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A fantastic day of fundraising and walking across the fens and through the iconic city of Cambridge saw 105 walkers and runners, some in fancy dress, raise a record breaking £22.5k on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017. Sponsored by Scotsdales, staff at their Horningsea garden centre worked hard to ensure the event started with a hoot and a cheer creating specially designed banners and balloon displays all of which added to a great atmosphere. Cutting the ribbon to start the walk, Garden Re-Leaf Day founder and Greenfingers Trustee Boyd Douglas Davies, along with Glee's Matthew Mein who masterminded the first Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk in 2015, then headed off to complete the 20 mile route. With support along the route from vehicles sponsored by Cadix Ltd, Quinton Edwards and Town & Country's Mark Butler and welcome refreshment points sponsored by SBM Life Science, the walkers were kept motivated as they faced bracing wind and chilly conditions.  
Cherry tomato runner Heidi Towse was the first 10 mile runner to complete the route in under 1 hour 45mins before going on to row 13 miles to make up an impressive duathlon. Alongside Heidi, the Scotsdales team at Great Shelford clocked up the miles on a static bike as they collected money for Greenfingers Charity.
Despite taking a wrong turning, Team Elho was the first 20 mile runners in, closely followed by Matthew Mein and Briers Matt Jackson. Lead 20 mile walkers, Simon Quinton Smith and Great British Cards Chris Houfe set a blistering pace, collecting their medals looking fresh and confident, closely followed by Gardenstores Paul Williams.
Completing the walk, Boyd Douglas Davies said: "What a great day, and what an Incredible turnout - the industry, Scotsdales and the Greenfingers team did us proud! Matt Mein, I take my hat off to, brilliant idea and incredible that he ran it! Chris Houfe and Simon Quinton Smith - who'd have thought it! Little did I know when I set off with them that they were both speed walkers. What an incredible Pace, blistering is the only word! I'm chuffed to bits with the event, the spirit, the amount raised and my own result...8th, just 5 minutes behind the lead walkers...and I ache like mad"
Goody bags sponsored by Hozelock and Briers and SBM Life Science, who also sponsored the medals along with a welcome barbecue sponsored by LOFA and Outback.greeted the walkers at the finish point. Other event sponsors included GIMA and Kelkay.
See the gallery of photos frome the event below and watch out for a special Garden Re-Leaf Day issue later this week - please send us pictures from you own events.
Eds footnote: Sorry the pictures are not in order and that this report is late being published. The walk was a truly blistering experience for me and I've discovered they don't make blister plasters big enough if you carry on walking for 12 miles after the blisters start. That and our systems being down yesterday are my hopeless excuses, but what a privilege to be a part of a really great event and to do my part to raise funds for Greenfingers. Bring on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018!! By the way our Labradoodles were only just getting started by the time we'd done 20 miles, they just got quite bored as I was walking sooo slow for the last 3 miles...
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Mr Fothergill's go green for Garden Re-Leaf Day
With a team of seven walkers on the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Walk, staff back in the Mr Fothergill’s offices and seed rooms didn’t want to be outdone and came to work wearing some kind of green to support the charity day...
With a team of seven walkers on the Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Walk, staff back in the Mr Fothergill’s offices and seed rooms didn’t want to be outdone and came to work wearing some kind of green to support the charity day.
Contributions to the cause were made by those who wore green and by those who chose not to! An array of cakes were also made and purchased for Greenfingers.
By the end of the day the figure raised by Mr Fothergill’s was over £3,300 and still rising.
Mr Fothergill’s joint MD, David Carey, commented: “It’s great that the whole Mr Fothergill’s team wanted to get involved supporting Greenfingers. It’s such a magnificent cause and we’re pleased to do our bit. On a personal level my legs wish I had dressed up in the office rather than do the walk!”
David continued: “It doesn’t end on Garden Re-Leaf Day as sales of the company’s Greenfingers sweet pea contribute 25p to the charity for every packet sold throughout the year."
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How was Garden Re-Leaf Day for you?
Send us your images and FUNdraising stories from Garden Re-Leaf Day 2017, just as the Mad Hatters at Aylett Nurseries have, and we'll include them in a special issue later this week.
Send them to trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk and linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk
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Woodstock Chimes offer quality and great value
GTN Xtra Promotion
Created by GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Garry Kvistad, Woodstock Chimes have been the choice of discerning UK customers for over 30 years. The authentic windchimes offer premier quality and great value...
Woodstock Chimes UK’s best-selling Chimes of Pluto – Bronze is tuned to a lovely pentatonic scale and acts in concert with the wind to create random patterns of wonderful music. 
- Authentic and original musically tuned windchime
- Premier quality, affordable & value priced
- Created by GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Garry Kvistad
- The choice of discerning UK customers for over 30 years
- Shipping within 48 hours from our UK warehouse
 As a music student in the 1970s, Garry’s curiosity about ancient worlds led him to learn about ancient music and musicians.
