Newbridge, top, and Wilton, below, Garden Centres were announced as the Blue Diamond Garden Centres of the Year for 2024 at a star studded event in Londons famous Roundhouse venue.

Over 700 members of the Blue Diamond team, plus guests from suppliers and the media were treated to an evening of celebration, great food and  entertainent.

See the full list of winners and the complete GTN Xtra photo gallery in GTN Xtra this weekend.

It's Garden Re-Leaf Day 2025. Greenfingers Charity has an update on this year’s packed schedule of events running nationwide.

Sponsored Walks

North and south walkers*

Two sponsored walks will form the mainstay of the industry events, with two major routes planned for the north and south of the country.

This year’s north of England challenge will involve a scenic trek through the Holmfirth region, organised by local Greenfingers Ambassadors, Jane Lawler and Will Armitage.

The south route will once again depart and finish at British Garden Centres’ Tring Garden Centre, with a beautiful section of the Grand Union canal and Chilterns countryside in between.

Cycle challenge*

This year’s Cycle Challenge will leave with the south walkers from Tring Garden Centre in Hertfordshire, with routes ranging from 25 to 100 miles. See separate press release for more details about the Cycle Challenge.\

Chris Jesson’s Guernsey coastal trek

Gardening guru and social media influencer, Chris Jesson, has planned a mammoth 39-mile trek along the Guernsey coastal path. With a route that takes in a treasure trove of picturesque cliffs and bays, Chris’ challenge begins on 15th March and will end a week later, on 21st March. Chris aims to raise £1,000 for Greenfingers Charity whilst showcasing the delights of the second largest of the Channel Islands.

Smart Garden and British Garden Centres volunteering

Teams from Smart Garden Products and British Garden Centres (BGC) will participate in much needed volunteering efforts at a Greenfingers Charity gardens. The Smart Garden team will be rolling up their sleeves at Helen & Douglas House in Oxford, whilst the BGC team will help out at Andy’s at St Andrew’s Hospice in Grimsby. Both locations are home to a Greenfingers’ therapeutic garden projects and thanks to the respective team efforts will enjoy a much-needed spring refresh.

QVC support activities

TV retail giant, QVC, and its extensive network of vendors will once again pitch in with their invaluable support for Greenfingers Charity, engaging in a variety of fundraising promotions via their popular shopping channel. Keep your eyes peeled for bargains on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st March, remote controls at the ready!

Anything goes

Anyone involved in the garden industry, whether you’re a supplier, garden centre, event organiser or another interested individual, is encouraged to get involved in Garden Re-Leaf on 21st March. Whether it’s organising a bake sale or putting in some Pelaton miles (or one after the other to burn off some calories!), there are countless ways to show your support for this brilliant industry fundraising effort. Here are just some of the events taking place in aid of Greenfingers Charity on Garden Re-Leaf Day:

• Haskins Garden centres are holding raffles and tombola’s
• Longacres garden centre is holding a raffle
• Evergreen garden centre is organising a cake sale
• Old Railway Line is holding a Curry and Quiz night
• British Garden Centres are holding various activities in stores around the country
• Centurion & Mulch are holding a Florals and Fun day
• Woodmansterne is holding a cake sale and raffle
• Rob Jones and his Garden Design Company is running a Sow and Grow workshop at the Alitex Garden Pop Up which takes place on 29th March at Torberry Farm, South Harting, GU31 5RG 

If you need a bit more inspiration, visit the Greenfingers website for ideas and resources: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Fantastic FLORAL!

The overarching theme for this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day is fantastic FLORAL and participants are encouraged to get out their flowery socks, shirts, blouses and bandanas! Prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed individuals and teams.

*To help cover costs for medals, t-shirts, and the post-event celebration, walkers and cyclists are asked to consider a £10 donation (or more!) on top of their fundraising efforts. For those who would like to join in the FUNdraising but aren’t able to participate in the walk or cycle, there may be some spots left for support team volunteers. Contact the team for more details.

Sign up for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2025

Sign up now at www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/get-involved/garden-re-leaf-day-is-coming-soon or get in touch with the charity’s fundraising team at fundraising@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2025 fundraising pack drop Kirsty a line at Kirsty@greenfingerscharity.org.uk - she’d love to hear from you.

Dobbies have unveiled a new strategic and creative platform, 'This Is Garden Living', to drive year-round footfall.

The new approach, developed in partnership with creative agency elvis, is Dobbies’ first long-term brand platform, designed to evolve and grow over the seasons and years. Signalling a shift from seasonal campaigns, the campaign will replace Dobbies’ previous spring-focussed approach with an all-year-round strategy that spans the gardening calendar.

The creative direction is brought to life for the spring / summer season across digital out-of-home, radio, digital, social, and in-store channels, and is live from Thursday 20 March – the first day of Spring.

'This Is Garden Living' defines what garden living looks like across different seasons, cultural moments, and product categories, leaning on Dobbies reputation for providing quality products, expert advice, inspiring in-store experiences, and accessible price points.

Created primarily to drive footfall, the campaign is built on insight from elvis, which found that while people feel relaxed in their outdoor spaces, relaxation means more than simply sitting back. Whether it’s growing plants and flowers, watching wildlife, harvesting homegrown produce, cooking, playing, or entertaining friends and family, ‘garden living’ is as diverse as the people who enjoy it.

Kirsty Rockey, Head of Brand, Dobbies Garden Centres, said: “When we came to develop our new strategic and creative platform, we saw a real opportunity to make the concept of ‘garden living’ our own.

“It’s more than just gardening, it’s about creating a space to relax, connect, and enjoy life. The team has done a brilliant job of bringing this to life with a platform that’s both inspiring and relevant. ‘This Is Garden Living’ perfectly captures what gives Dobbies relevance, and why people keep coming back to us.”

The campaign is supported by media planning and buying from EssenceMediacom, PPC by Clean Digital, and PR by Frame.

Sipcam Home & Garden has lined up their ecofective brand to join Lee Connelly, also known as the Skinny Jean Gardener, on an educational tour around UK schools.

The ‘2025 School UK Gardening Tour’ is a national initiative led by Lee Connelly designed to promote the importance of gardening for children to schools, teachers, and families. On this tour Lee will aim to educate children on the benefits of gardening and environmental stewardship. Aligning with HTA National Children’s Gardening Week in May, the tour will be showcasing educational content and promotional materials to help children get involved in gardening.

The Go To Children’s Gardening Educator

Lee Connelly is a prominent figure in the world of horticulture and gardening education. Lee has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s top 50 TV gardening presenters. Beyond his television and radio pursuits, Lee is a published children’s author, penning the insightful guide ‘How to Get Kids Gardening.’ He also helms The Sunday Times Best Gardening Podcast, aptly named the Skinny Jean Gardener Podcast.

Lee’s commitment to teaching the next generation’s green thumbs led him to found School Gardening Success. This ground-breaking initiative is dedicated to bringing comprehensive gardening education to primary schools across the UK.

