garden centre is selling an assortment of gardening goods to help the local community enter full bloom, including seasonal bedding plants, vegetable plants, houseplants, firepits and chimineas, garden décor, compost, fertilisers and more.

 

Kirsty George, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, said: “As more people have taken up gardening in the past year, we decided to explore how to expand our offer to help nurture a passion for plants. We sought out Caulders as a partner since they are known for providing a fantastic range and quality to their customers, and we are delighted to work with them to grow our seasonal range in Uddingston. We’re hopeful that we may be able to bring this partnership to other Scotmid locations in the future, too!”

 

 

Colin Barrie, Managing Director at Caulders Garden Centres, said: “We are delighted to work with Scotmid to provide their customers in Uddingston with the best garden care products available. Now’s the time to get digging and planting – and we hope that bringing our wide range of gardening supplies to Scotmid will help Uddingston’s gardeners get started this spring!”

 

Caulders at Scotmid is open now with indoor and outdoor space at Scotmid’s Uddingston store, located at 317-319 Old Edinburgh Road, Uddingston, Glasgow, G71 GBP. Caulders at Scotmid is open from 9am-5pm, seven days per week until the 30th June.

 

Easter sales records, reports GTN Bestsellers

GTN Bestsellers analysis from last week shows that for the first Easter week of 2021 total volume sales dropped by 1.4% week on week but as centres were only open for six days rather than seven that equates to being about 12% up like for like...


 

GTN Bestsellers analysis from last week shows that for the first Easter week of 2021 total volume sales dropped by 1.4% week on week but as centres were only open for six days rather than seven that equates to being about 12% up like for like.

 

Most importantly sales were up 63% on the same week from 2019 and 46% higher than the average for the nine years 2011- 2019. Compared to the last time Easter was the first week of April in 2012 garden centre volume sales this year are up by 72%.

 

With centres reporting continued high sales levels during this week, despite the cold weather we should be reporting on the highest ever Easter sales volume in our next issue.

 

Apart from Easter being different weeks, comparisons with 2019 are proving to be the best measure of post Lockdown change as 2019 was a relatively average spring in the years since 2011. Given that the GTN Year to date indexes compared to 2019 are now:  All Plants +27%, Garden Products +13%, Growing Media +19%, Veg 2 Gro +57%, Wild Bird Care -12%, All Products +10%.

 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 14.

  • Garden Products Top 50 – up 67%
  • Growing Media Top 50 – up 109%
  • Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 29%
  • Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – up 1%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 14.

  • All Plants with Barcode index – up 81%
  • All Items with Barcode index – up 63%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Dobbies announces ‘Not Your Average Gardener’ awards

Dobbies has announced the launch of its first-ever ‘Not Your Average Gardener’ awards to find the UK’s best and most dedicated gardeners...


 

Dobbies has announced the launch of its first-ever ‘Not Your Average Gardener’ awards to find the UK’s best and most dedicated gardeners.

 

Dobbies is looking to reward gardeners from across the UK for their creativity and commitment to making the UK a brighter place through their gardens and is encouraging the public to get involved and nominate the talented people in their lives. Whether it’s a family member, friend, neighbour or even themselves, the competition is open to amateur gardeners across the country.

 

Categories include Best Community Gardener, Best Mini Garden Makeover and Most Instagrammable Garden. Young gardeners are also being encouraged to get involved and submit entries for Best Young Gardener, for under-16s, and Best Little Seedling for those aged 10 and under. There’s also a category dedicated to finding Dobbies’ Best New Gardener 2021, with novice gardeners urged to enter and showcase their newly-honed skills.

 

The awards will be judged by gardener, journalist and Dobbies’ podcast host Louise Midgely, and Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles. Entries can be submitted via the Dobbies’ website, with winners being awarded £250 to spend in their local Dobbies store, plus a one-to-one gardening consultation with the judges to advise them on how to maximise their garden in 2021 and beyond.

 

According to research conducted by the Horticultural Trades Association, three million people took up gardening in 2020, and Dobbies wants to recognise and celebrate these new gardeners, while highlighting the many benefits that gardening can offer.

 

Marcus Eyles, Horticulture Director at Dobbies, said: “Gardening has proven benefits for our health and wellbeing and at Dobbies, we’re delighted to see so many more people getting involved with gardening over the past year.

 

“These awards will allow us to celebrate those who love gardening and those who show promise as potential gardening superstars. We look forward to seeing all of the wonderful gardens from entrants across the UK.”

 

The competition is open until 28 May 2021.

 

To enter or make a nomination, visit the Dobbies’ website and complete a simple form. All nominations will be reviewed by the judges, with prizes being awarded for the winners in each category during a virtual awards ceremony in the summer.

 

For more information visit: https://www.dobbies.com/dobbies-in-the-community

Industry help gets horti education unit back up and running

Following the shout out for help through our pages after the break in at the horticultural unit at Pershore High School, our great industry, even at such a busy time of year and so up against it with all the supply difficulties this season is bringing, have pulled out all the stops and helped get the horticultural unit up and running again in the last couple of weeks...


As we reported a few weeks ago in GTN Xtra, the horticultural unit at Pershore High School, on Station Road, Pershore in Worcestershire was broken into just as pupils started to return to the classroom after Lockdown 3 earlier this month.

 

Following the shout out for help through our pages, our great industry, even at such a busy time of year and so up against it with all the supply difficulties this season is bringing, have pulled out all the stops and helped get the horticultural unit up and running again in the last couple of weeks.

 

Within hours of GTN Xtra publishing news of the break in and the plea for help, Westland Horticultures’ Simon McArdle was on the telephone wanting details of the Kent & Stowe tools, Flopro watering equipment, Westland fertilisers, composts and other items needed. “Given how hard schools are working and the importance of seeking to inspire young people into gardening and hopefully even horticulture as a career we wanted to get the items the school needed into them quickly. We were pleased to get these delivered into the school a few days later” said Simon.

 

Also quick off the mark with support was Adrian Marskell the Managing Director at The Bransford Webbs Plant Company. Adrian told GTN Xtra: A bit of support for a school where some of our staff have been educated with some cash and a few plants is the least we can do. We are always keen to encourage young people’s interest in horticulture so hearing of their set back of having their tools stolen, we wanted to react quickly and help them get back on track.

 

The school is one of only a few mainstream schools in the country to have its own dedicated horticultural unit where students can experience some of the skills of horticulture and gardening. Six years ago the school achieved the status of “Approved Centre for Royal Horticultural Society Qualifications”. This means that students can gain a recognised horticultural grade through the RHS assessment process which helps them into employment or further education.

 

Garden centre group Blue Diamond, with their centre at The Valley near Evesham, have also been a great support to us. We have got ourselves sorted so the students learning has not been held back too badly thanks to the speed of reaction from the garden centre industry.  Blue Diamonds generosity will help us ongoing with seeds, bulbs, and other bits and pieces which will be a huge help to us with teaching our studentssaid Anne Watson, the teacher running the unit.

 

 

Neil Gow, now Internal Verifier for Horticulture and volunteer at the school said: “the support from our fantastic horticultural sector is perhaps not really a surprise. It is just one of the things I have loved about all the years in the industry that I have enjoyed – we always try and help each other out, but Thank You”

 

If you would like more information about the activities of Pershore High School and the educational opportunities it provides or to get in touch:

    The Horticultural Unit, Pershore High School, Station Road, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 2BX

    T: 01386 552471 W: http://www.pershore.worcs.sch.uk/  E: office@pershore.worcs.sch.uk

 

If plants are in stock they are selling

Plant sales last week continued at record high levels for the time of year, even exceeding normal levels expected for the May Bank Holiday week...