The musical scales he was studying could not be played on modern instruments, so he decided to build a metallophone (a xylophone-like instrument with metal bars) that could play the ancient scale of Olympos, a Greek flute player from the 7th century B.C.
Being an ecologically minded recent college graduate on a tight budget, Garry found the materials for his metallophone at a landfill—it was made from the aluminium tubes of a discarded lawn chair.
Garry’s metallophone experiment was so successful, he had the idea to cut and tune aluminium tubes to create windchimes, and Woodstock Chimes was born!
In addition to his work at Woodstock Chimes, Garry is a professional musician. Pictured right: Garry with his adapted lawn chair.
He has been performing and recording with the ensemble Steve Reich and Musicians since 1980 and is one of the 18 musicians to win a GRAMMY® Award for the 1998 recording of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians.
In 2002 Garry joined NEXUS, the internationally renowned chamber music ensemble based in Canada. Called “the high priests of the percussion world” by the New York Times, NEXUS is considered to be one of the premier percussion ensembles in the world today.
Garry (far right), performing with NEXUS. See all the Woodstock Chimes UK products here 
New for 2017! The popular Chimes of Pluto in a new Evergreen finish!
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Evergreen Enterprises comes to the UK!
GTN Xtra Promotion
With their participation in the recent Spring Fair, Evergreen Enterprises, a world leader in Gift and Garden Décor, launched their entry into the UK marketplace...
With their participation in the recent Spring Fair, Evergreen Enterprises, a world leader in Gift and Garden Décor, launched their entry into the UK marketplace.
With products known for their quality, beauty, and functionality, their initial range includes a selection of items from their best-selling Garden Décor categories…… Mini Garden sets, Fairy Figurines and Houses, whimsical Gnomes, top quality Kinetic Spinners, and wide variety of Solar Lighted products. Since its founding in 1993, in Richmond, VA, Evergreen has designed, manufactured, and distributed a wide variety of quality, innovative products including outdoor garden accents, fashionable gifts, and home décor.
  Through those years, they have demonstrated a strong commitment to support and serve countless independent local retailers, by providing a great balance of classic items that continue to impress and items that are right on trend and relevant for today. Through their partnership with White Pebble International of Chichester, Evergreen has established the capability to provide prompt efficient service to its customers, throughout the UK, with a local feel.
  Find out more by visiting http://evergreenhome.co.uk or contacting: White Pebble International
Unit 2, Plot 11, Terminus Road
Chichester PO198 TX UK
Tel +44(0)1243 780501
Fax +44(0)1243 839332
info@whitepebbleint.com
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Daffodils are in bloom and grass is being cut – no wonder sales in garden centres took a big jump last week.
With Garden Re-Leaf Day this weekend and Mother’s Day next, the timing of daffs flowering and first cuts of grass is just about perfect to add that extra push to garden centre footfall.
While plants and general gardening products are selling well (week 10 was a record for growing media sales volumes) the mix of daffs in flower and charity donations is resulting in record sales for the Gardman Daffodil Bird Feeder which aims to raise £200k for Marie Curie.
Your GTN Bestsellers analyst is now off to take part in The Great Garden Re-Leaf Day 20 mile walk… Bestsellers may be late next week as a result but at least we will have helped Greenfingers towards their own £200k target for Children’s Hospice gardens. Thank you for your support. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/OllyandFloyd
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - up 13%
- Veg-2-Gro - up 12%
- Growing Media - up 35%
- All Items Index - down 7%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Carol Paris is leaving the HTA
The Horticultural Trades Association has announced that Carol Paris, CEO, will be leaving the organisation at the end of April...
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced that CEO, Carol Paris, will be leaving the organisation at the end of April. Carol has served the HTA for seven years in total, as Vice President, President and CEO. During her tenure as CEO the HTA has restructured to improve member services, acquired and moved to a new Headquarters and restructured the investment portfolio to reduce the risk and volatility of exposure to the stock market. The HTA has collaborated with many other organisations and was a founding partner of the government Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable, raising the profile of ornamental horticulture in the political sphere. Carol comments, “I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve the HTA. I am confident that as there is now an established senior team in place and a new HQ, it is time for me to move on to new challenges.” HTA President, Adam Wigglesworth, commented, “My thanks go to Carol for her many years of enthusiasm and commitment to the HTA. We wish her much success in the future. The strong team Carol leaves at the HTA are ready and determined to continue driving membership satisfaction, benefits and promoting the garden industry.”
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Pet companies get excited about PATS Sandown
PATS Sandown is gearing up for another memorable exhibition as more than 140 exhibitors get set to showcase a record number of new products at the event on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 21-22.
