GTN Xtra - GTN Xtra – Issue 16 2026

In This Issue

Blue Diamond Garden Centres acquires Holt Garden Centre in Norfolk

Altico solve increased haulage costs by refining delivery profiles

Join the GTN team at the Glee Roadshow on 30th April at Gates, Oakham

SOLEX World Cup Awards Night 2026 set to kick off in championship style

FELCO 2e: The Electric Evolution of the Swiss Pruning Shear

#AJoyfulRebellion ignites on social media

GCA BoT for March shows ‘robust sales’

Old Railway Line donates plants to local primary schools

Hornby George PR strengthens horticultural expertise

Essex gardeners reveal outdoors is biggest stress-buster

GIMA Awards 2026 open for entries as industry gears up for biggest night of the year

Peat-free push gets tech boost with new sensor trial

Webinar to discuss business rates & lobbying government

OGL Software and Bransford Webbs partnership drives new ERP advancements for horticultural sector

Sales slow as trading returns to seasonal norms

GARDENA returns as sponsor of Alan Titchmarsh's series

Get your copy of GTN Xtra

Wild bird manufacturer earns high rating for food safety

HTA comments on Government response to EFRA report on UK-EU SPS agreement

The End of the 'trendy garden'?

Royal Garden unveils new digital platform ahead of UK showroom opening

EGO expands cordless cleaning range

RHS Badminton Flower Show celebrates restorative gardens for people and planet

Evergreen joins BHETA

World’s oldest topiary garden searches for its 12th custodian

British Flowers Week returns 15-21 June 2026

spoga+gafa 2026: High demand in the Outdoor Decoration and Furniture section

‘We Love Conifers’ brings holiday vibes to consumers

Finalists announced for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026

RECOUP announces The RECOUP Plastics Assembly

The best of last week's

Alan Roper's AI generated movie: Blue Diamond - Growing into the Future. Watch it here

Positive trading and expansion deliver strong financial performance for Squire's

Three generations come together as Bents plans its next chapter

Moorland nurseries & garden centre in North Yorkshire sold to British Garden Centres

Inside the agenda for Glee’s East of England Roadshow

GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest (Spring 2026)

GTN March 2026 issue, read on-line

Send us your news and great ideas

Blue Diamond Garden Centres acquires Holt Garden Centre in Norfolk

Blue Diamond has announced the acquisition of Holt Garden Centre, located on the Kelling Estate in North Norfolk. This acquisition marks Blue Diamond’s 54th garden centre and further reinforces the Group’s position at the forefront of the industry, with an annual turnover of £400+ million...

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Altico solve increased haulage costs by refining delivery profiles

Landscaping supplies company Altico have made the decision not to pass on any increased haulage costs that have arisen due to the Gulf conflict...

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Join the GTN team at the Glee Roadshow on 30th April at Gates, Oakham

The GTN Team will be at the Glee Roadshow on April 30th at Gates Oakham, where editor Trevor Pfeiffer will be hosting two of the sessions, with Nigel Gates and later with Martin and Jenny Turner from Fakenham Garden Centre...

Register here to attend and join in the discussions about what's really shaping garden retail right now, regionally and nationally

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SOLEX World Cup Awards Night 2026 set to kick off in championship style

Summer starts here – and SOLEX is kicking things off in feel-good style as the SOLEX Awards & Afterparty returns for its third year on Tuesday 7th July 2026, bringing the celebrations to the Concourse Suite at the NEC, Birmingham – this time under the banner of the SOLEX World Cup Awards Night...

The SOLEX Awards Ceremony will be hosted by comedian and broadcaster Paul Sinha.

Read more and book your places here

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FELCO 2e: The Electric Evolution of the Swiss Pruning Shear
GTN Xtra Promotion

FELCO, the world’s leading manufacturer of professional cutting tools and a symbol of Swiss quality since 1945, is proud to unveil the new FELCO 2e electronic pruning shear...

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#AJoyfulRebellion ignites on social media
GTN Xtra Promotion

Sipcam Home & Garden is celebrating the powerful momentum of #AJoyfulRebellion, the bold new ecofective® campaign that has exploded across social media following its successful debut at the Garden Press Event...