 

Plant sales last week continued at record high levels for the time of year, even exceeding normal levels expected for the May Bank Holiday week.

 

Whilst a wider range of plants are selling through, if it’s in stock it is selling. Young veg plants are the first choice of many garden centre shoppers.

 

This week there are nine veg plant types in the GTN Top 50 All Plants chart with Tomatoes staying at No 1.

 

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
RHS and BBC launch ‘grow and show’ competition

The Royal Horticultural Society and BBC One’s The One Show are joining forces again to launch My Chelsea Garden, a competition encouraging amateur gardeners across the nation to share images of their green spaces and growing efforts in search of the very best. ..


 

The Royal Horticultural Society and BBC One’s The One Show are joining forces again to launch My Chelsea Garden, a competition encouraging amateur gardeners across the nation to share images of their green spaces and growing efforts in search of the very best. 

 

They're asking people to enter a current picture of their garden or green space in one of the following categories:

  • Back Garden
  • Front Garden
  • Alternative Garden (houseplants, window sills, balconies etc.)
  • Community Garden (a single piece of land that has been gardened collectively by a group of people from more than one household).

As part of the competition, the RHS and The One Show also want to know how people’s gardens have helped them over the last year.

 

This year, one additional winner will be chosen from across the four categories for a special prize ‘best in show’. This will be the judge’s choice and will be the entry which has most captured how gardening has helped us at this time.

 

One winner from each category and the ‘best in show’ will receive four public day tickets for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 and a special RHS Award commending their Garden.

 

The judges are One Show presenter Alex Jones, writer and broadcaster Monty Don, RHS Head of Judging at RHS Shows, James Alexander Sinclair, author and small gardens expert Isabelle Palmer, and Head of the One Show Rob Unsworth.

 

The RHS and The One Show hope that people will also flood their social media feeds with positive images of plants and beautiful gardens to help ease anxiety and provide some respite in these challenging times, using the hashtag #mychelseagarden.

 

The RHS believes that thousands more people took up gardening during lockdown with some 30 million people visiting its website last year. Research by the RHS has shown that having a greener garden reduces stress levels, and can make you feel happier, more relaxed and closer to nature.

 

The One Show presenter Alex Jones said; “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to look at our viewers gardens last year and I’m so excited to do it again in 2021. Gardening has been so important to so many people in the last 12 months and I can’t wait to team up with The RHS, Monty Don, and our new judge Isabelle Palmer, to see all of your hard work.”

 

RHS Head of Shows Judging, James Alexander-Sinclair, said: “People have never gardened and grown plants so much in a time when they have never needed it more. 

 

“It’s joyous seeing the efforts people have gone to when creating some really very special gardens.  With RHS Chelsea Flower Show being postponed until September, we love that we can celebrate and share people’s best efforts to green up their outside and inside spaces in May when the world famous gardening event usually takes place.”

 

People can enter the competition by visiting bbc.co.uk/theoneshow where you will also find the terms and privacy notice. They’ll be asked to submit one current picture of their garden in one of the four categories, give a short description of their gardening space and say in up to 200 words how the garden they have submitted has helped them in the last 12 months. 

 

The competition will close just before midnight on Sunday 18th April 2021.

Deco-Pak marathon Mar-CHING for Garden Re-Leaf Day

March has seen lots of suppliers go that extra mile for Garden Re-Leaf Day but one, Deco-Pak, has quietly being making March a marathon month for this annual FUNdraising event – together tackling over 700miles and elevations which would have taken them to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond...


 

March has seen lots of suppliers go that extra mile for Garden Re-Leaf Day but one, Deco-Pak, has quietly being making March a marathon month for this annual FUNdraising event – together tackling over 700miles and elevations which would have taken them to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond.

 

The Deco-Pak team has been spending the whole of March walking, cycling and running all in the name of charity. The five strong team is made up of Marketing Director, Craig Hall, Area Sales Manager, Kieran Pitt,  Gary Whittaker from Operations, Logistics’ Gary Holme and Ryan Wood, part of the Internal Sales team.

 

Whilst cheering his team mates on Craig Hall has also been part of the Land’s End to John O’Groats ‘virtual crew’ who have been walking 1,203 miles – the distance between Land’s End and John O’Groats, twice – for Garden Re-Leaf. In total Craig has run over 200 miles – the equivalent to seven marathons - throughout March despite a knee injury threatening to end his streak of 10km per day. The total elevation of these runs has seen Craig tackle over 6,000m, this is the equivalent of running to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro which stands at 5,895m!

 

Keen cyclist, Kieran Pitt, has also amassed over 500 miles throughout March, often clocking up distances of 30 plus miles on his daily ride.

 

Craig Hall, ambassador for Greenfingers and long-term supporter of Garden Re-Leaf Day said: “Garden Re-Leaf Day has always been a key date in our diary but we knew this year was going to be a little different due to the ongoing pandemic. Couple this with the fact that 2021 marks Garden Re-Leaf’s 10th anniversary and we knew we had to do something big, and something that brought the team together despite like never before.

 

“I am incredibly proud of the Deco-Pak team and what we have achieved together, and are so grateful to everyone that has already donated to our fundraising efforts. Thank you to each and every one of you. It really does make all the difference when the tiredness is kicking in!”

 

To donate to Craig’s Mar-CHING! Garden Re-Leaf fundraising activities please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mar-ching

New rules allowing socialising in gardens deliver strong boost to garden centre sales

The Horticultural Trades Association’s Market Update report for April shows that nationally garden centre sales were up 97% in March compared with March 2020 when there were nine days fewer trading time due to the closure of garden centres during the first lockdown...


 

The Horticultural Trades Association’s Market Update report for April shows that nationally garden centre sales were up 97% in March compared with March 2020 when there were nine days fewer trading time due to the closure of garden centres during the first lockdown.  

 

However, comparing this data to March 2019 shows that overall garden centre sales are well ahead of a more typical year too, with March 2021 sales 56% up on March 2019. This is despite the continued closure of catering outlets, and of garden centres in the devolved nations.  

 

In what is usually a quiet month for outdoor leisure, March 2021 saw exceptional sales of garden furniture, BBQs and heating and garden features and structures, as consumers looked to prepare their gardens for hosting social gatherings once lockdown restrictions are eased. As a result, Average Transaction Values were up 45% on March 2020 and up 77% on March 2019 to £36.58.  

 

Sales of plants, plant care and garden tools remain strong as consumers face another Spring of restrictions and more leisure time at home. 

 

Anecdotal evidence from HTA members across the UK suggests the Easter Bank Holiday weekend will have seen April get off to a similarly strong start. 

 

Helen MacDonald, of Merryhatton Garden Centre and HTA Council representative for Scotland said: “Despite it being an icy cold Bank Holiday Monday our first customers were waiting for the gate to open at 9am and customers told us they are overjoyed to be able to visit, with some even saying that they’ve been counting down the days until they could come to the garden centre again! The checkouts were constantly busy all day, with the majority of purchases being plants and garden care. 

 

Nicola Pugh, of Pugh’s Garden Centres and HTA Council representative for Wales, said: “It’s an unbelievable position to find ourselves in and we are having record daily sales, but there is clearly high demand across the industry and a lot of pressure on the supply chain. As fast as we are ordering in stock, shelves are emptying. We are very grateful to be back open.”

