In This Issue
Sales bounce back up with plants leading the way
Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages - Read GTN's April issue on-line now
Iglu 360 is the perfect outdoor dining experience for garden centres
Woodlodge win GCA Supplier of the Year Award
Bents receives Covid-secure recognitions as it opens up alfresco dining
Greenfingers says thank you to LOFA
Swedish success story for Highfield Garden World protégé
Frosty effect on plant sales
'Frosty' Spring fails to halt sales to UK
How The Real Soil Company is driving sales in store with informative packaging and PoS
Hofats win two German Design Awards
BaltCap sells EKJU to AMATA
Door knockers make good first impression
No bubble burst yet for garden centre sales volumes
Dobbies hosts great pizza virtual event with Ooni Pizza Ovens
Horticulture students get financial boost for futures
RHS Gardens welcome two new National Collections
Gardena searches for UK's most passionate gardener
Have your say on the future of Glee - Survey closes on Monday 26th April
Drought-proofing lawns with Johnsons Lawn Seed
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
AMES UK demonstrate their commitment to people
Gardening demand at an all time high
It's official: the UK is a nation of gardeners
Gardeners delight for Grow Your Own
GIMA confirms Scarlet Opus to return for new series of virtual webinars
30% more growing going on
Promotion for Haskins Garden Centre’s Catering Manager
RHS & Biscuiteers collection launched by renowned British hand-iced biscuit company
Gardena honoured with Red Dot Design Awards
AIPH World Green City Awards launched to champion ‘Living Green’
Hotter and RHS announce new spring/summer canvas shoe range
The best of last week's
David Isaac says farewell to Johnsons of Boston
Dobbies acquires Johnsons Garden Centre
Honeyfield’s, the gift that keeps on giving
Time to stock up for spring!
Allensmore receive Klondyke’s Plant Supplier of the Year Award
Seventh generation Durston joins family business
Squire’s Garden Centre Reigate receives GCA GROW training award
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
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
It’s not just furry animals that have been popular in lockdown
Eezy Peezy! for lawns – it helps to prevent burn marks
Wild bird feeders from Henry Bell boast unique design
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Sales bounce back up with plants leading the way

After the dip reported last week, this weeks GTN Bestsellers Epos data analysis shows sales bouncing back to levels even higher than seen over Easter...


After the dip reported last week, this weeks GTN Bestsellers Epos data analysis shows sales bouncing back to levels even higher than the Easter 2021 weeks.

 

Plants led the way, up 47% week on week, while total volume sales grew by 26%.

 

See the full GTN Bestsellers Analysis of garden centre Epos data with Top 50 Bestsellers charts in the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter by subscribing here.

 

 

Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages - Read GTN's April issue on-line now

In GTN's April issue of news and information for garden centre professionals:

  • Back to the NEC for Glee!
  • Life – Norfolk Leisure Style
  • 1000 years and growing at Coolings
  • Investment is back on the agenda for garden centres
  • Pictures of a Record Easter from Aylett Nurseries, Burston Garden Centre and Scotsdales
  • Unprecedented demand leads to stock shortages
  • Enhancing our understanding of New Gardeners
  • GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
  • B-bag takes Extreme Lounging to new places
    LOFA Update – Are we over the worst of the shortages?
  • HTA Column – Success Brings Stress

 


Unprecedented Demand - Record Easter garden centre sales lead to stock shortages.  

 

In GTN's April issue of news and information for garden centre professionals:

  • Back to the NEC for Glee!
  • Life – Norfolk Leisure Style
  • 1000 years and growing at Coolings
  • Investment is back on the agenda for garden centres
  • Pictures of a Record Easter from Aylett Nurseries, Burston Garden Centre and Scotsdales
  • Unprecedented demand leads to stock shortages
  • Enhancing our understanding of New Gardeners
  • GIMA Charity Golf Day returns this summer
  • B-bag takes Extreme Lounging to new places
    LOFA Update – Are we over the worst of the shortages?
  • HTA Column – Success Brings Stress

Iglu 360 is the perfect outdoor dining experience for garden centres
GTN Xtra Promotion

More popular than ever, the Iglu360 is the must have for the latest contemporary look to upgrade your garden centre restaurant...


More popular than ever, the Iglu360 is the must have for the latest contemporary look to upgrade your garden centre restaurant, ensuring to be the most booked-up attraction throughout the UK...

  • Popular during Winter as they provide a heated covered outdoor seating area.
    Just as popular in Summer when the clear PVC cover can be simply removed (partially or completely).
    Great return on your investment, as guests are prepared to pay extra for this novelty and also extends your indoor seating capacity to the outdoors. 
    The Iglu360 dome is comfortable for up to 8 people.

 

Why?