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GCA BoT for March shows ‘robust sales’

The Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade for March shows members recorded ‘robust sales’ and a positive year‑to‑date performance. Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: "Our non-gardening categories were all positive..."

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Old Railway Line donates plants to local primary schools

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre has donated a range of summer flowing plants, veg plants, herbs, wildflower seeds, and peat-free compost to the five local cluster primary schools...

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Hornby George PR strengthens horticultural expertise

Hornby George PR has appointed leading horticultural voice Ross Dyke as its new in-house horticultural expert, a strategic move that significantly strengthens the agency’s specialist offer to clients across the garden and horticulture sectors.

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Essex gardeners reveal outdoors is biggest stress-buster

More than 4,500 customers across East Anglia have told Perrywood Garden Centres that their garden is their number one happy place – and the results have shaped everything the family-run business is doing in 2026...

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GIMA Awards 2026 open for entries as industry gears up for biggest night of the year

The countdown is officially on. The GIMA Awards are returning on Thursday 12th November, bringing the garden retail industry together once again to recognise the ideas, innovation and people shaping the sector right now...

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Peat-free push gets tech boost with new sensor trial

A new ADOPT-funded project has begun to demonstrate the use of wireless sensor technology for precision irrigation and nutrient management in peat-free ornamental crop production, as the Horticultural Trades Association steps up its work to drive research and development and unlock funding for the industry's benefit...

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Webinar to discuss business rates & lobbying government

The Garden Centre Association is hosting a free members’ webinar next week (April 24) examining the latest changes to business rates and the industry’s ongoing engagement with the Government...

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OGL Software and Bransford Webbs partnership drives new ERP advancements for horticultural sector

OGL Software is proud to share some of the Profit4 software advancements following its partnership with Bransford Webbs, a collaboration designed to deliver major benefits for businesses across the horticultural sector...

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Sales slow as trading returns to seasonal norms

The Horticultural Trades Association monthly Market Update report shows that garden centre sales in March 2026 fell by -4% compared to March 2025, but remained +18% ahead of March 2024...

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GARDENA returns as sponsor of Alan Titchmarsh's series

GARDENA is continuing its partnership with Alan Titchmarsh, returning as a sponsor of his gardening series...

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GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest (Spring 2026)

New Products for the UK Garden Trade for 2026 from GIMA Members: Altico, Auto Pot Global, Avocet Hardware – Greenman Tools, Bees Seeds, Big Cheese (STV), Charles Bentley, Durstons, Eastern Connections, Easy Cleaning Solutions (Jeyes), elho, Evergreen Garden Care, Fiskars, Floramedia, Gardena, Greenkey, Glee, Handy, Hex Living, Hortiwool, Johnsons Lawn Seeds, Lava-Lite, Lodi UK, The MAD Company, Meadow View Stone, Melcourt, Mercia Garden Products, Monty Miracle, Museums & Galleries, Outtrade BV, Pelsis Doff, Phoenox Textiles, PlantWorks, Super Ninja, Treadstone, Treasure Gardening, Vitavia, Woodmansterne, Zest Outdoor Living and the GIMA Member Directory.

Read the issue on-line here

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GTN March 2026 issue, read on-line

New gift packaging and greeting cards from Woodmansterne
Exclusive GTN interview with Derek Bunker as he takes retirement
Houseplants benefit from the Durston’s difference
Hunter Stoves enter the outdoor leisure market with Pollen
More than just cards – the story behind Museums & Galleries
Round up from this year’s Garden Press Event
Investments underline the future for Evergreen Garden Care
BGC’s family values - GTN meets with Charles and Amy Stubbs
Inspiration from winning teams in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards
Review from Spring Fair and Glee at Spring Fair
Invasive Plant Advice – GTN Planteria
AI, your partner in business - Adapt or Die
Plus Pleydell Smithyman Viewpoint; LOFA Viewpoint; HTA Viewpoint; GIMA Viewpoint

Read the issue on-line here

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with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox...