PATS Sandown is gearing up for another memorable exhibition as more than 140 exhibitors get set to showcase a record number of new products at the event on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 21-22.
The two-day show is creating a buzz of excitement in the pet industry with companies eager to unveil their latest launches for the new season.
The Surrey and Esher Halls at Sandown Park will be packed with stands showcasing innovative new products, and visitors to the show will be greeted by a host of new faces as well as PATS regulars.
The positive mood amongst exhibitors was summed up by Pet One, a new exhibitor at PATS Sandown.
Managing Director Mark Winter said: “We are very excited to be presenting our Pet One and Avi One brands to retailers in the South for the very first time. PATS is the ideal platform for us to do this in an effective manner. Pet and Avi One have long been successful brands in other countries but have never been rolled out by the group in the UK.”
Beaphar is celebrating its 75th anniversary at PATS Sandown this year, and Marketing Communications Executive Vicky Le Fanu commented: “It’s an exciting time for the company as we continue to strengthen relationships with new and existing customers. Our stand will be buzzing with activity, new products, exclusive show deals, prize draws and much more.”
Beco Pets is gearing up for its biggest PATS show ever following the recent successful launch of Beco Food for Dogs. Toby Massey, Beco Pets' co-Founder, said: “The widespread international interest in our new range is very exciting. It's great to see so many people joining what we call 'The Meat-Meal-Free Revolution’.”
SnuggleSafe exhibited their pet accessories at PATS Telford and were so impressed the company are showcasing their products at Sandown for the first time. Director Chris Kavallares said: “SnuggleSafe see PATS as a great platform to showcase our fresh new product innovations, especially as Spring is around the corner."
Armitage Pet Care have lined up an impressive list of ‘show-only’ deals for their retail customers, and the company’s Tina Cockayne added: “We’re really looking forward to PATS Sandown, where we will be showcasing lots of fantastic new products for 2017 and our amazing new look Christmas range.”
Marriages like to theme their stand, having taken on characters from Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean at past shows, and this year will be no exception. Lisa Osborne, of Marriages, said: “We are all really looking forward to another PATS show and yes we have once again themed our stand. To give you a clue we’ll be delivering a Royally good performance.”
Hertford Shelving have exhibited at every PATS Sandown show and MD Steve Lodge said: “It’s a great place for meeting new customers as well as catching up with my existing customers. I have high expectations of it being a great show this year.”
Pettex are another regular exhibitor as Steve Bolton explained: “We always look forward to PATS as it’s a great place to meet new and existing customers in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s our window of opportunity to showcase our products to the UK and overseas pet trade under one roof.”
One of PATS Sandown’s most popular features is the New Product Showcase, which continues to grow in size. Because of its importance it will have a new and larger home in the Surrey Hall’s Brasserie Bar in 2017.
The record number of more than 200 entries will be judged by a panel of retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show, and the results will be announced and promoted throughout the halls for the rest of the exhibition.
PATS Sandown will see the return of the Grooming Workshops by popular demand after a two-year absence at the Surrey venue, and there will also be a full programme of free seminars during both days of the show.
To help make the visitor experience even more enjoyable and rewarding, both the Surrey and Esher Halls have their own entrances and registration points, with visitors benefitting from free show entry, free parking, a free catalogue and many special offers.
There will also be a wide range of food available from all the various outlets and all visitors will receive a free cup of tea or coffee voucher, which will be redeemable all day. Those arriving before 10.30am will also get a free breakfast voucher.
To register for free entry to the show and to view the full list of exhibitors visit www.patshow.co.uk
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Koi carp worth £7,725 stolen from Squire's
Ten extra large Koi Carp and one Sturgeon were stolen from the display pond at Squire’s Garden Centre in Badshot Lea, near Farnham on Friday, March 10. Intruders broke in late on Friday evening, and took the fish worth a total of £7,725...
Ten extra large Koi Carp and one Sturgeon were stolen from the display pond at Squire’s Garden Centre in Badshot Lea, near Farnham on Friday, March 10. Intruders broke in late on Friday evening, and took the fish worth a total of £7,725.The Koi Carp are between 22”-26” in length (which is over half a metre). They were selected in Israel for their quality by Squire’s Pets & Aquatics Manager, and then carefully imported from Israel to Squire’s in Badshot Lea. Deputy Chairman Sarah Squire commented: “We are all absolutely devastated that this theft has happened, and are very concerned about the welfare of the fish, as they require a large pond or facility with well-filtered oxygenated water.
"Pet welfare is at the top of our agenda at Squire’s. We urge people to come forward if they have any information.” If you know anything about this theft then get in touch with Surrey Police by calling 101 or email waverley@surrey.pnn.police.uk.