The Right Choice For The Planet

As the key brand sponsor for the tour, ecofective® is seen as a perfect partner with its environmentally friendly child and pet safe products that provide very effective alternatives to conventional chemical garden care products. As a result, the brand enables families to have a thriving safer garden for loved ones to enjoy, an outdoor space friendly to wildlife, and a product that is kinder to the planet.

The ‘2025 School UK Gardening Tour’ will be visiting 15 schools in person and additionally helping 15 other schools through engaging educational content.

This will therefore have a huge impact on the younger gardening generation as it will reach 10,000 children in just one week! On the tour Lee will be demonstrating how to create happy plants and a happy planet with ecofective®’s easy to use spray pouches and plant feeds.

Lee Connelly expressed his excitement about the upcoming tour: “I’m so excited to be getting back on the road on tour and having the support of Sipcam Home & Garden along the way! One of the amazing parts of my job is getting to work with brands that genuinely care and support families in growing together. Bringing this into education is an important step to give more children the chance to grow!”

Passionate about creating beautiful gardens with minimal impact on the environment, Sipcam Home & Garden believe that engaging with the gardeners of the future and encouraging the use of gardening skills is vital for their well-being and the future health of the planet.

Lydia Grayston, Marketing Manager at Sipcam Home & Garden said: “We are delighted to help Lee on the 2025 Gardening tour. We see gardening as a key skill every child should have the opportunity to learn and therefore, we felt compelled to support this initiative. We all have a role to play to encourage children to participate in gardening, which has so many health and environmental benefits. ecofective is a great family brand, being child and pet safe and with its user-friendly products was seen as the ideal fit to join the campaign.”

Following on from the 2020 UK schools tour, the 2025 tour will also have a documentary made which will help capture the enthusiasm of the participating schools, explore future opportunities, and show the progress made since 2020.

The 2025 tour is set to raise even more awareness for the need of gardening in education, an initiative that the whole gardening industry can continue to support, helping inspire the gardeners of the future.

Established gardening retailer J. Parker's is set to expand its presence in Greater Manchester by opening a new garden centre at the former Daisy Nook site. This addition marks the company's fourth garden centre, with three located in the wider Greater Manchester area, rooting its commitment to investment in the local area and community.

The new garden centre will serve as a hub for gardening enthusiasts in the area, offering an expansive range of plants including perennials, annuals, shrubs, seeds, and bedding plants as well as gardening essentials, tools, and garden furniture.

For over 50 years, Daisy Nook Garden Centre was owned and operated by the Calder family, becoming a beloved spot for local gardeners. Now, J. Parker’s aims to honour that legacy, retaining all current staff, acting as a steward of the surrounding Daisy Nook Country Park, and bringing its own 90-year family-run heritage to the site.

This expansion complements J. Parker's flourishing online retail and wholesale operations, strengthening its market position as a leader in the gardening industry. The move follows the company's successful expansion into Ireland last year, which included the launch of a new warehouse and website tailored to the Irish market.

Paul Parker, CEO and spokesperson for J. Parker's, commented: “We are delighted to announce our acquisition of Daisy Nook Garden Centre, this site is our fourth bricks and mortar retail presence and our third in the Greater Manchester area. This is the next natural step in growing our business, opening doors to new opportunities while keeping our roots firmly in the local area.

We intend to maintain the legacy of Daisy Nook by continuing to play a key role within the local community, contributing to the local park and green spaces, as well as cooperating with local businesses. It is this ethos which echoes our approach to garden retail and one which attracted us to acquiring the business in the first place.

We also plan on bringing significant levels of investment to the site to make J.Parker’s at Daisy Nook a premier garden retail destination for the Oldham/Tameside area."

Refurbishments are taking place over the next few days, and the new garden centre is expected to reopen on Friday, 21st March 2025.

Parkers other garden centres are located in the North West and Lincolnshire in Flixton, Mottram and Anwick.

Pictured: Daisy Nook Garden Centre (Image: Christie & Co).

Havant MP Alan Mak, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, officially opened the British Garden Centres Havant Garden Centre on Saturday.

“Mr Mak said: "It was a pleasure to cut the ribbon and declare the new Havant Garden Centre open. It is great to see this family-run business investing in Havant and creating what is much more than a store. With an expanded restaurant and an indoor soft play area, it is somewhere the whole family can enjoy a visit.”

Queues of over 200 customers formed outside ahead of the opening, all eager to take advantage of the 10% off everything offer that was in place to the weekends opening celebrations.

British Garden Centres MD, Charles Stubbs told GTN Xtra: “The team at Havant who transferred over from Dobbies have been truly fantastic.  The efforts they have put in to get the centre cleaned and re-stocked ready for the re-opening have really impressed me.”

See GTN Xtra’s photo’s of the centre and the opening ceremony below.

Hundreds of customers braved the cold winds to queue around the car park at Rugby Garden Centre on Saturday, waiting for the official re-opening under new ownership of British Garden Centres.

Gardening TV personality David Domoney carried out the ribbon cutting ceremony, allowing the queuing customers into the centre to see efforts of a four week turn around at the site.

By 10:30am customers were streaming through the tills with trolleys full of plants and products, the restaurant was almost full of happy customers and the new Outdoor Living showroom (in a section of the centre that Dobbies had closed off) was busy taking orders for furniture and bbq’s.

Many customers commented on how good it was to see the centre back to how it was when it was a Blooms Garden Centre, saying the choice of plants and products was very good and the prices were good too.

See GTN Xtra’s photo tour of the centre and the opening ceremony below.

Five weeks of cleaning, clearing, re-flooring, creating a new restaurant atmosphere, moving the exit and tills, recruiting extra staff, plus almost £2m of stock have seen the re-energised Woodlands Garden Centre trade for two weeks now at amazing levels.

Gates owner, Nigel Gates, told GTN Xtra at the weekend: “The business of the centre amazes me already with days takings getting very close to days back at Cold Overton.”

“Moving the tills and exit so that people have to walk through the food hall has resulted in many more food hall sales than we expected.”

Garden centre team members have received many positive comments from customers regarding dogs not being allowed in the centre a decision that has caused a social media storm in the area.  Judging by the number of people eating in the restaurant (which is now cook to order) and shopping on Saturday afternoon, the decision appears to have been well received by the majority of customers.

See GTN Xtra’s photo tour of the centre below

Glee has announced the launch of its first-ever nationwide roadshow – a unique event which will bring together expert insights, valuable networking opportunities, and practical solutions, all designed to equip garden retailers with the tools they need to thrive in the year ahead and beyond.

Demonstrative of Glee’s approach to fostering and empowering its garden retail community, the all-new Roadshow will kick off in the Southwest at Monkton Elm Garden Centre, Taunton on Wednesday 23rd 2025, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. 

Attendees will enjoy a networking lunch with live food demonstrations before hearing from Glee Strategist, Boyd Douglas-Davis and other special guests, who will deliver opening remarks and outline the themes for the day. The event will also feature an interactive fishbowl panel discussion entitled “Navigating Budget Cuts: How Garden Centres Are Planning for Growth,”. This session will allow retailers to share experiences, ask burning questions and gain valuable insights into overcoming financial challenges while driving business success.