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Wild bird manufacturer earns high rating for food safety

Lincolnshire-based wild bird manufacturer Harvest Wildlife Products earns highest possible rating for global food safety standards in rigorous unannounced audit.

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HTA comments on Government response to EFRA report on UK-EU SPS agreement

The Horticultural Trades Association has commented on the Government’s response to the EFRA Committee report on negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU...

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The End of the 'trendy garden'?

As fast-changing outdoor design falls out of favour, homeowners turn to enduring craftsmanship with Haddonstone’s Home & Garden range...

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Royal Garden unveils new digital platform ahead of UK showroom opening

As momentum builds towards the official opening of its UK showroom this May, Royal Garden has taken a significant next step in its relaunch with the launch of its new global website – www.royal-garden.com.

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EGO expands cordless cleaning range

EGO has expanded its cleaning range withthe HPW1800E compact pressure washer and WDV0300E wet/dry vacuum...

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GTN March 2026

GTN February 2026 Christmas Awards Winners Issue

GIMA Buyers Guide & New Product Digest Spring 2026

Garden Trade News

Get your copy of GTN Xtra

with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox...

RHS Badminton Flower Show celebrates restorative gardens for people and planet

RHS Badminton Flower Show, set to debut at Badminton estate in July, has unveiled its garden line-up which celebrates the restorative impact gardening has on both people and the planet...

Evergreen joins BHETA

Evergreen Garden Care, supplier of trusted consumer brands like Miracle-Gro, Levington, Roundup, Weedol and Clear, has joined BHETA...

World’s oldest topiary garden searches for its 12th custodian

The boots of only the 11th head gardener to have tended and curated a topiary garden that is now 332 years old, need to be filled this year, as the current incumbent hangs up his clippers and topiary shears after 40 years in the job...

British Flowers Week returns 15-21 June 2026

British Flowers Week is back (Monday 15th - Sunday 21st June 2026) when it will be championing the UK’s cut flower industry and celebrating the growers, wholesalers, and florists who work with British-grown flowers...

spoga+gafa 2026: High demand in the Outdoor Decoration and Furniture section

spoga+gafa, the leading global trade fair for garden lifestyle and BBQs, is taking place in Cologne from 22 to 24 June 2026. With very strong bookings for the theme world "Living", it is sending a strong signal for the upcoming event...

‘We Love Conifers’ brings holiday vibes to consumers

Following the successful launch of the collective ‘We Love Conifers’ at IPM Essen, the platform is now taking the next step. In two weeks, the first consumer campaign themed ‘Tuscany’ will kick off...

Finalists announced for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026

Twenty-one inspiring city greening initiatives have been selected as Finalists for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026...

RECOUP announces The RECOUP Plastics Assembly

RECOUP will hold The RECOUP Plastics Assembly in Peterborough on 1 October 2026...

The best of last week's

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

Alan Roper's AI generated movie: Blue Diamond - Growing into the Future. Watch it here

A highlight of the recent Blue Diamond Awards night in Bournemouth last month was an internally produced video Alan Roper created to explain the past year in a fun way...

Watch the movie here

Positive trading and expansion deliver strong financial performance for Squire's

Squire’s Garden Centres has recently filed its account for financial year ending 31 July 2025. The year was one of significant activity and exciting progress for the business. After a challenging first half of the year, the company benefited from excellent spring weather and achieved strong sales growth in its core garden centre operations...

Three generations come together as Bents plans its next chapter

As it approaches its 90th anniversary next year, Bents Garden & Home is placing a strong focus on its long-term future and is actively progressing plans for how the family owned and run business will continue to operate as it moves into its fourth generation...

Moorland nurseries & garden centre in North Yorkshire sold to British Garden Centres

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has confirmed the sale of Moorland Nurseries & Garden Centre, a long‑established retail horticultural business located between Harrogate and Knaresborough in North Yorkshire.

Inside the agenda for Glee’s East of England Roadshow

With just weeks to go until the Glee Roadshow arrives in the East, the team behind the event has revealed further details about what attendees can expect from the day’s carefully curated agenda...