 

John Shannon, of Inver Garden Centre and HTA Council representative for Northern Ireland, said: “We were able to offer click and collect over the Easter Bank Holiday and it has been very successful.   We have had very few problems, with customers all more than happy to come and collect and to pay over the telephone with debit/credit card.”  

 

Fiona Dean, of Ravensworth Nurseries and HTA Council representative for Yorkshire and the North East, said: “Over Easter our biggest sellers were added value for instant colour, such as hanging baskets and filled planters - we could hardly keep up with those - and seeds, lots of seeds, both veg and flowers.” 

 

The Market Update report discusses other factors affecting the state of trade, including encouraging improvements to consumer ratings of financial confidence, and falling inflation and unemployment levels.  

 

The report is available for HTA members to download now: https://bit.ly/3mpy0G1 

 

 

Squire’s financial results encouraging despite challenges

Squire’s Garden Centres has reported a drop of 42% in underlying profits to £2.2m but said it was a “very good result” given the events of 2020.


 

Squire’s Garden Centres has reported a drop of 42% in underlying profits to £2.2m but said it was a “very good result” given the events of 2020.

 

The accounting period up to 31 July 2020 spanned pre-pandemic, the first lockdown and subsequent high demand when garden centres were permitted to re-open again in May 2020.

 

Given the period of closure during the peak spring trading window, total turnover dropped by 7% to £53.0m. Trade had been strong during the financial year up until closure. 

 

After lockdown, sales (particularly in plants and core gardening) were very strong, with a higher average spend. 

 

 

The believed it secured new customers, as more people were at home and wanted to enjoy gardening and spending time in their gardens. 

 

Turnover was boosted by the addition of the newly-acquired centre at Wokingham (Heathlands), which joined the group on 1 August 2019. The performance of this site has exceeded expectations.  

 

The centre at Frensham benefited from the newly refurbished Food Hall which opened shortly before lockdown, and as a stand-alone food shop was able to continue to trade while the rest of the centre was closed. During the year Squire’s completed a major extension of the shop and Café Bar at Milford. 

 

Reopening its Café Bars from early July was more challenging and sales dropped substantially by 33%. 

 

In common with many businesses the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme proved crucial for Squire’s, enabling the company to retain its workforce during the closure period.  

 

Sarah Squire, chairman of Squire’s, said; “I cannot stress enough how significant the support, commitment and hard work of our colleagues has been as we navigated the period of closure and beyond. 

 

“So many people have come up with innovative ideas, solved problems and taken on tasks outside their usual remit with willingness, determination and great good humour. 

 

“Our suppliers have also been incredibly helpful while facing not inconsiderable challenges of their own.”

Large Fire at Longacres Shepperton - UPDATED

Longacres have issued the following statement following the fire yesterday at their Shepperton Garden Centre...


Longacres have issued the following statement following the fire yesterday at their Shepperton Garden Centre:

 

Statement re fire at Longacres Garden Centre, Nutty Lane, Shepperton, on Tuesday 13th April 2021

 

"The fire started at a premises adjacent to far end of the garden centre, next to our goods in area and storage yard.

 

"A member of staff spotted the fire at approximately 12:15pm and called 999 immediately. Emergency services arrived in minutes.

 

"The store was evacuated and closed for the rest of the day. We reopened Wednesday morning.

 

"We’re happy to report there were no injuries.

 

"The damage is still being assessed; initial checks show large amounts of damage to infrastructure (power and other cabling has been destroyed) and there was also property and stock damage.

We’d like to thank the emergency services for their very quick response and the excellent job they did in preventing the spread of the fire."

 

Family-run Longacres Garden Centres opened their first store in Bagshot, Surrey in 1979. The Shepperton store was opened in 2013.

 

Now with 5 stores and a large online presence, the company employs approximately 600 staff. The Bagshot store has been ranked the number 1 garden centre by turnover every year since 2009.

www.longacres.co.uk

 

Yesterday we reported on the news that a fire had broken out at the centre.

 

The Surrey Comet has video footage of the blaze at the back of the centre.  

 

Nigel Long told GTN Xtra: "Everyone is ok.  We won't know what damage to the buildings and stock until the fire service let us back in. The fire has mainly affected the storage and goods inwards area."

 

Surrey Fire & Rescue report: "Drone team called out to support @SurreyFRS at an industrial fire on Nutty Lane in #Shepperton. Please avoid the area and close windows/doors," while Spelthorne Beat (Surrey Police) @SpelthorneBeat
have said: "We are currently assisting our fire service colleagues @SurreyFRS with a large scale industrial fire in Nutty Lane, #Shepperton. No one is believed to have been injured at this time. Thanks to everyone for their patience while we deal with this incident..

 

Nicholas Marshall returns... again

Nicholas Marshall is making a return to Garden Centre retailing at Lavershot Barns, Windlesham, Surrey...


Nicholas Marshall is making a return to Garden Centre retailing at Lavershot Barns, Windlesham, Surrey.

 

The Country House Group, to which Nicholas Marshall was appointed a Director in February 2021, has become the latest concession to install at the Laverstock Barns scheme where they operate the plant department.

 

GTN Xtra understands the brief at Laverstock Barns, owned by the Wooldridge Group, was to create a fully tenanted garden centre to appeal to a high net worth demographic.

 

Concessions and businesses on site include:

  • Lakeland
  • Seasons Farm Shop
  • Seasons Kitchen
  • Maidenhead Aquatics
  • Pavilion Interiors
  • White Stores
  • Replay Golf
  • Pools & Spas Windlesham
  • Lush Landscapes
  • The Country House Group
  • Car Wash

Lorrie Robertson, who worked with Nicholas Marshall at The Garden Centre Group (renamed Wyevale Garden Centres) and at Dobbies, has been a Director of The Country House Group since May 2018.

 

On the Country House Group website it says: "We are developing and building a network of plant centres, estate farm shops, restaurants and children’s play areas at some of the finest historic country houses and estates in the UK, supporting the best of British products. We are resolutely committed to environmentally and ecologically responsible and sustainable practices."

 

Jumping for joy as Cardwell Garden Centre re-opens

Louise Harris jumps for joy after visiting Cardwell Garden Centre when it re-opened after lockdown on Monday (April 5). The 38-year-old keen gardener, from Inverkip was one of the first customers at the garden centre, near Gourock when Cardwell welcomed visitors for the first time this year.


Louise Harris jumps for joy after visiting Cardwell Garden Centre when it re-opened after lockdown on Monday (April 5).

The 38-year-old keen gardener, from Inverkip was one of the first customers at the garden centre, near Gourock when Cardwell welcomed visitors for the first time this year.

She was there with Richard Jow, 42, stocking up for spending time making their garden grow.

Louise said: “It’s very important for us that Cardwell was able to open again as we do a lot of work in our garden and it’s very enjoyable.

“As well as planting flowers, we grow a lot of our own vegetables.”

There was a steady flow of visitors to the garden centre yesterday with people preparing the growing season, which has just started.

As well as selling plants, seeds and other gardening essentials, Cardwell is also offering a food carry-out service from their Patio Café.

Cardwell’s retail general manager, Paul Carmichael said: “It’s such a relief to be able to open again, especially as we’re approaching the busiest time of year for us.

“A lot of our customers were telling us just how glad they were that we could re-open.”

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, exercising and gardening the most popular pastimes....


 

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
Bents announces fundraising total and welcomes new charity

Before Bents Garden & Home can fully welcome Solving Kids Cancer as its 2021 charity of the year, it must say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped raise £16,477 for Once Upon a Smile; the charity it has supported for the past two years, during what has been one of the most challenging times for everyone...