A mid-afternoon break will provide further networking opportunities before the focus shifts to the hands-on workshop, “How to Be the Heart of the Community: Creating a Destination, Not Just a Store.” This session will explore strategies to enhance customer experience, increase footfall, and strengthen connections with local communities.

Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: “"As Glee continues to support and inspire the garden retail community, our nationwide roadshow marks an exciting new chapter in our mission to unite the industry. We understand that garden centre owners and buyers are busy preparing for the season ahead, so we're bringing Glee directly to them - making it easier than ever to be part of the conversation. With a superb schedule of content, we’ll tackle the industry's biggest challenges head-on, equipping attendees with practical, proven solutions they can implement straight away."

Glee Roadshow to expand

The Glee Roadshow will be expanding to two additional UK locations in the coming months, with details to be announced soon. This expansion means even more garden centre owners and industry professionals will have the opportunity to engage with the latest industry trends, discover fresh inspiration, and experience Glee’s renowned networking atmosphere. Each event will be thoughtfully curated to address key opportunities and challenges, highlighting why attending Glee is such a unique business growth opportunity, while also nurturing a stronger sense of community.

How to join the Glee Roadshow

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. Early registration is encouraged to secure a place at the first event in the Southwest. To find out more, including registering your interest, please visit www.gleebirmingham.com/roadshow

Find out more 

Glee connects the garden industry to inspire change, drive growth, and promote innovation. To find out more or to register your interest in exhibiting at the 2025 edition, which will take place 16th – 18th September at the NEC, please visit www.gleebirmingham.com or call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Blue Diamond Garden Centres has been appointed as the ‘exclusive indoor and outdoor plant supplier’ to “Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh” channel to be launched on YouTube in April 2025.

The channel will celebrate Alan’s horticultural legacy whilst providing a platform for a wealth of tips and ideas.

Alan Titchmarsh is one of the most recognisable names in gardening and the new channel will see the horticultural legend pass on his vast knowledge and experience in a series of videos aimed to inspire gardeners around the world. 

Weekly episodes will offer viewers a mix of entertaining ‘how-to videos’, informative tips, specific masterclasses and helpful and accessible advice from Alan, becoming an exciting and fresh online resource for new and experienced gardeners.

A number of gardening brands have signed up to be official suppliers to the channel with Alan using their products in many of his videos, including Blue Diamond Garden Centres, who have been appointed as ‘exclusive indoor and outdoor plant suppliers’ to the channel.

Alan Titchmarsh said: “I’ve always been a proud supporter of the UK gardening industry, and I’m thrilled to be working with some of the best in the business on my new channel”.

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres said: “Alan Titchmarsh is the royalty of the gardening world, and his wealth of knowledge and experience is second to none.  YouTube is the perfect platform to reach out to a new gardening audience and so I am delighted that Blue Diamond Garden Centres are able to support Alan in his new venture”.

To maximize engagement with the audience, Alan’s videos will be published simultaneously on newly created YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok accounts.

Blue Diamond Garden Centres will mirror this across their social media channels, along with in centre messaging and regular emailers to their Diamond Club Members. In time, Blue Diamond Garden Centre customers will also be able to collect ‘recipe cards’ which will include all the plants that Alan features in his weekly shows- making gardening easy and straightforward for all.

Indeed, Alan’s ambition for the channel is to reach a broad spectrum of gardeners from first time novices to experienced gardeners from around the UK and globally. By encouraging more people to garden, Alan also hopes the channel will help promote the UK horticultural industry.

“Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh” is produced by Middlechild Productions, an independent production company based in London and Brighton.  Executive Produced by David Sumnall and Matt Young.

Matt Young is one of the most experienced producers of gardening content working in the UK. He was the Executive Producer of “Love Your Garden” on ITV with Alan for over a decade and was also the creator and Executive Producer of “Garden Rescue” for the BBC (now in its tenth year). 

In order to ensure that everyone can fully immerse themselves in the SOLEX Exhibition the organisers have secured Special Hotel Rates for Exhibitors & Visitors who wish to attend the exhibition and stay overnight on Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th or Wednesday 9th July. 

For the exclusive price of £100 per room, per night, including breakfast.  Exhibitors and visitors can take advantage of this offer and enjoy a comfortable stay while attending the exhibition. 

Don't miss out! Follow the link to book your stay at The Moxy, Crowne Plaza, The Genting and The Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport – BOOK NOW

N.B. Hotel rooms are subject to availability. Offer only available from 1- 31 March 2025. 

SOLEX Exhibition 8-10 July 2025 NEC, Birmingham

#hotels #exhibtion #online #offer #deal #solex #solexexhibtion #outdoorliving 

The Horticultural Trades Association delivered oral evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee as part of its inquiry into the operation of the Windsor Framework. This inquiry examines the post-Brexit legal agreement, beginning with a session focused on how the framework affects businesses and consumers, particularly regarding the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Jennifer Pheasey, the HTA’s Director of Public Affairs, outlined the ongoing challenges its member businesses face in moving plants and plant products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, despite some improvements brought about by the Windsor Framework.

Speaking after the session, Jennifer Pheasey said:

"Whilst we welcomed the Windsor Framework as a stepping stone solution and recognise the significant effort involved in reaching a negotiated outcome, businesses still face significant challenges, with the burdens of paperwork and navigating the systems to trade – all adding time and costs.

“Resuming trade into Northern Ireland is of enormous importance to many HTA members, many of whom have seen an almost complete cessation of trade into Northern Ireland as Northern Irish businesses have found it difficult, if not impossible, to buy from their regular GB-based suppliers. These barriers are impacting both the industry and consumers.

“The HTA welcomes being a lead part of the Horticultural Working Group and continues to engage with government and policymakers to explore routes to ease trade routes within the current legal frameworks. Being invited to give evidence today is a positive sign that our concerns are being taken seriously."

During the session, Jennifer highlighted several key concerns, including the need for refinements to the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) Scheme, improved communications and engagement, and the importance of establishing a UK-EU Plant Health /Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to facilitate smoother trade.

The HTA has brought its members together to actively engage with government and policy-makers, including through its membership in the Northern Ireland Horticultural Working Group. It continues to push for practical solutions to support businesses as they navigate these ongoing trade challenges.

You can watch the full session via Parliament TV here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/ce104b97-3317-4e23-b22e-7645500925b7

The Stumpery at Biddulph Grange Garden in Staffordshire – a masterpiece of Victorian garden design – may now be the largest in the country, as well as the oldest, following renovation and expansion by the National Trust. 

A stumpery is a type of garden feature particularly popular in the Victorian era, where upturned tree stumps make an atmospheric setting for collections of plants, especially shade-lovers. Created in 1856, Biddulph Grange’s Stumpery is the country’s earliest, and has inspired many others, including the one at Highgrove Gardens, the private home of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The National Trust partially restored the Stumpery when it took the Grade-I listed garden into its care in 1988, with further sections restored in phases. Now, the team has completed the restoration and returned the Stumpery back to its original larger size. 

The work, led by Head Gardener Paul Walton, was challenging because of the garden’s complex layout. 

Paul said: “The Stumpery is not an easy place to get to, with narrow tunnels and steps at every entry point. We weren’t able to get any machinery into the area so the team used scaffold platforms, small winches and hand tools to move the stumps into place.

