In This Issue
Sales up by 49% compared to previous nine years, despite being closed for Easter Sunday
Thanks a million to you all from Peter Seabrook
Derek Bunker adds his thanks to suppliers for "their efforts throughout this amazing period in garden centre history"
Easter thank you to growers, manufacturers & distributors from British Garden Centres
Hozelock unveils new sprayers range for 2021
Plymouth Garden Centre installs WinRetail system
Hamac Trading offers complete display solution to make Christmas special
Garden Centres re-open in Scotland... and it snows!
Wildlife Trusts call for immediate end to peat sales
Immediate ban on peat use unrealistic, says HTA
March sales break all records
East Yorkshire garden centre sells for £1.5m
Dobbies unveils Spring advertising campaign
Wyevale Nurseries sees record sales in all sectors
Plant sales soar to record high
National Plant Show 2021 postponed
Blue Diamond Group announces exclusive partnership with The Soil Association
Flymo and Gardena partner with Evergreen
Ball Colegrave introduces 2021 Autumn Portfolio
Bradstone launches first low carbon paving range
Scatter seeds for a brighter year ahead, says Seedball
Garden centre invests in leadership skills training
Inside Outside... A New Beginning for the garden market - Read GTN's March Issue on-line now
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
Garden centre chef fakes invoices totalling more than £14,000, court hears
Garden reunions set the pace for product sales
Mad March sales for growing media
Wild Bird Care up by 11%
PlantSavers deliver more than just plants
D-Grade Fibre trays extended
Haddonstone recognised in leading industry awards
The GIMA Awards are back!
George brings the first-ever RHS kids’ clothing line to Asda stores
Royal Horticultural Society calls on public to help map sweet chestnut trees
The best of last week's
Garden centres report busiest ever day as gardens are the focus for family re-unions this week - More comments added
Suez Canal blockage causes further delays for garden furniture
Cherry Lane acquires Langford Garden Centre
little dobbies opens its doors in Bristol
DJ Turfcare responds to Monty Don’s call to stop mowing our lawns
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
Interpet launches new LED lighting range to make fish shine and aid plant growth
Major pet companies book stands at PATS Telford
Vet charity urges pet owners to be vigilant over Easter
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.

Email trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 07973 504214

 

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Suez Canal blockage causes further delays for garden furniture

 

More than 180 ships remain blocked in the Suez Canal in both directions, unable to get through one of the busiest waterways in the world, LOFA have now learnt that the freeing of the ship may take longer than originally thought.

 

A huge backlog of vessels is building up amid warnings that the salvage team could need days or even weeks, to prise out the giant container ship that’s blocking the crucial waterway.

 

 

Work to re-float the Ever Given and allow passage for ocean going carriers hauling almost $10 billion of oil and consumer goods continued without success on Thursday. Tugs and diggers have so far failed to budge the vessel, and some experts say the crisis could drag on for several days. The Suez Canal Authority has temporarily suspended traffic along the waterway.

 

Many LOFA members have products on the Ever Given or held in one of the container ships behind the vessel, which means yet another setback for the outdoor leisure industry which is already dealing with issues caused by port congestion, lack of empty containers and rising shipping costs.

 

The incident began on Tuesday when the Ever Given, on its way to Rotterdam from China, faced strong winds which kicked up sands along the banks of the 120-mile canal. The waterway is less than 205 meters in some places, and can be difficult to navigate when there’s poor visibility. As gusts that reached as high as 46 miles an hour swept up dust around it, the crew lost control of the ship and it careered sideways into a sandy embankment, blocking nearly the entirety of the channel 

 

At about a quarter mile long (400 meters) and weighing in at 200,000 tons, the sheer size of the vessel is overwhelming efforts to dig it out. The vessel will most likely have to be lightened before it can be dug out either end. The salvors may have to lighten the ship by removing things like the ballast water, which helps keep it steady while at sea. Fuel could also be unloaded.

 

Container ships usually take 5-6 weeks to travel from China to UK ports, some shipping companies are now starting to divert their ships around the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, which adds about 3,500 miles to the journey and up to 12 days.

 

This could not have come at a worst time for LOFA Members and retailers with the Easter and May Day weekends fast approaching it will mean extra delays for products arriving in the UK. 

 

More detail about the Ever Given and the situation in the Suez Canal can be seen at: https://www.vesselfinder.com/news/20467-UPDATE-3-on-Suez-Canal-Blocked-by-Ever-Given-Photos-and-Videos

 

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