 

Before Bents Garden & Home can fully welcome Solving Kids Cancer as its 2021 charity of the year, it must say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped raise £16,477 for Once Upon a Smile; the charity it has supported for the past two years, during what has been one of the most challenging times for everyone. 

 

For the first time in the initiative’s history, and in response to the challenges posed by Covid 19, Bents decided to dedicate two consecutive years to the same cause, helping to boost fundraising for the Manchester based charity - which provides emotional and practical support for bereaved families. 

 

Said Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home: “The decision to continue supporting Once Upon a Smile for a second year proved to be a very popular one.  Despite the challenges faced by the Covid crisis fundraising continued and everyone at Bents is delighted with the final total. Our customers have been hugely generous in helping us to raise such a fantastic amount, especially when there are so many other causes to consider during these difficult times.” 

 

The money raised by Bents will help fund further improvements and activities at Once Upon a Smile’s Sidley House, the charity’s specialist bereavement hub, and also support the team as they continue to reach out and support children in their own homes.  

 

And now a new fundraising year begins as Bents welcomes Solving Kids Cancer as its Charity of the Year 2021.  The charity, which focusses on childhood cancer neuroblastoma, is a cause very close to the hearts of everyone at Bents, following the loss of the company’s Financial Director’s great niece, 6 year old Jossie Leaver who bravely battled with neuroblastoma.  

 

Jossie was one of around 100 children who each year are diagnosed with this rare, aggressive and often deadly, childhood cancer, most of whom are under the age of 5. 

 

Solving Kids Cancer is a charity which fights for a future where no child dies of neuroblastoma or suffers from its treatment and Bents hopes its 2021 fundraising campaign will help towards this incredible campaign.  

 
Lawns and gardening promote better mental health

Many people find enjoyment relaxing in their own green space or getting their hands dirty transforming their garden, and these activities are great for positively impacting health...


Many people find enjoyment relaxing in their own green space or getting their hands dirty transforming their garden, and these activities are great for positively impacting health. The benefits of connecting to nature, and nurturing lawns, plants and vegetables are diverse, impacting both physical and psychological health.

 

A study by the University of Exeter and the Royal Horticultural Society adds to the evidence that caring for lawns and spending time gardening provides real value to people’s lives. The research found that whilst 61% of people who don’t make use of their garden experience poor overall health, 71% of the people who regularly look after their garden report good general health – concluding that people who utilise their outdoor space experience benefits to their health and well-being. This includes reduced blood pressure and stress and increased confidence and self-esteem.

 

Peter Chaloner, managing director of Cobra which manufacturers powered garden machinery and boasts the UK’s largest range of lawnmowers, recognises the importance of getting outside and gardening: “Immersing yourself in nature and creating a beautiful, outdoor space of your own is vital in helping to create a healthier and happier society. At Cobra, we want to make it as easy as possible for people to look after their lawns, and our tools offer ease and convenience, so no task is too tiring – leaving you with more time to enjoy being in the great outdoors.”

 

Cobra has an impressive collection of electric, petrol, battery, and cordless products from lawnmowers to hedge trimmers, strimmers and blowers and much more. They all offer style, reliability, and power, but each benefit from unique features ensuring that there is a product for every need.

 

For a perfectly cut lawn, the award-winning MX3440V cordless lawnmower is one of the best. Powered by a Samsung 40V Lithium-ion battery, it offers a lightweight feel and quiet running, whilst its adjustable lever provides five cutting heights – meaning it can tackle even the unruliest grass. The MX3440V also has the benefit of foldable handles, so it can be stored in small, restricted spaces – perfect for those with smaller gardens and sheds. The battery powered range also provides convenience as the batteries are interchangeable, meaning it can power strimmers and leaf blowers in the range too, making garden maintenance quick and easy.

 

Cobra products are available to buy online at www.cobragarden.co.uk or via a network of expert dealers across the UK.

Desch Plantpak presents: Colour Your Story, autumn/winter

Desch Plantpak presents the latest edition of Colour Your Story. The number one colourful inspiration magazine where you can find, among other things, the latest trends, innovations, developments in the field of sustainability, and an interview with Dr Joachim Christiani, Managing Director of Cyclos HTP...


 

Desch Plantpak presents the latest edition of Colour Your Story. The number one colourful inspiration magazine where you can find, among other things, the latest trends, innovations, developments in the field of sustainability, and an interview with Dr Joachim Christiani, Managing Director of Cyclos HTP.

 

Sustainability and certified plastic

Issues such as sustainability and recycling continue to be prominent concerns in the world where Desch operates. Not surprising, because today's initiatives are tomorrow's solutions we’re once again giving our full attention to our brands RECOVER® and D-Tect®PLUS this season.

 

Also in this issue of Colour Your Story:

 

• The current colour trends of trend watcher Hilde Francq, with three different trend spheres

• The latest products from Selecta One, Syngenta, Schoneveld breeding and Dümmen Orange

• An interview with Dr Joachim Christiani on the certification of plastics and CHIRA, the newly developed software tool

• A look behind the scenes at 'Gouden Reael' in Amsterdam, with a delicious Haddock Carpaccio recipe 

 

Colour Your Story is distributed free of charge, or you can read it on the Desch website.

Inside Outside... A New Beginning for the garden market - Read GTN's March Issue on-line now

Inside Outside... a New Beginning. How the 5th room is changing the garden centre retailing market in the March 2021 issue of GTN.  Read on-line here.

  • Next Generation to lead the way at GCA, interview with Tammy Woodhouse and Will Blake.
  • Inside Outside… A New Beginning for the garden market.
  • Empowering Change for a brighter future, LOFA team up with Planet Mark.
  • HTA Column, Tales of the unexpected.
  • GIMA Column, Somewhere over the rainbow, a ‘New Normal’ exists.

 


Inside Outside... a New Beginning. How the 5th room is changing the garden centre retailing market in the march 2021 issue of GTN.  Read on-line here.

  • Fountasia, Order now for Spring and Christmas.
  • Next Generation to lead the way at GCA, interview with Tammy Woodhouse and Will Blake.
  • Onduline ‘clay look’ tiles transform a garden centre.
  • Inside Outside… A New Beginning for the garden market.
  • Watering wisdom and more marketing from Hozelock.
  • Empowering Change for a brighter future, LOFA team up with Planet Mark.
  • HTA Column, Tales of the unexpected.
  • GIMA Column, Somewhere over the rainbow, a ‘New Normal’ exists.

 

 
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Planters announce closure for Duke of Edinburgh's funeral

Planters Garden Centres at Tamworth and Bretby have made the decision to close on Saturday at 2pm so that staff can pay their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh at 3pm... 


Planters Garden Centres at Tamworth and Bretby have made the decision to close on Saturday at 2pm so that staff can pay their respects to the Duke of Edinburgh at 3pm.  

 

"We wont reopen on Saturday," owner Gerald Ingram told GTN Xtra, "however we plan on opening at 8am to make the day slightly longer.   We have already made the announcement and it has been very well received on Facebook.   

 

"It’s a shame as the restaurant and Concessions will have only just reopened but I think it’s the right thing to do."

 
Gaps on shelves as sales stay high

“It’s constant, every day sales are high,” was a regular comment heard from garden centre managers last week. No wonder Garden Product sales were up by 66% on the same week in 2019...


 

“It’s constant, every day sales are high,” was a regular comment heard from garden centre managers last week. No wonder Garden Product sales were up by 66% on the same week in 2019.