“Every stump is different and it is like a complex puzzle getting the stumps to fit together, but the rewards are amazing!”

Thirty-seven oak stumps, each weighing between 100kg and 750kg, and measuring up to 8ft in diameter, have been added to the feature. These had been felled by storms and were sourced from a private estate in Wales. 

The natural ‘pockets’ within and between the stumps have been planted with shade-loving plants such as hellebores, ferns, dwarf irises, snowdrops, anemones, cyclamen, pulmonaria and willow gentian.

Paul continued: “The garden’s creator, James Bateman, believed in visitors admiring the whole of a tree from root to tip. He chose oak stumps for their interesting structure and longevity.

“Not all trees, once the smaller roots have rotted away, leave the stump shape we look for. Sweet chestnut is another tree which will produce a similar stump, but oak does seem to be the best tree to use and it’s long lasting as well.”

Paul and his team joined up the main Stumpery with a large area of stumps in ‘China’, a nearby area of the garden, to reinstate the feature’s original size. 

The Stumpery and China are just two parts of Biddulph Grange Garden, which was designed by horticulturist James Bateman and his wife Maria to display rare and exotic plant specimens collected from around the world. Today, a visit is an extraordinary global journey, taking in Egypt, Italy, China and the Himalayas – all just a few miles from Stoke-on-Trent.

Work continues to restore the wider garden as closely as possible to James Bateman’s original vision, using historic descriptions, plans and archaeological evidence. 

The project was part-funded by Blue Diamond Garden Centres, which is one of the biggest financial contributors to the National Trust’s gardens and parklands, having committed to giving the conservation charity £1 million over three years. 

Paul said: “Although a stumpery is a Victorian idea, it can earn a place in the modern garden – making an intriguing home for cherished plants, especially shade-lovers, and wildlife.

“One or two stumps can make a lovely feature in any garden. Over time, natural colonies of moss, lichen and fungi will begin to establish, as well as creating a nice habitat for small mammals and insects. Add some plants around or in between the stumps but don’t overplant as the stumps are the main feature.”

Jill Kerr, Group Relationship Manager for Blue Diamond Garden Centres, said: "Blue Diamond Garden Centres are proud to be able to play such an important role in the Trust's gardens and parklands conservation projects. Biddulph Grange Garden’s Stumpery is one of many projects Blue Diamond are helping the Trust to fund. This unique garden is one I have visited many times with my own family and so I am personally delighted to have worked on such a project with the National Trust. 

“The funding has been put to good use, not only in preserving the heritage of the Stumpery but also enabling the team to now increase its size which I am sure will attract more visitors to Biddulph Grange for many years to come."

For more about Biddulph Grange Garden, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/biddulph-grange-garden

The 2025 Garden Re-Leaf Cycle Challenge will, once again, depart from Tring Garden Centre in Hertfordshire, with breakfast provided at 8.15am and the warm-up from 8.45am. Always one of the most popular activities of Garden Re-Leaf Day, there are routes of various lengths to suit cyclists of different levels, ranging from 25-100 miles in distance.

The route, which is set to take in some beautiful Hertfordshire countryside in the region of the Grand Union Canal, will be very well supported at Tring Garden Centre and along the route by a dedicated Greenfingers team. The Challenge will also be recorded for posterity by expert paparazzo, Paul Webb.

Register for the 2025 Cycle Challenge

There is still plenty of time to register for the Challenge, either on your own or as part of a team, with fundraising requirements for the event set at just £150 per person. To help cover costs for medals, t-shirts, and the post-event celebration, cyclists are asked to consider a £10 donation (or more!) on top of their fundraising efforts.

This year’s challenge has a floral theme so get out your best flowery socks and shirts! This being Great Britain, which has weather, Cyclists are also advised to be prepared for any sort of conditions.

Sign up now at www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/get-involved/garden-re-leaf-day-is-coming-soon For more information and a copy of this year’s fundraising pack, get in touch with the Garden Re-Leaf team at fundraising@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns to the NEC Birmingham this year (12 – 15 June) with its spectacular Floral Marquee, inspiring Show Gardens, popular presenters and plant experts, and with a new campaign to ‘Make a Metre Matter’.

Supported by BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World TV series, the Magazine, events and digital platforms, Make a Metre Matter encourages people to transform one metre of outdoor space to help the planet. Supporting wildlife, saving water and growing food to reduce food miles are just some of the ways in which these small but mighty metres can make a difference.

Bringing the Make a Metre Matter campaign to life is BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, Nick Bailey, the designer of this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live headline Show Garden, The Plant-Based Garden. The plantsman and author is passionate about sustainable gardening, and his plastic- and concrete-free garden will be packed with eco-friendly highlights, resources and materials.

The Plant-Based Garden has a homestead feel with a cluster of characterful, feature buildings, meadow-like planting, an elegant dining space and a series of beds for cut flowers, veg, herbs and composting. A multi-occupancy birdhouse is designed to suit different bird species. Three ornamental Make a Metre Matter ponds will demonstrate how to attract a range of wildlife to a tiny space. Block planting metres will provide colour inspiration and attract pollinators, with raised bed metres proving that productive veg growing is possible in even the tightest spots.

Nick Bailey says: “I’ve designed a garden with sustainability at its heart and with heaps of Make a Metre Matter ideas to take home. I want to prove that it's possible to create a whole garden with only renewable resources and I hope people will embrace its ethos. It doesn't matter what you do with a metre, the important thing is the collective difference that lots of planet-friendly projects can make. It's something that everybody can get on board with.”

Nick Bailey will be chatting about Make a Metre Matter from his Plant-Based Garden each day of the show, at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre and on BBC Gardeners’ World on BBC 2 on 13 June. At the Let’s Talk Plants Stage in the Floral Marquee, experts from Hillier, plant supplier for The Plant-Based Garden, will be sharing tips on how to recreate the garden’s look and ethos at home.

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine has some great Make a Metre Matter ideas to try at home. More than 3,700 metres have already been registered at GardenersWorld.com for a chance to win £500 or £1,000 of Crocus vouchers. Gardeners and growers can also share a video of their metres with the BBC Gardeners’ World TV team for a possible TV appearance on 13th June. Award-winning designer Pip Probert (BBC 2 Your Garden Made Perfect) has created a Make a Metre Matter collection for BBC Gardeners’ World Live that includes a mini pollinator patch, pond and compost heap.

Adam Frost introduces an exciting new highlight at this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live with Adam Frost’s Tasting Table – an interactive and exclusive new gardening and gastronomy experience. The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter and keen veg grower welcomes culinary experts and guest chefs from sister event, Good Food Show Summer for live cooking demonstrations, kitchen gardening tips and inspiring conversations. Guests include Rachel Allen, Chris Bavin, Si King, James Martin, John Torode and Lisa Faulkner, plus Barney Desmazery and Cassie King from Good Food Magazine. Grab a spot at one of the drop-in viewing positions around the perimeter.