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RHS Director General, Sue Biggs, who was appointed a CBE in the New Year Honours, has received her award at Buckingham Palace.
Sue was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours, in recognition for services to the environment and horticulture.
On Thursday 16 March, she was presented with her award at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, performed by HRH The Prince of Wales.
Sue has been Director General of the RHS since 2010, having previously worked in the travel industry - heading up Kuoni for 25 years.
Since her appointment seven years ago, she has transformed the 213-year-old gardening charity: increasing the reach of its community gardening campaigns to enrich lives and make the UK more beautiful, growing its membership to 475,000, restructuring its management and embarking on a £160 million investment programme into the future of horticulture. The investment will help to create a more sustainable and better society now and for generations to come: a major new garden, RHS Garden Bridgewater, will be created in Salford, gardening science will better equip us to deal with pests and diseases, and the RHS will support community and urban gardening in an even more direct and meaningful way.
Sue says: "I feel very fortunate to work in an organisation with such remarkable people promoting something I feel so passionate about, and this award belongs as much to them as me. "I’m extremely proud to receive a CBE and see this also as recognition of the impact gardening and horticulture can have to make the UK a happier, healthier and better place to live"
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Graduate Management Trainee Programme relaunched
Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford has this month announced that it will be re-opening its Management Trainee Programme. The two year, in-house programme covers all areas of the business and the company is calling for graduates to apply for the position...
One of the UK’s leading nurseries in Hereford has this month announced that it will be re-opening its Management Trainee Programme.
Wyevale Nurseries’ two year, in-house programme covers all areas of the business and the company is calling for graduates to apply for the position.
Andy Johnson (pictured below), Managing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We’re delighted to once again be able to re-open our Management Trainee Programme. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is keen to start a career in nursery production.
“The programme is open to graduates of all degree disciplines, preferably relating to Horticulture, crop based Agriculture and the Sciences, in particular Biology.
 “Commencing in July 2017 this is a two-year programme that covers all areas of the business. Our three growing divisions are all dedicated to their specialist field and comprise field and container grown trees, hedging and forestry transplants and container grown hardy stock supplying both the amenity and garden centre markets.
“What we are looking for from our potential Management Trainees is a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and that they enjoy being challenged to come up with solutions.
“We want them to be innovative using not only their ideas but also assessing and supporting others’ ideas. Successful applicants will be responsible for their own learning and should be able to demonstrate a proactive attitude towards learning opportunities. We want candidates to also be career-minded, ambitious and flexible in their approach.”
During the two years, successful applicants will work in the container, trees and transplants production divisions, supply chain operations, which includes both garden centre and amenity despatch, goods handling and transport and will also spend time in the Wyevale Nurseries’ head office departments.
The programme will be delivered through on the job training, attending plant identification training, visiting other nurseries, attending trade shows and conferences, attending any external courses if required, project work shadowing managers/supervisors, observing and participating in meetings.
Assessment will be through regular reviews and assessing performance against agreed objectives. Each trainee will meet with the Programme Co-ordinator, Steve Pandeli on a regular basis. This will be to support the trainee and to conduct regular constructive reviews.
Andy added: “Upon successful completion of the programme, it is anticipated that we shall be able to match trainees to a suitable role with the company which would benefit from their particular strengths.”
Management trainees will be paid a salary of between £16,500 to £18,200 p.a. depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience to date.
Current Management Trainee, 24-year-old Chris King from Hereford, who graduated from Writtle College with a BSc in Horticulture, said: “This programme provides a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into all aspects of production at Wyevale Nurseries. This amazing opportunity has really launched my career in the horticultural industry. I have already learnt so much with this on the job programme since starting last July.”
Ben Gregory, a former management trainee is now Wyevale Nurseries’ Product Development Manager.
Ben added: “The Management Trainee Programme provided me with the skills and experience necessary to secure my first management role. It is such a great opportunity for graduates who are interested in nursery production. I urge anyone interested in the programme to apply as soon as possible.”
Applicants should forward a copy of their current CV with a covering letter describing why they are the right candidate for the programme to stevep@wyevale-nurseries.co.uk. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, May 31, 2017.
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With the clocks springing forward on Sunday 26 March, Parkinson’s UK is urging people to get ready for sunnier days and bring the fun, festival vibe to their gardens, by taking part in a brand new fundraising activity.
Garden Gathering, a new feel good fundraiser, encourages people across the country to host mini-festivals with family and friends in their own gardens or favourite outdoor spaces.
Diarmuid Gavin, an inspirational gardener and Chelsea Flower Show favourite, is backing Garden Gathering to help raise funds for the charity’s work to support people living with Parkinson’s and to support research into better treatments and a cure.
Diarmuid said: “I’m passionate about spending as much time in the fresh air as possible, and love to entertain outdoors in the summer in Ireland, where I live.