 

With gaps appering on shelves and doubts about when replacement stocks will be coming in staff are having to be very good at knowing the alternative to meet demand.

 

The top three products in the GTN Garden Products chart really sum up Easter 2021 gardening activity:

  • Woodlodge Small Pot Feet stay at No 1 with a record high weekly sales volume.  Gardening in pots continues to grow!
  • Evergreen Garden Care Levington Tomorite 1 litre + 30% Free stays at No 2 as record levels of young tomato plants are snapped up for a grow your own summer.
  • Westland Lawn & Turf Dressing 25 litres at No 3 is the highest placed of six lawn care lines in the Top 50 as gardens are prepared for weeks of gatherings of family and friends.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Zoo proposal for former garden centre rejected

The future of a former garden centre and nursery in Essex has been left in doubt after plans to create a ‘tropical’ zoo on the site were turned down by the local council...


 

The future of a former garden centre and nursery in Essex has been left in doubt after plans to create a ‘tropical’ zoo on the site were turned down by the local council.

 

The owners of Hilltop Nursery in Ramsden Heath had submitted plans to Chelmsford City Council for a small animal, reptile and bird zoo to run alongside the garden centre.

 

But councillors turned down the application, raising concerns about a lack of details and the impact on green belt land.

 

Paul Smith, a director of the site’s owners HE Smith and Son Ltd, said without the zoo it may not be financially possible to run the site as a garden centre.

 

Mr Smith is reported by the Basildon Echo as saying: “It seems Chelmsford City Council was not keen on the idea for the zoo and without some joint venture it will make it very difficult for the garden centre to re-open and be profitable.

 

“I suppose we are now looking for new ideas on how to make the best use of the site which the council won’t scupper.”

 
50% more veg being grown

Veg-2-Gro sales may have dropped by a quarter week on week, but they still remain over 50% up year to date compared with 2019 and more than double those in 2018...


 

Veg-2-Gro sales may have dropped by a quarter week on week, but they still remain over 50% up year to date compared with 2019 and more than double those in 2018.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Quantil Courgette 8cm were the highest GTN Chart climber, up 28 places to No 2.
  • Quantil Runner Bean White Emergo Strips re-entered in the highest position at No 16.
  • Quantil Aubergine Pinstripe 8.5cm is a new entry at No 31.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
One million take part in record-breaking RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

The number of nature lovers who took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch soared to a million people this winter after a year of lockdown restrictions saw people turn to nature for comfort...


The number of nature lovers who took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch soared to a million people this winter after a year of lockdown restrictions saw people turn to nature for comfort.

 

Now in its 42nd year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is a chance for people of all ages to count the number of birds that visit their garden helping the RSPB build up a picture of how they are doing. This year over a million people across the UK took part, counting 17 million birds.

 

Hopes were raised for a bumper participation this year after results from a YouGov survey revealed the pandemic is making the public more aware of nature in their local area, with 41% seeing wildlife near their homes over the last 12 months that they had never noticed before.  

 

The YouGov survey of 2,071 adults across the UK revealed 63% of people said watching the birds and hearing their song added to their enjoyment of life since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than half of those surveyed (51%) believing the pandemic has made them more aware of the nature around them.  

 

When the final Big Garden Birdwatch results were counted, the RSPB was blown away by the phenomenal response from the public. Over the first three days of submissions alone, numbers were up 85% compared to the same time period in 2020.

 

Beccy Speight, RSPB CEO said: “We have been blown away by the enthusiasm with which people have taken part in the Birdwatch this year. Lockdowns have brought few benefits, but the last year has either started or reignited a love of nature for many people, right on their doorsteps.

 

“This winter has been a bleak ordeal but as the dawn chorus starts to burst into song and the blossom starts to flower from the trees once more, we are emerging from this pandemic a new generation of nature lovers.

 

“We hope the Birdwatch has kindled a new passion for wildlife for the thousands who took part for the first time this year – we need every voice raised to stand up for nature. The wildlife that gave us so much interest and solace is now just a fraction of what should be there. On the back of this wave of public support, we need the government to take the global leadership, policy and legislative opportunities open to it this year to reverse the decline and restore nature now.”

 

The event held over the last weekend in January revealed the house sparrow held on to its number one spot but 16 out of the top 20 bird species showed declines in average counts compared to last year. Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush saw an increase on 2020.  

 

Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. It was first to alert the RSPB to the decline in song thrush numbers, which are still down 78% compared to the first Big Garden Birdwatch in 1979.  This species was a firm fixture in the top 10 in 1979. By 2009, its numbers were less than half those recorded in 1979, it came in at 20th in the rankings this year, seen in just 9% of gardens.

 

The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with more than 2.6 million recorded sightings throughout the weekend. Starling slid down the ranking from 2nd place for the first time since 2010, with numbers down 83% since 1979. Further declines were recorded for greenfinch and chaffinch, with the lowest average for both types of bird ever recorded for Big Garden Birdwatch.

 

Beccy added: “One way you can help revive our world is to bring nature to you. Your garden, balcony, and even windowsill are potential havens for wildlife, and in April we’re launching a digital platform, Nature on Your Doorstep, to help show you how.” 

 

Throughout the first half of the spring term the nation’s school children took part in the RSPB’s Big Schools Birdwatch. The UK-wide survey of birds in school grounds saw over 21,000 school children and their teachers spend an hour in nature counting the birds. Woodpigeon was the most numerous species seen with an average of 9 per school; and was seen in 85% of all schools that took part. Blackbird was a close second with an average of 8 per school.

 

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/yourdoorstep for more information.

 

For a full round-up of all the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch results and to see which birds were visiting gardens where you live, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

 

 
Growing Media up by 109%

Core gardening activity continues a pace despite the cold Easter weather as illustrated by GTN’s Growing Media volume sales index for last week being 109% up on the same week last year...


 

Core gardening activity continues a pace despite the cold Easter weather as illustrated by GTN’s Growing Media volume sales index for last week being 109% up on the same week last year. The volume sold in six days last week has only been bettered by the three weeks after re-opning last May and the last week of February this year.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Westland Multipurpose Compost with John Innes 50 litres continues at No 1.
  • Durstons Manor Farm Multipurpose 50 litres moves up 25 places to No 5.
  • Evergreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Peat Free Compost is a new GTN chart entry at No 43.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Watch Your Back! returns with new scheme designed to keep everyone in horticulture sun protected.

Since its launch in 2016, over 370 garden centres, nine leading gardeners and six major horticultural organisations have supported Watch Your Back!, a sun protection campaign for gardeners devised by the Melanoma Fund...


Since its launch in 2016, over 370 garden centres, nine leading gardeners and six major horticultural organisations have supported Watch Your Back!, a sun protection campaign for gardeners devised by the Melanoma Fund.  

This year, with the additional backing of the HTA and GIMA, the charity aims to seed sun protection deeper into horticulture, inviting garden centres, nurseries, and landscapers to become Sun Protection Accredited.  

Getting accredited is free, open to all in the industry and can be achieved from the 3rd May by visiting melanoma-fund.co.uk and implementing 5 pledges, designed to keep customers and staff aware of the risks of skin cancer, with timely reminders and advice, designed to educate, and improve sun protection behaviour. Involvement can enhance existing advice, or be implemented as a stand-alone resource. 

To support and encourage the availability of sunscreen, the Melanoma Fund has partnered with Lee Brothers to offer refillable sunscreen dispensers and 100ml bottles of Stokoderm SPF30/50 in an exclusive deal for Sun Protection Accredited members. There are no minimum orders or delivery charges, and for every unit sold, a donation will be made to the charity, to keep the campaign expanding.