Also new is the ‘In Conversation With’ Stage where award-winning gardener, writer and presenter Ade Sellars (The Good Life Gardener) hosts a daily programme of relaxed garden and lifestyle chat with acclaimed horticulturalists and gardening personalities. Guests include BBC Gardeners’ World’s Sue Kent, Pip Probert and Jason Williams (Cloud Gardener UK).

Visitors can look forward to all of BBC Gardeners’ World Live’s much-loved features. This year’s large-scale, inspirational Show Gardens include the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity Medicinal Garden, designed by Rupert Keys from TASK Academy. Designed as a space for healing, The Medicinal Garden tells stories of survival through the language of nature. More than just a collection of plants, it is a living tribute to early medicine and second chances. Every bloom symbolises a life saved, every pathway a journey of recovery, and every tree a reminder of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s role in giving people another opportunity to thrive. The garden will be relocated from BBC Gardeners’ World Live to the new Midlands Air Ambulance site at Shifnal in Shropshire.

For the second year in a row at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, award-winning designer Kitti Kovacs is partnering with My Garden Escape at QVC. This year’s Show Garden is The Reflective Retreat, a tranquil design that combines a contemplative aesthetic with practical solutions for gardening in a changing climate. Central to the design is a waterfall cascading into a pool, surrounded by flood-friendly planting. The soothing sound of water creates a calming, meditative atmosphere, inviting visitors to pause and reflect. A striking glass water feature adds a modern, sculptural touch, reflecting both the natural and designed elements of the garden, and shifting its appearance as the light changes throughout the day.

The garden encourages visitors to consider how simple changes in their own outdoor spaces can help conserve water and reduce their environmental impact.

Further Show Gardens include the Vihara Meditation Garden by Sarah Coe at Derby College. Designed on Buddhist principles, the Meditation Garden provides a tranquil space for mindfulness, meditation, and connection with nature and has been created for the Birmingham Buddhist Vihara Temple. Garden Organic’s Rooted in Nature garden has nature and nourishment at its heart, showing how diversely planted kitchen gardens can provide fresh food for the family while buffering the biodiversity crisis. Based around the Charity’s research paper, Every Garden Matters, the garden demonstrates easy ways to maximise wildlife and manage water while growing your own food.

The Garden of Reflection by Marc Buirski (2 Forks and a Spade) is an educational garden, designed to actively involve students in the creation and upkeep of the space, fostering a sense of ownership, responsibility and connection to the environment, which in turn promotes a sense of pride and accomplishment. The process of nurturing plants offers a calming, therapeutic experience, helping reduce stress and anxiety and creating a supportive, peaceful environment for personal growth. The Greenfingers Charity Anniversary Garden designed by Pip Probert is a sensory garden for children of all abilities which celebrates the children’s hospice garden charity’s 25th anniversary. The New Build Garden by Lucie and Henry Ponsford (Mimosa Design) is a modern vision of a new build garden which repurposes waste materials and creates a sustainable yet luxurious sanctuary.  

The mid-sized Showcase Gardens include Sunflower Power by Beth’s Sunflowers, in partnership with Jack Moody Landscaping and Hannah Thomas Garden Design, Just a Garden … by Carleen Osborne, The Nectary by Kate Patrick, Think, All things Pink by Samantha Stringer, The Earth Heals by Sue Arthur, The Wildlife Garden by Tom Cave Saunders and Uniting Land and Sea by Samantha Theakstone. The Beautiful Borders offer small garden inspiration with the creative theme of 'Cultivating Connections'. This year’s entries include a wide array of interpretations, including a design by Lego which combines live planting with creations from its Botanicals floral range.

In the Association of Professional Landscapers’ popular APL Avenue, three member companies will be showcasing their technical skills, attention to detail and creative use of materials with exciting back garden designs inspired by water. This year’s entries are The Watershed Garden by The Botanical Gardener, A Garden For All Weathers by August Ponds, and Wallace Line by Dave Hodson. The APL celebrates its 30th anniversary with a feature garden by designer Rachel Bailey, called Where There’s Water, There’s Life.

You’re never far from a BBC Gardeners’ World presenter at the Birmingham NEC! This year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre lineup includes Monty Don, Adam Frost, Nick Bailey, Frances Tophill and Rachel De Thame – all live in conversation with Nicki Chapman, sharing summer garden tips with the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors, and signing copies of their latest books. Theatre sponsor, British Garden Centres, will be hosting daily sessions too.

At the heart of BBC Gardeners’ World Live is the fantastic Floral Marquee, sponsored by Legal & General. This plant-filled paradise is a sensory sensation. Head for the Let’s Talk Plants stage hosted by David Hurrion for expert plant advice from guests including Monty Don, Adam Frost, Sue Kent and Charles Carr, Head of Wholesale Nurseries for stage sponsor, Hillier. Visit the Hot Off The Potting Bench walk-through gallery for brand new plants and varieties, all entered for the coveted Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant. Returning to the Floral Marquee is the International Orchid Show, hosted by the British Orchid Council. This ‘show within a show’ features stunning displays and expert advice from specialist orchid societies and nurseries.

The Young People in Horticulture Association will be unveiling a brand new Begonia in the finale of the Launch Success Challenge, designed to develop the next generation of horticultural talent. Supported by BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Beekenkamp Plants and British Garden Centres, the Challenge programme offers business and marketing training and skills to teams of young horticultural professionals to bring an unreleased plant to market. The new Begonia will be launched at the NEC and will be available to buy from the British Garden Centres on-site shop.

Got a pressing plant problem? Pay a visit to the BBC Gardeners’ World Live Plant Experts, Lucy Chamberlain and Saul Walker, at their one-to-one advice desk. The pair will also be hosting garden tours and walks. The Horticultural Trade Association will be on hand to share information about Plant Healthy which encourages the growing, buying and selling of healthy plants to help protect plants, landscape and wildlife. Pot Swap by Wool-Pots will be exchanging plastic pots from plants bought at the show for a sustainable alternative, and Legal & General customers can enjoy an exclusive Lounge, surrounded by the Floral Marquee’s wonderful plants.  

There’s superb shopping to be had at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, both indoors and out. Bring a shopping list and head for the Floral Marquee and Plant Village for a vast range of plants to browse and buy, with hundreds of high-quality retailers selling garden accessories, décor, tools, equipment and furniture.  Indoor gardeners will love the new Green Rooms. This house plant heaven hosted by Sarah Gerrard-Jones (@theplantrescuer) and Ian Morrison (Liquid Gold Leaf) features plant-packed stalls, pots and accessories, expert plant care advice, talks and workshops. For hands-free shopping, drop your plants at the Plant Crèche and collect them when you leave, and use the car collection service for heavier items.

The Health for Life Wheelbarrow Competition returns for 2025, nurturing the next generation of gardeners, designers and growers. Children from local schools and nurseries will be creating wheelbarrow planters with a ‘food and climate change’ theme. Children can also enjoy getting hands-on at the show at daily drop-in sessions with Magic Cat Publishing to celebrate Frances Tophill’s new children’s book, How to Grow a Garden, Find a Plant for Every Place. Frances will be signing copies of her book on the Saturday. Children aged five and under go free every day and under 16s go free at the weekend (tickets required). Visiting BBC Gardeners’ World Live for the first-time is the global TV phenomenon, Bluey, who will be making some special weekend appearances at the bandstand. Families are invited to join Bluey on Saturday and Sunday for a free meet, greet and photo (pre booking is required).

Tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Live include entry to Good Food Show Summer, featuring demonstrations and theatres, stages and talks, tastings and workshops. There’s plenty of street food options, delicious food and drink to taste and buy, and toe-tapping live entertainment to enjoy. Celebrity chefs include Rachel Allen, Jane Dunn, Lisa Faulkner, Nadiya Hussain, Si King, James Martin, Tony Singh, Cyrus Todiwala and John Torode. Visitors can dine in style at the Good Food Restaurant, inspired by the country’s leading food website, goodfood.com. Gardening and cooking experts from both events will be signing copies of their latest books.

Lucy Tremlett, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “Tens of thousands of visitors come to BBC Gardeners’ World Live every year for garden inspiration, take-home ideas and superb garden shopping. We’re really excited about Make a Metre Matter this year which we’re sure is going to capture people’s imaginations. Designing your own eco-friendly metres at home is a great way to get creative and help the planet at the same time. Whether you’re admiring Nick Bailey’s Plant-Based Garden, discovering an exciting new plant, or getting some great advice from your favourite BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, there really is no better place to spend a summer’s day. Add live entertainment, great food and drink, and Good Food Show Summer in the price of your ticket, and you’ve got a cracking day out.”

Tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC Birmingham (12-15 June), including entry to Good Food Show Summer, are on sale now at www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

PATS 2025 – the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show – will stage its biggest ever show as it moves to its new home of Hall 1 of the NEC Birmingham. The three-day event will take place from Sunday, 28th September to Tuesday, 30th September 2025, with pet & aquatics retailers and garden centres being invited to register for free entry.

More than 300 companies and brands have already booked stand space, and the final total is expected to be well over 400, which will be a PATS record.

“The demand for stand space at PATS has been phenomenal - PATS 2025 is already larger than when the doors opened on the show last year,” said PATS event director Gordon Thomas.

“Registration for visitors is now open on our website so all pet retailers and buyers can now sign up for their free show entry.”

Showcasing all the latest launches under one roof, the show’s reputation has grown impressively over the past 16 years since launching in 2009. With such a winning formula, PATS has become the ‘must-visit’ event for UK and international retailers and buyers.

If retailers and buyers need more encouragement to register now for free entry to the three-day exhibition, here’s just a quick summary of the popular visitor attractions:

• The biggest ever New Product Showcase
• The Aquatics Zone, a dedicated area for aquatics, watergardening and reptile exhibitors
• The New Starter Zone, a space hosting new businesses and start-ups
• Top groomers giving insightful demonstrations, workshops and talks
• Unrivalled show offers and competitions
• Free entry and free show catalogue

PATS 2025 is also being staged alongside BETA International, the leading equestrian trade show taking place in Hall 2 at the NEC on Sunday, 28^th September and Monday, 29^th September 2025. It means that retailers and buyers will be able to visit both shows, and to make things simple visitors will only have to register once, with BETA International visitors being given access to PATS and vice versa.

You can register now online at www.patshow.co.uk where you’ll also find a full list of exhibitors.

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Now that we're in March, garden lovers across the UK are actively revamping their outdoor spaces — and this momentum is just beginning. Last year, keyword searches in the Home & Garden category peaked at 37 million as we entered March, highlighting a key moment of shopper interest. With demand expected to continue throughout spring, now is the time for sellers to maximise visibility and stay top of mind. 

While cost and value remain front of mind for many, new eBay Advertising research shows that gardens are a priority. 70% of green-fingered Brits surveyed plan to purchase items for their outdoor spaces this year, with 39% saying they’ll spend more this year than last.  

And nearly half (46%) of eBay shoppers say they’re more likely to purchase a garden item after seeing an advert, reinforcing the role of targeted promotions in driving sales. 

Brits are choosing home over holidays 

With rising costs putting pressure on discretionary spending, some consumers are prioritising their gardens over leisure experiences. The research reveals that 1 in 10 (10%) of those planning garden purchases are doing so instead of going on holiday.  

More than half (57%) of shoppers looking to refresh their outdoor spaces this year are preparing for spring and summer. 39% plan to spend more on their gardens than in the past one to two years, reflecting ongoing investment in home spaces despite financial pressures. This rises to 43% among eBay shoppers specifically. 

Cost-conscious consumers on the hunt for deals 

Savvy shoppers are taking a strategic approach to their garden purchases, ensuring they find the best value before committing to buy. The study reveals that 74% of consumers surveyed are more likely to buy a garden item if it’s on sale, underscoring the role of deals and promotions. Additionally, 68% of respondents research their purchases in advance to secure the best price.  

Cost remains a crucial consideration, with 61% of garden shoppers citing affordability as a key factor in their decision-making. Meanwhile, among those not planning to spend on their garden this year, 37% point to budget constraints as their main reason for holding back. 

eBay.co.uk platform data from 2024 shows that searches for seeds and plants peak in early spring, showing strong demand for budget-friendly gardening essentials. Searches for “seeds” peaked during the third week of March last year (18th March), rising 9% on the previous week, while interest in “plants” surged during the first week of April (1st April), rising 11% on the week-on-week. 

The spring spending surge 

Despite financial constraints, enthusiasm for garden improvements remains high. The research finds that 72% of garden owners enjoy spending money on enhancing their outdoor spaces. Among planned purchases, plants (57%), compost (39%) and seeds (36%) are the most sought-after. 

In contrast to the early spring surge in searches for seeds and plants, eBay.co.uk platform data reveals that larger investments, such as garden furniture, followed a more gradual trend. In 2024, searches for garden furniture, garden sofas and garden tables in the home and garden category steadily increased during the spring period. Searches peaked during the third week of April (15th April), a 27% increase on the same week in March, suggesting a considered approach to summer preparations. 

Billy Mills, Sr Director, Global Advertising at eBay commented: “Spring shopping is officially underway, making this a crucial time for brands and sellers to capture early interest. As consumers look to refresh their gardens, affordability remains front of mind. Sellers should focus on boosting visibility through promotions and deals, as shoppers are increasingly researching and comparing options before purchasing.  

“eBay Advertising offers data-driven solutions like Promoted Listings, helping ensure products stand out at the right moment. By capturing attention early in the season, brands and sellers can convert intent into sales, drive conversions, and stay ahead in a competitive market.” 

The sunshine of Saturday 8^th March saw the two newest members of the growing British Garden Centre empire open. Gloucester Garden Centre and Hieghley Gate near Morpeth, both had their official launches yesterday.

284 miles and 4 ½ hour drive apart, Garden Trade News attended both launches. Queues of customer were already forming at Gloucester Garden Centre by 8.00am on Saturday morning, 2 hours before the opening with the official ribbon cutting by TV gardener, David Domoney.