"No matter how big or small your garden I’m encouraging everyone to use their special spaces for a Garden Gathering. Let’s get together with family and friends to raise lots of money for Parkinson’s UK – cheers!”
Paul Jackson-Clark, Director of Fundraising at Parkinson’s UK, explains: “You don’t have to go to Glastonbury or Bestival to get that festival feeling. Garden Gathering is the perfect opportunity to bring together friends and family closer to home.
"July 1st is Garden Gathering day, but you can hold your mini-festival at any time during the summer. We are looking forward to seeing what events people organise. We hope that everyone will get behind us to make our first year a huge success."
Garden Gatherers can order a fundraising pack full of tips for organising events, including festival wristbands, a teepee donation box, and a festival themed fundraising game.
For more information on hosting your own Garden Gathering for Parkinson’s UK and to request a fundraising pack, contact the Garden Gathering team on gardengathering@parkinsons.org.uk, call 0800 138 6593, or visit https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/garden-gathering
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Head of Catering / Warwickshire (ref:DS8940)
Location: Warwickshire
Salary: Excellent
Date: 09 Mar
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join a thriving independent business and shape the future of their food offering in a great environment and location. This independent Warwickshire based Garden Centre is a relatively new build and has ongoing investment that has seen the turnover grow by more than 60% in the last 4 years and has become a great destination centre.
The Role
Currently the business has circa 160 covers split into two adjoining locations a café setting and a restaurant setting. There is also an ice cream/pottery barn (with 20 covers) that would fall under the leadership of this role.
The café is currently outperforming, the restaurant, based on 2015 turnover and are now considering how best to move forward.
Therefore, the person we are looking for must be able to carry out the following key aspects of this new role:
Visionary leadership - ability to see the next stages of development, map them out and plan how these are executed over time. For example, the food offering has reached phase two in its plan so what might phase three look like?
Personality Profile - the ability to work with the owners and sit alongside the more senior leadership of the business day to day. Also, the ability to work, motivate and create a great team spirit amongst and with the café/restaurant staff. Giving clear leadership whilst playing your part in the team and the wider team in the business. The business has a great mix of family feel with a professional dynamic environment.
Commerciality - the ability to analyse current performance and situations and then look at creative ways of moving the business forward. The feeling is that the food offer could grow by 25% in the shorter term how do we do that? Beyond that there is a further 50% growth so what does that next phase look like and how do they get there? The business also recognises that the food sales as a % of the overall site could become a larger part of the sales mix so creating a plan to execute this is vital.
The Candidate
Personal skill set - the business would consider various backgrounds and garden centre experience is not essential. As a real example a member of the team came from a background in marketing and is now running front of house. Candidates with a food, food service, retail type background will be considered.
We are looking for someone who will fit the culture and ethos of this dynamic family business.
The business is open as to what background the person comes from but they must possess the skills, personality profile and the ability to perform the key aspects of this role. Ideally food retailing and or catering will have been part of their career but they will look outside of these areas as well.
To apply for this role click here
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Amenity Account Manager South | Home Counties (ref:DS9067)
Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: Excellent package
Date: 10 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a leading UK horticultural nursery stock producer who are seeking a dynamic, driven Account Manager for its Amenity division to expand its customer base within the landscape contractor, local authority and landscape architect's sectors in the UK.
For this role you will have a minimum of 5 years' B2B field sales experience within horticulture with strong commercial skills as well as financial and business acumen.
You will also have experience of selling into landscape contractors, local authorities and landscape architects, a knowledge of trees, as well as proven experience in securing new customers.
Outstanding customer service is required as is the ability to create and develop customer relationships. Excellent communication, IT skills, attention to detail and the ability to work on your own initiative and manage your time effectively is essential.
You will be able to demonstrate achievement in meeting and exceeding challenging sales targets through completing quotes and tenders and negotiation to achieve the required level of profitability.
This position is home based and you will ideally live in the Beds, Bucks, Herts area with easy access to the M1 to ensure accessibility to the customer base.
Reporting to the Sales Director, you will be part of a professional and ambitious team and will be required to attend meetings at head office on a regular basis.
The successful applicant can expect a competitive package including company pension, private health insurance and company car.
To apply for this role click here
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Nursery Crop Protection / Spraying Supervisor (ref:DS9132)
Location: West Sussex
Salary: Circa £19,000
Date: 03 Mar
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
This busy commercial nursery are about to hit their busy season and are urgently seeking a Lead Crop Protection Specialist, essentially it is a Crop Protection or Spraying Supervisor they need who will be responsible for much of the spraying, crop monitoring and some of the planning in the applications of pesticides. A full Job Description is available, but the person must have:
- PA1 and PA6a
- Proven and extensive plant protection application knowledge and experience.
- Practical horticultural knowledge and experience.