Says David Stevens: “Having been an international garden designer for the past 50 years, I’ve spent most of my working life outdoors, suffering preventable sun damage as a result. Therefore, I support the Watch Your Back! campaign.  Sun Protection Accreditation will inspire the industry to work in unity, encourage everyone to cover up and face the risks, at the right time, in the right place.” 

Watch Your Back! is partnered with the Horticultural Trades Association, the Garden Centre Association, the Professional Gardeners Guild, the National Allotment Society, the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association, and the Association of Professional Landscapers.  

BBC Morning Live gardening presenter Mark Lane says, “I urge all garden centres and nurseries to get involved, as together we can really punch home the fact that skin cancer is avoidable, but only if we take sun protection seriously”. 

The new website will launch on the 3rd May.  For further details contactinfo@melanoma-fund.co.uk.

 
Buckingham Palace Garden to open to visitors

The garden at Buckingham Palace will open to visitors from July to September this year, allowing the grounds of Her Majesty The Queen’s official London residence to be explored through a self-guided tour for the first time...


 

The garden at Buckingham Palace will open to visitors from July to September this year, allowing the grounds of Her Majesty The Queen’s official London residence to be explored through a self-guided tour for the first time.

 

Visitors will be free to explore a route through the garden that encompasses the 156-metre Herbaceous Border, plane trees planted by and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the 3.5-acre lake. The unique opportunity to enjoy a picnic on one of the sweeping lawns will be part of the visit. Features in the south-west of the garden, including the Rose Garden, summer house and wildflower meadow, can be viewed through one of the guided tours that will run each day. 

 

The current landscape of the historic 39-acre garden dates back to the 1820s when George IV turned Buckingham House into a palace. Despite its urban location, the garden is home to a remarkable array of flora and fauna, including rare native plants seldom seen in London. The garden is a rich biodiverse habitat, with more than 1,000 trees, the National Collection of Mulberry Trees and 320 different wildflowers and grasses. 

 

On weekends in April and May, garden enthusiasts can enjoy the tranquillity of the garden and discover its history and highlights by joining a guided tour. Visitors will experience the garden in springtime, with its meadows carpeted with primroses and bluebells, and flowering camellia, magnolia and azalea shrubs and trees. 

 

From May to September, special guided tours of Buckingham Palace will be available. Visitors will see many of the Palace’s magnificent State Rooms, furnished with some of the greatest treasures of the Royal Collection including paintings by Benjamin West and Franz Xaver Winterhalter, exquisite Sèvres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. From July, access to the garden will be included in the visit. 

 

In line with the easing of Government restrictions, Royal Collection Trust shops in London will reopen from Monday, 12 April. The Palace of Holyroodhouse and the new exhibition Victoria & Albert: Our Lives in Watercolour at The Queen’s Gallery, Edinburgh will open from Monday, 26 April. Windsor Castle and the exhibition Masterpieces from Buckingham Palaceat The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace will welcome visitors from Monday, 17 May.

 

For those unable to visit the official residences of Her Majesty in person, a programme of live online events is now available. Led by expert guides and streamed live from Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, A Warden’s Welcome interactive talks will reveal the history and stories of the Palaces through exclusive images and film footage.

 

 
RHS and Ulster Weavers announce new kitchen textiles range

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the launch by Ulster Weavers, an award-winning home textiles company, of a new RHS range of kitchen textiles.


 

The Royal Horticultural Society ( has announced the launch by Ulster Weavers, an award-winning home textiles company, of a new RHS range of kitchen textiles.

 

Called the Spring Floral collection, it offers a wide range of textiles and accessories, including a luxury cotton apron; printed tea towels; quilted oven gloves and mitts; a beautifully crafted tea cosy with accompanying mug; and a selection of durable and reusable shoppers and PVC bags as well as a packable roll-up bag. The RHS branding, highlighting the RHS tree and shield, is clearly visible on the tags and packaging.

 

The range, which launched in mid-February, is available at a wide range of garden centres and garden shops, department stores and gift shops. It is also available online via the Ulster Weavers website and independent gift websites. The collection is expected to appeal to a wide demographic that includes discerning consumers, garden lovers and the design-aware of all ages.

 

The new range, which uses imagery from the RHS Lindley Collections – the world’s finest collection of botanical art – incorporates nature-inspired designs featuring bold colour palettes complemented with classic prints and muted floral fabrics.

 

 

The design is inspired in particular by the walks enjoyed by the collection’s designer Mona Sweeney during lockdown. She says, “What really captured my attention was the beauty and vibrancy of the wildflowers I noticed while I was out walking. Here was a moment worth sharing and recreating, I thought – one that reflected the simple pleasures and slower pace of life we were adjusting to. The fields, the great blue sky above, the wonderful diversity of the fauna and flora; these formed the basis for the entire collection.”

 

Ulster Weavers is based in Northern Ireland. The company can trace its history back to the nineteenth century and prides itself on the production of high-quality linen and textile products — sold, not only in the UK and Ireland, but throughout the world.

 

This is the latest collection to come from a partnership between RHS and Ulster Weavers, which has produced many popular collections combining quality, durability, functionality and timeless designs for the modern home.

 

Annie David, Head of Innovation, Ulster Weavers, says: “Using the treasure trove that is the RHS Lindley Collections we have illustrated this collection with an array of delicate flowers and colourful butterflies in a way that, we feel, captures the beauty of the everyday in the world around us. Our partnership with the RHS has once again inspired some wonderful kitchen textiles.”

 

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “This meadow design is a beautiful reminder of the joys of slowing down and contemplating nature, with fresh, light modern colours taking us back to memories of swaying wildflowers in the sun. It’s an appealing and elegant collection that is also sturdy and practical. It will, I’m sure, be another big success for the RHS/Ulster Weavers partnership at retail.”

 
Wildflowers for The Queen - a celebration of wildflower meadows

In partnership with conservation charity Plantlife, and with a foreword by their patron HRH The Prince of Wales, Wildflowers for The Queen, by fine-art photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas, celebrates the unsung beauty and diversity of wildflower meadows (published by Wildflower Press, 320pp, £50, 11 October 2020)...


 

In partnership with conservation charity Plantlife, and with a foreword by their patron HRH The Prince of Wales, Wildflowers for The Queen, by fine-art photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas, celebrates the unsung beauty and diversity of wildflower meadows (published by Wildflower Press, 320pp, £50, 11 October 2020). 

The hardback, large-format art title is inspired by the achievements of the Coronation Meadows* established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2013. He explains: “The idea of the Coronation Meadows initiative was a simple one: to find the best surviving meadow in each county and use seed from that meadow to create a new one. Many of those wonderful meadows are now captured in this book.” 

The book features essays from a range of high-profile contributors, including the broadcaster and gardener, Alan Titchmarsh; Plantlife President and Antiques Roadshow presenter, Philip Mould; garden designer and journalist,  Dan Pearson; landscape designer, Miranda Brookes; screenwriter and actor, Julian Fellowes and chairman of the Victoria and Albert Museum and Condé Nast Britain, Nicholas Coleridge. There is commentary throughout by Plantlife botanist, TV presenter and conservationist, Dr Trevor Dines.   

Photographed over a year, Wildflowers for The Queen features 19 meadows (of which 14 are Coronation Meadows) in stunning locations and stately homes including Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace and Highclere Castle. Rittson-Thomas was granted exclusive access by The Queen to Sandringham, whose meadow is a particularly magical example of wildflowers in all their bucolic glory.