David was joined by members of the BGC Family including Lyn who has worked at the site for 35 years and Ian who has seen 28 years service. Both have been there through the management of the centre by Jardinerie, Blooms, Wyevale and Dobbies and along with Mandy and colleagues in the completely refurbished Gardeners Retreat restaurant all agreed that joining the British Garden Centres Family is the best yet. Ian added that it is 20 years ago this weekend since he was involved in the ribbon cutting at the centre when the new Blooms development was completed.

Staff from nearby Brockworth Garden Centre, which became part of the BGC family back in 2018 when Wyevale first started reducing the size of their estate were down to help colleagues with the opening, and many of the staff, kept on from Dobbies days have been up for training, Amber the till supervisor said.

Many staff have been TUPE’d over from Dobbies, and have been working flat out over the past five weeks since the lease was agreed with the landlord to get the centre ready for this weekend. “Building display stands, merchandising stock, painting restaurant walls, screwing legs on our lovely new furniture and learning how to work our fantastic new carvery servery are all tasks we have willing taken on these past few weeks. It is just lovely to have a company that cares about the business, the staff and customers after the last few years we have had”.

Matthew Urbanowicz, the Centre Manager, said “it is great to have my centre back and be building my team again. Life got very tough with Dobbies, and we knew things were not going the right way. It was very unsettling for the team and we lost a few, but the effort and energy they have all put in over recent weeks has been fantastic, I am so proud. What we have all pulled together and achieved in the past five weeks is amazing.”

Suppliers have been busy too, with many new stands and lots of product flowing in. Keen offers and powerful merchandising is very much the form, and good introductory offers will soon see gaps on shelves and dump bins needing restocking. Strong sales were evident, customers queuing to get in and queuing to get out through the tills with trollies loaded with plants, compost and everything gardening.

Concessions, many also retained on site from the previous management, some new and others expanding too. The Works joined in the opening ceremony, Cotton Traders, Tiger Buildings were all looking forward optimistically to levels of trade and the Crazy Golf concession was already doing great trade.

Customers were also happy, one told GTN Xtra “we moved from Thornbury near Bristol, where we used to have a super garden centre that went seriously downhill when they were taken over, so when we moved to the south side of Gloucester we were recommended by our new neighbours to go up to Brockworth that British Garden Centres had recently taken over. It was lovely, and the staff were all so helpful, so when we heard a couple of weeks ago that the same family were going to running this one we were very happy. It saves us a 10 mile journey up the road and we have a lovely café too which was the only thing we did miss at Brockworth!”

Another customer said: “I have been a professional gardener all my working life, what I have seen so far is wonderful and I wish the Family all the luck in the world.”

See our photo tour of Gloucester Garden Centre below

Thousands of customers queued in the Morpeth sunshine on Saturday morning in anticipation of the official re-opening of Heighley Gate Garden Centre after a six-week turnaround from an empty vacated Dobbies site into a buzzing, colourful, well stocked garden centre by the British Garden Centres Family.

TV Gardening superstar Adam Frost carried out the ribbon cutting ceremony, welcoming the customers into the centre before spending time chatting with them and presenting a talk in the planteria.

British Garden Centres MD, Charles Stubbs arrived just as the centre opened, having travelled up from Havant where he had been helping with the preparations there for next weeks opening on the South coast.

Charles told GTN Xtra: “I’m so proud of the BGC team for the efforts they have put in to open these centres, so well, so quickly.  I’ve probably run out of favours with suppliers, they have all been so helpful in supplying stock and plants plus helping with merchandising.”

“Thank you to all BGC Team Family members who have helped from across the North region.  This is a special opportunity for us to further develop this amazing 40 acre site.”

The help across the area was evident in the re-design of the restaurant where the Heighley Gate Team were at Gosforth three weeks ago helping their re-design and then came back to complete their own. 

Customers were amazed at the range of products now stocked and the choice.  “The scones are the best ever” said one very happy visitor.

By 11:00am the tills were ring with trolleys full of plants and products.  Marshalling the queue and chatting with customers was Amy Stubbs keeping the queue moving as fast as possible.  Although at one point the queue stretched back to the other side of the centre, everyone was happy, getting their 10% discount of the day and eating the opening cup cakes the tea were constantly offering to them.

As we left the centre at 1:00pm, Charles was busy collecting trolleys from the car park.  “I told them they would need more trolleys!”

Prosper Garden Centre Buying Group is delighted to announce that Henry Street Garden Centre has joined its network of award-winning centres. This strategic move aligns with Prosper’s ongoing growth plan, which focuses on strengthening its membership with family-owned independent garden centres.

Terry Head, Stewarts Retail & Marketing Director and Chairman of Prosper, commented: “At our annual strategic meeting, we identified independent, family-owned garden centres that align with our values and bring valuable experience to the group. Henry Street Garden Centre is a perfect fit, reinforcing our commitment to collaboration and excellence in the industry.”

“Now, with ten independent, family-owned businesses working together, our collective strength is more important than ever. In these challenging economic times and at the beginning of a crucial season, seeing our members unite to share knowledge, enhance efficiencies, and grow together is inspiring. We are excited about the opportunities that the addition of Henry Street will bring to the group.”

Alan Goold, one of the Henry Street Business Partners, says: “We are very pleased to become part of the Prosper Group. As a family-run business for over 100 years, we have weathered and benefited from the ever-changing horticultural industry, and we feel this is the right next step in an ever more competitive market.  We look forward to working in cooperation with a group of like-minded businesses to help benefit both our customers and suppliers going forward.”

The addition of Henry Street Garden Centre marks another milestone for Prosper Buying Group, which continues to champion excellence, innovation, and shared success within the horticultural retail sector.

Contrary to recent reports in the media of the decline of UK garden centres, leading specialist garden centre and horticultural chartered surveyor Simon Quinton Smith explains why he believes the future of garden centres is actually looking rosy.

“There has been some recent media speculation that garden centres are increasingly under threat of closure. This is just not true.

As the industry knows, Dobbies have closed some of their garden centres, and they have also gone to some of their landlords on their leasehold garden centres, to renegotiate the rents downwards.

In many cases, the landlords have refused to renegotiate the rents and in these situations other garden centres, including Squires, British Garden Centre Group and Blue Diamond have moved into these garden centres, with the knowledge that with their form of retailing, they can make good profits.

Garden centres, like many UK businesses, are under pressure due to falling volumes, and increased costs still accruing with rises in minimum wage, Employer’s National Insurance Contribution plus the increase in rates payable.

However, Britain is a nation of gardeners and although the percentage of plants sold as part of the total turnover has dropped over the years, the total amount of plants sold has not.

The reason for the drop is due to the success of other departments, particularly catering, farm shops and Christmas.   Additionally with customers coming into garden centres to view big ticket products, such as garden furniture and barbeques, and then buying online.

The weather also plays an important factor in turnover and profitability, particularly due to the increase in the amount of rain that we have been receiving at normally busy times of the year, Spring and Autumn.

There is a global community of garden centre owners, who meet every year in a different part of the world, last year in Canada, this year South Africa, and next year Germany, and it is from these trips and meetings that new ideas are learnt.  As I understand it the idea of Pet Cafés, Cappuccinos and Puppuccinos, came when a British garden centre owner saw one in Australia.