  • Thanks to over 14 years’ experience in the event and hospitality industry, we have a keen understanding of our customers needs.
    The demand for heated, outdoor seating continues to grow.
    Customers value a personal and intimate experience where they can spend quality time together.
    Revenue from Iglu bookings exceeded our catering revenue, confirming their popularity with our customers.
    Our Iglu’s create perfect exterior seating areas for all seasons.
    For pop-up bars and events, we have created our screw-free speedy bracket system. Fast and easy setup within 15 minutes and without to use of power tools.
    Our Iglu’s have been manufactured using high quality 40mm plywood and 0.8mm durable PVC covers. They are manufactured in the UK to the highest quality.

 

| FAST AND EASY SETUP
| EASY TO TRANSPORT
| DURABLE MATERIALS
| ANY COLOUR OPTION POSSIBLE
| GREAT RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT

 

 

Download the Iglu360 brochure here

 

 

 

 

www.iglu360.uk 
sales@iglu360.uk 
+44 (0) 1202 985255 

 

 

 

 

 

Woodlodge win GCA Supplier of the Year Award
‘Highly Commended’ awards to Gisela Graham, Melcourt, Smart, Farplants & Allensmore

The team at Woodlodge Products are celebrating this week after being presented with the GCA’s 2020 Associate of the Year Award...


The team at Woodlodge Products are celebrating this week after being presented with the GCA’s 2020 Associate of the Year Award

 

Members were asked to vote for the supplier, a GCA Associate member, which had done the most for their business and the industry through support, service and innovation last year.

 

Woodlodge Products’ Director, Michael Wooldridge says: “We are delighted to have been awarded the GCA Associate of the Year, which symbolises our commitment to providing a high level of personal service to all our customers. It is great to be recognised in this achievement!

 

“Despite the many challenges that the pandemic has brought us, last year was an amazing year, which took us all by surprise. The commitment and enthusiasm from everyone at Woodlodge meant that we pulled through and this award is testament to the continued hard work, passion and dedication of the team.

 

“2021 has brought new challenges with production stretched to meet the huge demand. We’ve implemented a stock allocation system, so that stock is distributed fairly to our garden centre customers nationwide. We would like to thank our customers for their ongoing support through what looks to be another extraordinary year.”

 

The GCA normally announces the winner of the Associate of the Year Award at its annual conference in January but was unable, understandably, to host the event this year.

 

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, explains: “It’s wonderful to once again be presenting this award to such a worthy winner. Woodlodge are consistently highly rated by our members, are very well respected in the sector and are worthy winners.

 

“We usually announce the recipient at our annual Conference in January, and they are presented with the Haskins Stewarts Cup, but, of course, this year we haven’t been able to hold it as normal. However, we still wanted to make this award and waited until it was safe to do so. Will Blake, GCA Executive Committee member, travelled to Woodlodge to make the presentation this week.

 

 

“The award idea was initiated originally by two well-known industry members Martin Stewart and Warren Haskins, who were lifelong friends, local business competitors and longstanding GCA members, as well as past Chairmen. They gave us the Cup to present, which is returned and given each year to the new winner. The winner also receives a glass plaque to keep.

 

“Five other companies have been recognised for their hard work in supporting garden centres too. We’re delighted to present ‘Highly Commended’ awards to Gisela Graham Ltd, Melcourt Industries Ltd, Smart Garden Products Ltd, The Farplants Group and Allensmore Nurseries Ltd.

 

“Members voted in record numbers and there were many popular choices, so this year, given the particularly difficult circumstances in which our Associate Members have been operating, we felt it was right to recognise them. 

 

“We would like to extend our hearty congratulations to them and to thank them for their ongoing contribution to our industry.”

 

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

 

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

 

For further information, please call 01244 952170. Alternatively, please visit www.gca.org.uk, log on to www.facebook.com/pages/GardenCentreAssociation or follow the organisation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GC_Association.

Bents receives Covid-secure recognitions as it opens up alfresco dining

Bents Garden & Home has received recognition of its high standards of customer care, having been presented with two Covid secure accreditations which it hopes will further help visitors to feel safe and welcome at the family owned and run centre...


Bents Garden & Home has received recognition of its high standards of customer care, having been presented with two Covid secure accreditations which it hopes will further help visitors to feel safe and welcome at the family owned and run centre.

 

The accreditations include the Visit Britain We’re Good to Go award and the AA’s Covid Safe recognition and both have been secured in time for the opening up of Bents’ alfresco dining destinations; providing further peace of mind for customers looking to take advantage of the next step in the Government’s Road Map.

 

Whilst Bents has continued to provide customers with takeaway options throughout the latest lockdown, it can now offer a number of alfresco dining destinations throughout the store, all of which offer a delicious choice of homemade, freshly prepared food. 

 

In addition to the outdoor seating areas located next to Bents’ Alfresco Huts, Pet Café and Jurassic Cove Adventure Golf Course, it has also extended the area around it’s picturesque lake. Alfresco Lakeside Dining includes an extensive decking area and a covered marquee area, which is open sided in compliance with Government guidelines, and offers shelter from the elements.