- High level of pest and disease identification expertise required.
Salary will be circa £19,000
To apply for this role click here
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Nursery Wholesale Sales Coordinator (ref:DS9129)
Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: £28,000 - £30,000
Date: 02 Mar
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a growing wholesale plant supply business based in Hertfordshire. They are seeking an outstanding individual to join their small, friendly, family run team. This person will be part of a busy Sales team selling home grown nursery stock to their wholesale customers.
A sound horticultural knowledge and selling experience to the trade supply chain are key along with a team spirited approach to the running of the whole site on a daily basis, whilst dealing with the wholesale plant sales, new business quotes and enquiries.
Applicants must have:
- Proven sales experience in the retail or wholesale horticultural trade.
- Sound horticultural plant knowledge preferably with qualifications up to NVQ Level 2.
- Highly motivated with a strong work ethic.
- Numeracy and accuracy along with strong verbal and written communication skills is paramount.
To apply for this role click here
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Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
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Garden product sales, particularly gardening activity items, sprung into life last week.
Twelve of the GTN Bestsellers Top 20 that are gardening activity based as opposed to garden lighting increased their sales volumes with lawn care and plant food products the main beneficiaries.
Key garden lighting lines also increased sales. If the Gardman Daffodil Wild Bird Feeders were classified as decorative garden products instead of Wild Bird Care they would have topped the charts for another week.
This week's highlights were:
- Scotts Miracle-Gro Slow Release Azalea, Camellia & Rhodo Food 1kg was the highest climber, jumping 28 places to No 19.
- Woodlodge Spang Pot 4” was the highest re-entry at No 20.
- Smart Solar Retro Solar Lightbulb was the highest new entry.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Veg-2-Gro plants are becoming more widely available and selling through as soon as they arrive in planterias.
Last week grow your own plants accounted for 41% of the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro Top 50, up from 28% last week, meaning the sales grew by 78%.
The main highlights this week were:
- Quantil Strawberry Cambridge Strips was the highest re-entry at No 8.
- KinderGarden Tomato Tumbling Tom, 4 Cell Plugs, was the highest climber, jumping 23 places to No 7.
- Taylors Onion Sets Stuttgarter moved up to the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Record growing media sales for week 10
Last week saw record sales levels for Growing Media in week 10 and the highest sales of the year to date according to EPOS data supplied to GTN for GTN Bestsellers...
Last week saw record sales levels for Growing Media in week 10 and the highest sales of the year to date according to EPOS data supplied to GTN for GTN Bestsellers.
With more good weather forecast this month we could be in for bumper volumes as the nation well and truly gets growing.
This week’s highlights were:
- Durstons Manor Farm Multipurpose (50 litres) was the highest climber, moving up 48 places to No 2.
- Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost (50 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 17.
- Westland Multipurpose (50 litres) +20% Extra Free was the highest new entry.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Primula at No 1 for the 10th week
Planterias have well and truly sprung into life. Plant sales volumes grew by over 55% last week with those brightly coloured Primulas holding on to top spot for the 10th consecutive week...
Planterias have well and truly sprung into life. Plant sales volumes grew by over 55% last week with those brightly coloured Primulas holding on to top spot for the 10th consecutive week.
- Viola’s jump up to No 2 on the back of a 300% plus increase as they become widely available.
- Helleborus drop four places, down to No 7 but still increase sales by 30%.
- Camellias are the week’s highest chart climber, moving up 13 places to No 30.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Andy Harding has joined Farplants to head up their expanding Added Value Division.
He has over 30 years experience in retailing with companies such as IKEA and The Range Home & Leisure as Regional Manager.
He also spent 8 years in Garden Centres with Blue Diamond and more recently with Home & Garden where he was Operations Manager & Business Development Manager.
Andy says: "I am very much looking forward to utilising my retail skills to help develop the Added Value Range and support the team in driving the business forward for Farplants."
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Stewart Garden’s Schools Campaign for 2017 is up and running. And it’s bigger than ever.
This year sees the fifth Stewart Garden Schools Campaign and 174 schools have signed up to take part. That’s up from just over 100 last year – an increase of around 75 per cent.
The Stewart Garden Schools Campaign 2017 is open to school pupils aged 6-11 years. It challenges schools and students to be creative with their Stewart Garden product kits, which are being sent out now. This year’s kit includes:
2x 3" flower pot, multipack of 10
2x 5" flower pot, multipack of 5
2x traditional watering can 2ltr
1x 52cm essentials unheated propagator
1x scoop
3x 20cm seed trays
an informative booklet with tips and to help to get started
The entries will be judged by Val Bourne a well-known garden writer, an ex-teacher and gardening grandmother. The winning school will receive £1,000 to spend at its local garden centre. Three runners up will each receive £100.