Garden centres continue to innovate, who else does Christmas quite so well?  Who has restaurants with 150 – 300 covers, often frequented a number of times a week by loyal customers?

Garden centres are not just about plants and garden sundries. There are pets, aquatics, hot tubs, country and chic clothing, farm shops and food halls. There is always a reason to go to a garden centre, whether or not you have a garden, and in this regard houseplants, which have long been a staple in Europe, have now received a resurgence in this country following Covid.

Garden centres are not just retail places, they are entertainment with children’s play centres, craft centres, gardening workshops, nature trails, and breakfast with Santa.   Anyone out there who is concerned about the future of garden centres, please don’t worry, they are here to stay.”

Blue Diamond has announced the acquisition of two Dobbies Garden Centres – Harlestone Heath and Huntingdon – a move that will push the company’s turnover to over £400 million, an industry first, no other garden centre group has achieved this milestone and therefore cementing its leadership in the garden centre industry.

Both Harlestone Heath and Huntingdon will undergo major refurbishment work, including a complete overhaul of their layouts and new shopfitting. These transformations will position them as go-to garden centre destinations, with Harlestone Heath expected to reopen at the end of March, while Huntingdon will follow at the beginning of April.  The opening of these two centres will also create new opportunities for local job seekers.  For more information about the Blue Diamond experience, visit bluediamond.gg.

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond, shared, “Harlestone Heath and Huntingdon both offer great potential, and we’re pleased to bring our unique retail experience to these locations. With our vision for their transformation, we look forward to delivering a newly enhanced shopping experience that will resonate with our customers.”

Blue Diamond also looks forward to further growth, with an additional acquisition planned for 10th March, when the Aylesbury site (formerly known as World’s End) will join the Blue Diamond family.

Grass Gains, the innovative lawncare brand transforming the UK gardening retail market, has announced the appointment of Steve Harper as its new Managing Director, effective April 1st, 2025. 

Harper, formerly CEO of Southern Trident and Chair of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme, brings a wealth of industry experience and a strong track record of delivering sustainable growth and innovation.

With a distinguished career in the horticultural sector, Harper has been a leading voice in responsible sourcing, sustainable gardening, and driving new product development. His leadership at Southern Trident saw the company establish itself as a major player in the peat-free growing media market, and his work with the Responsible Sourcing Scheme has been instrumental in shaping sustainable practices across the industry.

Steve Harper expressed his enthusiasm for joining Grass Gains: “I am incredibly excited to be joining Grass Gains at such a pivotal moment for the business. The team is bringing a fresh, whole new approach to lawncare that resonates with modern UK gardeners who want effective, sustainable solutions. I look forward to working with the team to build on their success, grow the brand, and continue to make a real impact in the market.”

Grass Gains has quickly established itself as a disruptor in the lawncare sector, offering innovative solutions tailored to today’s environmentally conscious gardeners. With Harper at the helm, the company is poised for strong growth, reinforcing its position as a market leader.

Rob Landymore Co-Founder of Grass Gains, welcomed Steve’s appointment: “Having Steve on board is a huge step forward for Grass Gains. His experience, industry insight, and passion for sustainable innovation will be invaluable as we continue to expand.”

Henri Lansbury Co-Founder of Grass Gains, added: “We are looking forward to an exciting period of growth and development, and Steve’s leadership will be crucial in driving the business forward over the coming months and years.”

Leading plant pot innovator, elho, has announced a strategic expansion of its UK sales force, reinforcing its commitment to growth and market development across the country.

The newly appointed sales professionals will play a vital role in enhancing elho’s presence within the industry, fostering strong customer relationships, and furthering the company’s strategic partnerships, all while driving revenue and market share.

In the Southeast, elho welcomes James Worby as area sales agent. With an extensive background and over 14 years as a sales representative for gardening brands like EP Barrus, Garland and Rosewood Pet Products, James brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Supporting him in the region are Ollie Bedborough, Sam Bear, and Kevin Goodchild, who will assist in delivering elho’s growth plans.

The Southwest region will be overseen by Andy Harding, who rejoins the company as an agent following a previous role as an area account manager. With previous industry experience gained at Gardman and WHM Pet Group, Andy is well-equipped to drive sales and engagement for the sustainable plant pot innovator. Supporting him in this goal is Araminta Baylis, who will collaborate closely to enhance client relations and meet elho’s upcoming targets.

In Oxfordshire and Berkshire, Andy Mold steps into the role of independent sales agent. With over 40 years of experience in the sector, Andy brings deep industry knowledge and expertise to his position.

This expansion underlines elho’s ongoing investment in its people and partners, reinforcing its dedication to help its customers nationwide increase centre footfall and drive sales.

The new agents will join with elho’s existing knowledgeable team, including area managers Jonathon Holden and Shaun Wixey, and account managers Chris Buck, Adam Last and Louise Hoskins. Barry Scott continues to lead in Scotland while Ivan Ogborn executes the elho strategy for the Irish market. Nationally, the team will work collaboratively to nurture client relationships and further the offering of elho across the country.

David Nicholson, UK & ROW sales manager for elho, commented: “We’re thrilled to introduce the latest members to the UK sales team and extend a warm welcome into the elho family. With an extensive yet diverse array of backgrounds, proven accomplishments in sales and customer service, and vast industry experience, I have no doubt the new team will be a hugely beneficial asset to elho and our partners across the country.

“Our product portfolio is always expanding to give retailers a wide selection of sustainable and stylish options, I am certain that our team’s expertise and passion will continue to nurture these key accounts while helping them drive sales.”

To further elho’s commitment to its customers, the company has introduced a dedicated telephone number to allow direct access to its UK customer relations team lead, Valeria Arias. Stockists with queries or requiring information can contact Valeria on 01202 160750.

Offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor innovations, elho products are available in major garden centres and retail chains across the country including Dobbies and Tillington & Prosper buying group members.

All elho products are made from 100 percent recycled materials using renewable energy, including that generated by elho’s own wind turbine located at its headquarters in Tilburg, Holland.

To find out more about elho visit www.elho.com

GTN February 2025. GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards Special issue: Christmas Greatness Awarded at Spring Fair, Retailing at its best – GCA Conference Awards, Forging ahead with UK Firepits, Christmas through the eyes of a Greatest Awards judge, Greatest Christmas Award Winners including: Birkacre, Gates, Brigg, Cook’s, Munro’s, Coolings, Monkton Elm, Pugh’s, Alton, Duchy of Cornwall Nursery, Newquay, Harrogate, Webbs, Ruxley Manor, Polhill, Studley, Perrywood, Baytree, Notcutts Solihull, Wolesely Bridge, Albrighton, Glendoick, Garsons, Castle Gardens, Wentworth, Old Railway Line, Arcadia, Newbridge, Gouldings, Poundbury, Bents, Rivendell, Sanders and many more, Moments of Christmas Brilliance, 10 years at Greenfingers for Linda Petrons, New Plants Galore at IPM Essen, Politics doesn’t matter – EHG Column, Focus for 2025 – HTA Column, Adapting to changing climates – LOFA Column, A year of reset and growth? – GIMA Column.