HRH The Prince of Wales’ own meadow at Highgrove is also featured. Created over 30 years ago, it was the brainchild of the Prince and Dame Miriam Rothschild, who sowed a mix of over 100 species of wildflowers typical of Gloucestershire to replicate the old meadows lost over time. 

 

Sandringham’s wildflower meadow in June.

 

Rittson-Thomas’s artistic eye allows us to look at these meadows anew, beautifully showcasing fragile and rare wildflowers, focusing minutely on their exhilarating patterns, colours, textures and shapes. Taking us From the Viking meadows of Muker in Yorkshire’s rolling dales to the Cornish unique culm grass meadows of Cornwall, Rittson-Thomas also photographs a wide range of rare wild orchids, including the Monkey, Bee, Man and Lady orchids.  

Rittson-Thomas says: “The premise and aim of the book is to ‘make the invisible visible’, to celebrate the rich botanical heritage of the wild flowers and unique meadows of England with their exotic and often charming names – like creeping lady’s tresses (Goodyera repens) or snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris), and to elevate them not only as the stars of the show, but also as valuable and irreplaceable forms of life on our green planet. My hope is that the book will inspire others to be enthusiastic about wildflowers and even visit the meadows for themselves.” 

In studio portraits, Rittson-Thomas treats the botanical species with the same regard as the high-profile photographic subjects he is best known for, from The Queen to the Dalai Lama. In the book, he draws inspiration from the work of Horst P. Horst, Robert Mapplethorpe and Nick Knight, while his contemporary “still life” flower arrangements pay homage to the Dutch Old Masters. His mirror technique, at the heart of his 2015 exhibition The Queen’s People, is used here to showcase the delicacy of flowers from multiple angles (Great Burnett) and, using a lightbox, he pays homage to Victorian botanical plates, injecting luminosity and vibrancy (Bee Orchid and Snakes Head Fritillary).  

Plantlife President Philip Mould, whose contributing essay explores the relationship between wildflower meadows and art says: "For some of us, particularly the lucky ones, wildflowers have grown up inside us. Now, each spring, when the wildflowers push up, so too do memories of these first encounters in the fields and hedgerows of my infancy. This hand-me-down from one generation to another stretches back millennia, to times when knowledge of wild plants was about survival.” 

Wildflowers for The Queen explores urgent questions about conservation and biodiversity in Britain. Meadows are one of the UK’s most species-rich habitats, supporting nearly 800 types of flowers and plants, along with 400 species of pollinators and other insects. Today, surviving fragments of flower-rich meadows and pastures only account for 1% of UK land as we have lost an alarming 7.5 million acres since the 1930s. Most are now too small to qualify for legal protection, meaning that ancient meadows that have existed for a century can disappear in a morning under the plough. 

Rittson-Thomas’s book both celebrates this precious part of Britain’s natural heritage and seeks to raise awareness about its value in the 21st century.  

 
The best of last week's

If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...


 
Easter thank you to growers, manufacturers & distributors from British Garden Centres

The team at British Garden Centres took the opportunity of a brief lull in trading on Easter Sunday to express their huge thanks to their industry friends for their help in the last year...


The team at British Garden Centres took the opportunity of a brief lull in trading on Easter Sunday to express their huge thanks to their industry friends for their help in the last year.

 

“Without the incredible support of our suppliers and industry friends we wouldn’t have achieved so much in this most unusual of times,” commented Charles Stubbs, joint MD. “We have all faced our challenges but the growers, manufacturers and distributors have worked so hard to ensure we have been able to flourish.”

 

“When I think back to Easter Sunday 2020, when we were deep in lockdown 1, not even my most optimistic hopes could foresee what was to come! Despite furlough, material shortages and social distancing everyone has done so well to service the needs of our ever growing customer base. Launching our ‘Family Card’ last month was a delight as it gives us an opportunity to properly welcome everyone in to the BGC family.”

 

Charles, Robert, Phillippa & Amy Stubbs along with Antony Harker and his family and their extended family of 2,500 colleagues have spent the last year investing time, energy and money in the group’s 58 centres to ensure they’re set to best serve their local communities. Projects have ranged from the creation of new restaurants at the likes of Tarporley, Tring and Shipley Park to the complete remodelling of Burford House and opening of Thatcham. Work is progressing well at the latest acquisition, Harrogate Garden Centre, with it set to open in late April.

 

Final word from Charles turns to his colleagues: “Without the amazing team, which are really all family to me, we couldn’t have got through everything so successfully in the last year. We know that many of them and our customers have had difficult times and our thoughts are with them. Thank you to each and every one of them for facing the challenges in such good spirit.”

 

And his final, final word… “I’ll be forever grateful to our suppliers but it doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on them when it comes to negotiating!”

 
Derek Bunker adds his thanks to suppliers for "their efforts throughout this amazing period in garden centre history"

After reading Charles Stubbs Easter message in GTN Xtra on Easter Monday, Derek Bunker, who is celebrating 50 years of Alton Garden Centre contacted the GTN team to pass on his thanks to all suppliers and staff too...


After reading Charles Stubbs Easter message in GTN Xtra on Easter Monday, Derek Bunker, who is celebrating 50 years of Alton Garden Centre contacted the GTN team to pass on his thanks to all suppliers and staff too:

 

"I would like to join Charles Stubbs in thanking our suppliers for their efforts throughout this amazing period in garden centre history. Nobody has ever seen anything like the demand over the last 12 months, which is still ongoing.

 

"Some suppliers have at last seen the light that if we are working weekends to sell their products during busy times, they should support us by also working weekends.

 

"I think we all accept that, although it has been a terrible time with Covid for those that have lost loved ones, we have been so fortunate to be allowed to open and give the public somewhere to go that is relatively safe.

 

"As a consequence, garden centres have picked up a lot of new customers. They've discovered we are much more than just a plant supplier with a few tools and chemicals.

 

"Without the support of our manufacturers and suppliers, we would have missed a golden opportunity. They, along with our own great staff, have helped to carry us through a very difficult period. And when we come out the other side, we should be better businesses than we were a year ago."

 

If you'd also like to add your thanks and thoughts please use the comments link below or e-mail: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk

 

 

 
East Yorkshire garden centre sells for £1.5m

California Gardens in East Yorkshire has been sold for £1.5m to two local businessmen who plan to invest more than £1m in the garden centre and create 15 new jobs...


California Gardens in East Yorkshire has been sold for £1.5m to two local businessmen who plan to invest more than £1m in the garden centre and create 15 new jobs.

 

Cameron Holroyd and Rob Hardcastle have plans for a new 250-cover restaurant plus other upgrades to the centre at Howden near Goole.

 

Mr Hardcastle owns several East Yorkshire landscaping and horticultural businesses, including Ellerker Lodge Garden Centre near Brough.

 

California Gardens has been owned by the Hall family since 1879 and is one of the UK's oldest garden centres.

 

Rob Hardcastle said: “California Gardens is very well known by everyone in the area and we’re thrilled to have bought an important piece of local history, which has been in the care of successive generations of the Hall family for over 140 years.

 

“Our aim is now to make garden centre even better, with a fantastic range of plants and garden accessories and an extension and upgrade of the café, which we have renamed the Olive Tree.

 

"We’re currently getting ready for the café’s reopening on April 12 and later this year plan to extend the space so that it seats 250 people and becomes a full restaurant, serving great home-cooked meals.”