Nearly 500 schools across the UK have now participated in the Stewart Garden Schools Campaign since 2012. In 2015, the students at Cutcombe Church of England First School took first prize with its colourful display of vegetables presented in the Stewart Garden Corinthian Trough.
The students conducted science experiments and explored the process of photosynthesis to find out how to grow great plants. The produce then went on display at the 2015 Flower and Produce Show at Cutcombe Fete before being auctioned off to raise money for local charities.
Looking forward to this year’s campaign, Juan Pillay, marketing director at Stewart Garden, said: “Every year, we’re taken by surprise by how creative the UK’s primary school children are when it comes to growing produce and putting their learning into practice. With 174 schools taking part this year – more than ever before – we’re especially excited to see the entries this time round.”
Val said: “Engage your children and grandchildren in the garden and in the classroom. They are the next generation and gardening is akin to nurturing the planet.”
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The Writtle University College team has started building its Ideal Home Show garden for the Young Gardeners of the Year competition.
The contest, organised by TV Gardener David Domoney in association with the Prince’s Foundation, sees six of the UK’s top landscaping and horticultural colleges go head-to-head to create a show-stopping sustainable garden that will be visited by thousands at the Ideal Home Show.
The brief for this year’s competition, held this month at Olympia London, is to create an inspirational front garden, which would give a homeowner a spectacular welcome home and brighten up the street.
Further Education Lecturer in Horticulture Ben Wincott is providing guidance to the team of ten Level 3 Horticulture students at WUC who are designing and building this year’s entry.
This week, they have been working on the pre-build of the show garden, using blow torches to burn wood for the structural elements, learning carpentry skills and making the planters, as well as continuing to grow the plants in the greenhouses at WUC.
Ben said: “Our front garden is called Burning Impression. As we want it to be low maintenance and sustainable, we are using porcelain paving, which is stain-proof. This allows the water to flow through the garden, permeating into the plants. The planters have been finished using fire to give them a protective coat, which will minimise the need for chemical application.
“The whole concept of our garden centres around contributing to the community - visually and by giving people the space and opportunity to interact. There will be simple planting of drought-tolerant plants, giving year-round interest, as well as three multi-stem, feature trees lagerstroemia. There is a seat in oiled oak and no gate or fencing so the garden encourages people to talk with neighbours. The aim is to share the garden visually and socially, promoting the greening of the community and the health of the environment.”
This year’s show gardens will be judged by an expert panel, which includes horticultural industry leaders, home and garden magazine editors and acclaimed garden designers.
Entrants will compete to win the gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze awards. The overall winner will receive the Best in Show award, and visitors will be able to vote for the winner of the People’s Choice Award.
Ben added: “This competition gives our students the opportunity to develop new skills that we do not normally get to teach, such as carpentry. They are able to access modern machinery, work using current fashionable techniques such as burnt timber, and build up their industry links, which are all essential for their ongoing careers or study. Most of all, it enables them to experience making a show garden to brief, which is both practical and of the highest standard.
“We have had a huge amount of success in this competition in the past, winning silver last year and Best in Show, gold and People’s Choice in 2015. We are hoping our garden will have similar success this year!”
Each college is given a 5.5m by 4m plot and will have a façade that features a door and a window. The colleges need to consider access to the front door, ensuring the journey to the door is a pleasant one for homeowners and visitors.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of this year’s competition is that all gardens will be given a 140L wheelie bin, and the colleges need to offer an attractive and appealing way of hiding the bin, whilst still providing easy access for it to be taken to and from the roadside.
The gardens have to be practical while demonstrating clever use of space and understanding of both harmony and sustainability. The competition links with the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community to encourage more sustainable gardening techniques. The organisation sets clear guidelines for the gardens based on the organic and sustainable principles that the charity’s president, The Prince of Wales, has championed.
Each college has one week to build and plant their garden at Kensington Olympia ready for the Ideal Home Show opening day on the 24 March when the garden will be judged.
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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 printed newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period. Access is by subscription only. For £195.00 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 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.
Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this 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.
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Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £195.00.
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 £120m.
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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.
Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.
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All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
HTA Catering Conference is a must-attend event
Catering continues to play a huge role in the make-up of garden centres accounting for in excess of 25% of sales in many cases. That's why attending the HTA Catering Conference and Dinner on Tuesday 13 June and Wednesday 14 June 2017 at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, is so important.
Chef Dominic Teague from One Indigo, the restaurant at 5-star hotel One Aldwych in London, will explain why they decided to go gluten and dairy free with impressive results in terms of bookings and revenue.
Catering continues to play a huge role in the make-up of garden centres accounting for in excess of 25% of sales in many cases. Over half of all garden centres have a café or restaurant with many having invested further to increase their covers and grow their offer.
