In This Issue
Government publishes plan to ban peat sales by 2024
Industry prepares for a peat-less future
Lull in sales before mid-Summer
Clear ‘N’ Collect is a great British success story
Traeger continues to revolutionise the BBQ industry
Blue Diamond top £200m turnover and commit to Chelsea garden
Two London locations announced for little dobbies
Logwood Mill becomes fourth centre for Creative Gardens
Glee organisers promote Safe & Secure standards in two new videos
Greenfingers Charity unveils new garden design by RHS Chelsea Gold Medal Winner, Ann-Marie Powell
Cool summer plant sales
Hillier unveils designs for Gardeners’ World Spring Fair
Fargro Ltd set to bloom in 2021 under new management
Defra-funded Plant Passport e-learning launches
The ultimate recycling - Squire’s turn plastic bags into cash
Evergreen Garden Care launches mental health awareness initiatives across all channels
Haskins Roundstone wins Garden Centre of the Year award
St Peters creates ‘an adventure into nature and wildlife’
How Primeur’s Tierra Verde planters are driving profitability
Southern Trident announces charity partnership with Child Rights and You (CRY UK)
Namgrass reveals eco-friendly artificial grass
DJ Turfcare confirmed for Glee 2021
Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages - Read GTN's April issue on-line now
Dobbies hosts bee-rilliant virtual event with Neal’s Yard Remedies to celebrate World Bee Day
National Children’s Gardening Week partners with Peppa Pig & Regatta Great Outdoors for Save the Children
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Pots of Sustainability in RHS Chelsea Sustainable Gardening Product of the Year
Double the fun at Grimsby Garden Centre
Solar lights up sales
Johnsons adds to seed range for the 2022 season
How to reduce plastic waste in the garden
Another amazing growing media performance
Sanctuaries Garden, Terrace & Balcony. Trends and new products for the outdoor season from spoga + gafa
The AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards 2022 opens for entries
Prompt needed to push Wild Bird Care sales
BHETA to hold second Q&A on international freight
RECOUP launch new hybrid conference for 2021
HTA responds to the Queen's speech
The best of last week's
25% more gardening sets new April record
Monkton Elm Pet Centre stops the sale of rabbits
Phenomenal year of sales for Natural Grower
Ergrownomics - The future of raised planters and beds
Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021 raises over £75,000
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
Supreme Petfoods provides 30 hours of free CPD, now accredited by SQP regulator Vetpol
UK to lead way on animal welfare with new Action Plan
Brambles appoints new Digital Marketing Manager
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St Peters creates ‘an adventure into nature and wildlife’

Tony Blake, founder of St Peters Garden Centre in Norton, Worcester, first dreamt about creating a wildlife area on the site back in 2012 when housing developments were quickly spreading in the local area. Last year, his son Will, now the Managing Director, began to make this a reality, and in May 2021, Poppy’s Farm will open for visitors.

 

Helped by Geoff Smith, who worked with Tony at St Peters back in the early 1990’s, Poppy’s Farm aims to provide local families with an adventure into nature and wildlife. Geoff has a wealth of knowledge and is passionate about planting species native to Britain. He has worked hard to create a diverse habitat hoping to attract a wide range of wildlife to the site.

 

Will with Poppy and Olie at Poppy’s Farm

 

The garden centre has had resident pygmy goats, Eric and Ernie, on-site for a couple of years and these have always provided a welcome attraction for visitors. In the next few weeks, they will be joined by rare-breed hens and miniature pigs.

 

Alongside the nature trail and animals, Tony and Geoff have planned and planted Oliver’s allotment where they are growing crops that will thrive throughout the year. They are also carrying out experiments to test the effectiveness of peat-free growing. Tony says: "It’s fantastic to see my dreams come to life and I have loved getting involved with the allotment, there is nothing quite as satisfying as growing your own."

 

Geoff watering 

 

Also onsite is Poppy’s Café serving a range of homemade cakes and barista coffee along with with ‘grab and go’ style picnic lunches which can be enjoyed in the new Lakeside Hide, or around the lake. Keeping it in the family, St Peters use Yallah Coffee - a roastery owned by Will’s brother whose ethical coffee is already popular with customers in St Peters main restaurant, The Potting Shed.

 

Finally, there is a beautiful hand-crafted yurt that will provide a fantastic event space for classes and clubs, as well providing a wonderful setting in which to enjoy a vintage afternoon tea.

 

St Peters goats, Eric and Ernie

 

Will’s two passions are the environment and his family - hence the names Poppy’s Farm, named after his daughter, and Oliver’s allotment, named after his son.

 

Will says: "It’s frightening how our native species are finding it harder and harder to find natural habitats so anything we can do to help them is worth it. I have loved working with Geoff and learning about the small steps we can all take to do our bit for our precious environment. We’ve got a long way to go in undoing the damage we have done to the planet and we can’t all be perfect but there are little things we can all do to help make a positive difference."

 

Poppy’s Café across the lake

 

Poppy’s Farm opened on Friday (May 14) and is free to visit. 

 

Details of Poppy’s Farm can be found here https://www.stpetersgardencentre.co.uk/poppysfarm.

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