 
Garden Centres re-open in Scotland... and it snows!

After waiting patiently to be given permission to re-open, garden centres in Scotland have welcomed customers back in store this morning for the first time... and sods law has been invoked with it snowing...

 


After waiting patiently to be given permission to re-open, garden centres in Scotland have welcomed customers back in store this morning for the first time... and sods law has been invoked with it snowing.

 

Sandy at Munro's in Inverness told GTN Xtra: "Unfortunately it’s snowing here but that doesn’t seem to be stopping them... Keen gardeners here!"

 

In the run up to todays re-opening Dobbies Graeme Jenkins said: "We welcome this updated guidance from the Scottish Government, enabling us to reopen our stores. The safety of our team members and customers remains Dobbies’ number one priority.

 

“Spring is the time when people want to get back out into their gardens, and with proven health and wellbeing benefits, reopening in Scotland is a positive development.”

 

And Colin Barrie at Caulders posted this video message for his customers: https://www.facebook.com/caulderskirkintilloch/posts/2905323013060574

 

 
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour

In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.


In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.

 

To add your garden centre Christmas photo tour to GTN Xtra simply get snapping and enter The Greatest Christmas Awards.  See the categories here.  Send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details

 

 
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Sneak preview of Squires Badshot Lea Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Squires Bashot Lea's Christmas Awards entry photo tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of the photo tour submitted by Squires at Badshot Lea as part of their entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 so get snapping and enter your garden centre team today!

 

Full details are here.

 

 
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
Sneak preview of Perrywoods Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Perrywoods Christmas Awards Entry Photo Tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below.  Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today.  Full details can be found here.

 

 
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...


Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

 

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

 

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

 

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

All the latest news from the world of pet products


 
Vital to launch educational Pet Club

Vital Pet Group is launching Vital Pet Club this month. The aim of the club is to become a destination for pet lovers, providing education about care and key brands available in the specialist sector...


 

Vital Pet Group is launching Vital Pet Club this month. The aim of the club is to become a destination for pet lovers, providing education about care and key brands available in the specialist sector.

 

The Club is being managed by vet and pet specialist PR and marketing agency Companion Consultancy, which has recently been appointed as sole marketing agency for all companies within the Vital Pet Group. The Companion Consultancy team of veterinary surgeons are producing expert content specifically for the site. 

 

Vital Pet Club will offer pet owners the chance to sample new and existing brands through competitions and giveaways and help provide feedback on pet product development projects. By raising awareness of the features of key products and showing how they can benefit pet health and wellbeing, the site aims to help drive traffic into specialist on a national and regional level. 

 

Vital Pet Group’s Innovation Consultant, Cath Jesse (above) says, “We want to create awareness of some of the great brands that are available in specialist. Not all brands immediately command the attention they need for retailers to feel confident about stocking.

 

"This initiative will be especially helpful for newly established brands or product lines, best-selling brands from overseas that are launching in the UK for the first time and those from new suppliers, helping to support innovation in the channel. It will also create a destination for pet owners seeking problem solution or answers to their questions, which also creates an opportunity for established brands.”

 

Hetty Mulhall, Account Manager at Companion Consultancy, is the site editor and notes that the project supports the whole trade.

 

“We’re looking to support both retailers and suppliers with this initiative," said Hetty. "Vital’s approach is very much about creating positive partnerships with customers and brands to improve their business and this is just one of the ways they are building strength through the supply chain.

 

"Our job is to provide credible, high quality information that pet owners can trust and we’re excited to see the community grow in the coming months.”

 

Visit Vital Pet Club at www.vitalpetclub.co.uk

Dog theft increases by 19% during lockdown

New research from Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that reports of dog theft increased by a fifth in 2020. Last year, an estimated 2,438 dogs were reported as stolen to police forces in the UK, a 19% rise on 2019 numbers (2,026)


New research from Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that reports of dog theft increased by a fifth in 2020.

 

Last year, an estimated 2,438 dogs were reported as stolen to police forces in the UK, a 19% rise on 2019 numbers (2,026). This is the equivalent of seven dogs being reported stolen every day. Dog theft incidents have risen by 31 per cent in five years, from 1,774 in 2016.

 

Staffordshire Bull Terriers continue to be the most popular breed of dog targeted by thieves, with 97 dogs stolen in 2020. This breed accounted for 21% of all named stolen dogs in 2020 and the number stolen increased by 9% on 2019. Crossbreeds remain the second most targeted, with 52 dogs stolen last year, although this was a fall of nearly a third (31%) compared to 2019.

 

Labradors did not make it into the top 10 in 2019 but were fifth in 2020, which may be partly due to their popularity among celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Camilla Cabello and Ant McPartlin sharing images on social media. Cocker Spaniels became the third most commonly stolen in 2020 with 34 dogs and moving up from fourth place in 2019.The same trend is true for Springer Spaniels, which were outside of the top 10 in 2019 but are now among the most popular targets for thieves.

 

Top 10 most commonly stolen dog breeds in 2020

Breeds that have fallen in popularity for thieves include Chihuahuas, which saw a 76% reduction in the number stolen in 2020 and moved from third place in 2019 to 9th place, and French Bulldogs, which moved from 7th to 10th. French Bulldogs peaked at 3rd place in 2018 and have been falling in popularity as a target since then, perhaps indicating that owners have become extra vigilant. The recent high-profile case of Lady Gaga’s stolen French Bulldogs is a stark reminder how valuable and easily identifiable these dogs are.

 

The pandemic is likely to have had an impact on cases of dog theft, as ownership has soared since lockdown began in March 2020. Additional research found 2.2 million people took ownership of a dog in the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic. The average amount spent on a dog was just over £800, although one in nine (11%) people spent over £1,500. As lockdown restrictions ease and people return to offices, Direct Line is urging owners, especially those who haven’t had to leave their dogs before, to be extra vigilant.

 

Madeline Pike, Veterinary Nurse for Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: “It’s incredibly sad to see the number of dog thefts rising by such a large proportion in 2020. Unfortunately, it seems the increase in dog ownership over lockdowns has also translated to a rise in dog thefts, as thieves know how valuable some of these breeds can be and see them as a commodity rather than a beloved member of the family.

 

“The worry is these numbers will increase even further this year once dogs are left alone more as restrictions ease and we return to a new ‘normal’. Taking simple precautions like not leaving your dog tied up outside a shop or keeping it on the lead when in busy areas, will help reduce the likelihood of being targeted, while making sure microchipping contact details are up to date can help identify a dog if it is stolen and handed in.”

 

Regional police force data

Last year saw a sharp rise in dog thefts in the North West, a 68% increase, and North East (54%). The North West is now the dog theft hotspot, accounting for 15% of all reported thefts in 2020. London was second, accounting for 13%of all thefts, followed by the South East (12%) and Yorkshire (11%). These four regions combined accounted for over half (52%) of all reported thefts in 2020.

 

The Metropolitan Police Service retains its place as the force with the single greatest number of reported dog thefts, having received 318 reports last year. West Yorkshire Police came in second, with 125 reports, and Kent Police (118) came in third. All three of these forces, however, saw a reduction in the number of dogs reported stolen in 2020 compared to 2019.

 

Lancashire Constabulary came in fourth with 111 dogs reported stolen, a 25% increase on the number reported in 2019 (89). Northumbria Police completes the top five (92) and also saw a significant uplift in dogs stolen compared to 2019 (up 88%). The top five forces alone account for almost a third (32%) of all dogs reported stolen in 2020.

 

Top 10 police forces by number of dogs stolen in 2020