In This Issue
Blue Diamond now 3rd largest Garden Centre Group in the UK
Lancs grower is latest victim or rural crime
42 more Homebase closures named as former owners lick their wounds
43% of gardeners use weedkillers, survey suggests
Beardshaw lends weight to bee and wasp sting awareness campaign
Hilliers set out to make a family's dream come true
Multiple triumphs for Haskins in GCA regional awards
Thinner cut turf makes for healthier lawns says STRI research
Sorry it's late
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Focus on garden centres drives 45% growth for Peckish
Walk into a 'green oasis' at Plantarium
Develop your marketing strategies with the HTA Marketing Forum
Analyst plays down risk of glyphosate ban following $289m award to cancer victim
The best of last week's
Who will take up the gardening sales gap as at least 60 Homebase stores close?
Gardman stock rebuild delayed by production constraints
Monsanto ordered to pay $289m damages in Roundup cancer trial
August lows at heat takes its toll
GCA announces Ruxley Rose finalists
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
Get your Glee Daily News here
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news. 

Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700






Lancs grower is latest victim or rural crime

With rural security a hot topic in the nursery trade of late, Flornaplants in West Lancashire is the latest victim of plant thieves.

 

Last Thursday night, raiders broke into Florna Plants, a wholesale nursery based between Preston and Southport that has Homebase as one of its customers, and stole a crop of six-pack primroses. The 3.5acre Keder double skinned multispan polytunnel was cut open to gain access. In a separate block, glass was smashed to gain entry and a crop of 10.5cm mini cyclamen was trampled across, creating significant damage before more plants were stolen.

 

Proprietor Ian Howard told GTN Xtra the raiders probably used a vehicle to make off with the plants via a farm track running alongside the blocks.

 

“Neither products are ready for sale yet so I’m wondering if the thieves have facilities to grow them on,” said Ian. “We can't get our heads around the theft of product that has just been transplanted!”

 

With limited police resources in the countryside, how can rural nurseries protect themselves? In their 2018 Rural Crime Report, countryside insurers NFU Mutal say rural crime cost the UK £44.5m in 2017, the worst year since 2013, with rural Wales among the hardest-hit areas.

 

They say farmers and growers are resorting to medieval-style security measures like earth banks and fences in an effort to keep intruders out. Volmary at Wisbech St Mary in Lincolnshire constructed 12-14ft deep moats around their site. Others rely on the tried-and-tested use of geese and dogs to raise the alarm. More and more are using reinforced gates, high yard fences and single entry points.

 

Has your businesses been targeted by thieves? Let us know…and tell us how you are dealing with it.

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

Email Address:*

Comment:*