Complex businesses in their own right, there are many elements to consider from menu planning, cost control and staff recruitment to menu development, service options, allergens and much more.
Help is on hand! Bookings are now being taken for the HTA Catering Conference and Dinner – A Piece of Cake? which takes place on Tuesday 13 June and Wednesday 14 June 2017 at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield.
A milestone in the garden industry calendar, the HTA Catering Conference is a must attend event for all garden centre catering operators, from business owners and garden centre managers to catering managers, chefs and front of house staff.
Bringing together speakers from inside and outside the industry the HTA Catering Conference is the event to attend to find out the very latest developments, issues and topics of interest impacting on garden centre catering. The conference is supported by an exhibition and the programme allows for plenty of networking with delegates and suppliers.
Day one of the conference focuses on strategy and operations and will be chaired by Neville Stein. HTA’s David Denny will set the scene for the day with the latest market information about the sector. Throughout the programme there will be sessions from David Yardley and Keren Feeney from Klondyke and Strikes Garden Centres , Salim Sajid from Rosebourne Garden Centre and James Debbage from Green Pastures. Representing businesses of different sizes they will each talk about their catering operations and their challenges and successes.
Day two, chaired by Pippa McKean Director of McKean Consulting, will focus on food. The day will begin with an insightful session from Professor Charles Spence from Oxford University who will look at food psychology – touching on topics such as our evolving palate and flavour perceptions. In a joint session Caroline Benjamin from Food Allergy Aware will provide an insight to the freefrom customer, and chef Dominic Teague (pictured above) from One Indigo, the restaurant at 5-star hotel One Aldwych in London, will explain why they decided to go gluten and dairy free with impressive results in terms of bookings and revenue. Also joining the programme is Matt Drew, Head of Food and Beverage from the National Trust who will talk about how their catering offering is business critical to their success and profitability and is key to delivering special days out for visitors.
Back by popular demand Mark Farnsworth and Sharon McNair from Tong Garden Centre will update delegates on their story one year on. There will also be panel sessions and workshops over the two days.
The Conference dinner takes place on the evening of Tuesday 13 June and this year we are delighted to announce that we will be joined by Jane Devonshire, the 2016 winner of Masterchef. Following dinner will be the presentation of the Greatest Catering Awards.
This year’s event is supported by:
- Conference Partners: Frobisher’s Juices Ltd, Blue Cap Coffee and Matthew Algie
- Exhibition Partners: Tea from the Manor, Majestic Coffee, The Handmade Cake Company, Towergate (HTA Insurance), Dawn Foods, Speciality Bread, CPL Training Group, Whitco, Beanworks, Creed Food Service, Ascential, Swan Retail, Vision Commercial Kitchens, Space Catering, Belvoir Fruit Farms.
- Dinner Partner: Quinton Edwards
More speakers and details to be announced.
For more information and to book your place visit www.hta.org.uk/cateringconference
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Leading specialist coffee roaster, Matthew Algie, has been appointed as the official UK, Ireland and European distributor of Synesso artisan espresso machines.
The coffee roaster has chosen London Coffee Festival (6th - 9th April 2017), to unveil the Synesso MVP range to the UK market.
Matthew Algie is a market-leading coffee shop authority, supplying coffee, machines, training and industry insight to thousands of operators across the UK and Ireland. Synesso is a U.S based manufacturer of high-spec espresso machines known for their unparalleled thermal stability, user friendliness and reliability.
The Synesso MVP range has been designed to adapt to a wide range of users, enabling them to switch quickly between manual mode, manual programme mode or volumetric mode. Its advanced software makes it possible to set and save recipe parameters in seconds – making it a breeze to deliver that all-important consistency of serve.
Synesso owner and designer Mark Barnett will be flying in from Seattle to join the Matthew Algie team at the London Coffee Festival, giving visitors a unique opportunity to explore the MVP and MVP Hydra in great detail – and to sample Matthew Algie’s latest hand roasted coffees at their very best.
Andrew Jack, Head of Marketing at Matthew Algie, commented: “With over 30,000 coffee lovers attending the London Coffee Festival, it is the perfect platform for us to introduce the Synesso MVP and its designer, Mark Barnett.
"We are excited to have been appointed as the official distributor of this exceptional brand in the UK and Europe and know that pairing it with our hand roasted range will be a winning combination.”
Mark Barnett commented: “We chose Matthew Algie as our official UK, Ireland and European distributor because they share our passion for great tasting coffee and focus on providing customers with the best possible service.
'Their longstanding expertise and ability to maintain the highest levels of operational excellence make them the ideal distributor of our Synesso MVP and MVP Hydra machines.”
Matthew Algie will be located at stand G15. The London Coffee Festival runs from 6th – 9th April at The Old Truman Brewery. Industry days are on Thursday and Friday.
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