 

Whilst prior booking is required for Alfresco Lakeside Dining, which can be made online at bents.co.uk or in store on the day, Bents additional outdoor dining options are all open on a take away or walk-in basis. 

 

Says Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home: “We are so pleased to be able to widen our food offering with these alfresco dining options.  Food is one of our huge passions so it is great to be welcoming guests again and hope they enjoy dining with us over the coming weeks. 

 

“The two accreditations we have received from Visit Britain and the AA mean a great deal to us.  They are two hugely respected organisations so we hope the awards will help provide even more confidence for our customers as we continue to navigate the Covid roadmap.”

 
Greenfingers says thank you to LOFA
Trade association donates £10,000 to support the work of charity

The Greenfingers Charity is offering its thanks to The Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) following the trade association’s kind donation of £10,000...


The Greenfingers Charity is offering its thanks to The Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) following the trade association’s kind donation of £10,000.  

 

This generous donation will help to kickstart work at Greenfingers’ latest project at The Nook - a children’s hospice in Norfolk which falls under the umbrella of East Anglia Children’s Hospices. 

 

Speaking about the donation, Pravin Patel, Chairman of LOFA said: “We at LOFA are really so happy to be able to continue our on-going support for Greenfingers – particularly at a timewhen even more people need safe green places. It will be great to see the development of the new project at the Nook to the fantastic standards of the Greenfingers team”.

 

Linda Petrons, Greenfingers’ Director of Fundraising and Communications said: “We cannot thank our friends at LOFA enough for their support once again. This generous donation will be put to very good use helping to transform the garden at the hospice. On behalf of us all at Greenfingers – thank you!”

Swedish success story for Highfield Garden World protégé

 

The team at Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire is toasting the success of former member of staff Alcwyn Davies having heard the news that he has beaten 1,700 others to win a coveted award in his adopted home country of Sweden...


 

The team at Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire is toasting the success of former member of staff Alcwyn Davies having heard the news that he has beaten 1,700 others to win a coveted award in his adopted home country of Sweden.

 

Alcwyn made a big impression during his 12 years at Highfield.  In 2012 he moved to Sweden where he now works for Plantagen – the leading Nordic garden centre brand with more than 150 stores across Scandinavia.  After a competitive round where each store nominated a candidate, Alcwyn has been crowned ‘Employee of the Year’ in Sweden. 

 

Jon Mason, who is a Director and the Planteria Manager at Highfield, commented; “Alcywn literally could not tell a rose from a daffodil when he joined our planteria team back in 2000.  But he was a grafter with loads of energy and the gift of the gab.  He worked hard, learnt fast and became a real asset to the business – as popular with customers as he was with staff.  We were all sad to see him go when he upped sticks and moved to Sweden, but we’ve always kept in touch and we’re thrilled for him that he’s won this award.  Plantagen are lucky to have him.”

 

Alcwyn commented:  “Highfield was a fantastic place to begin my career in horticulture.  I knew nothing when I started, but the whole team was supportive, fun, and so knowledgeable that I was able to learn a huge amount in a short space of time. I’m really grateful to them for sowing the seeds of what has become a hugely fulfilling career for me, and receiving this award has been an especially proud moment.”

 

Alcwyn Davies during his Highfield Garden World days.

Frosty effect on plant sales

The continued cold wind and threat of frosts has definitely slowed the sales of plants, with volumes down 10% week on week and 8% down on the same week in 2019...


 

The continued cold wind and threat of frosts has definitely slowed the sales of plants, with volumes down 10% week on week and 8% down on the same week in 2019.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Tomato plants remain the No 1 Bestseller in the GTN Plants chart – let’s hope everyone is keeping them indoors for the time being!
  • Calibrachoa climbed furthest up the chart, moving up 25 places to No 15.
  • Geum are the highest Top 50 chart re-entry at No 21.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

'Frosty' Spring fails to halt sales to UK

Despite experiencing frost this Spring, Tuscany Growers are reporting increased sales and delivery to the UK. There is strong demand for Bamboo (phyllostachis), Rhyncopspermum, Photonias and Pleached Trees...


 

The severe frost that recently hit Italy caused damage to many plants in the Tuscany Region and in Pistoia in particular. These included those in blossom, new vegetations and fruit trees.

 

Despite this spring time shock, Tuscany Growers are delighted to report on increased sales and delivery to the UK. There is strong demand for Bamboo (phyllostachis), Rhyncopspermum, Photonias and Pleached Trees.

 

Tuscany Growers are also receiving high levels of 'views' to their impressive video 'tour'.

 

 

While personal visits to their nursery in Pistoia are restricted, you can click this link to view their high quality Tuscan Production!

 

 

https://www.tuscanygrowers.com/#section5

 

barbara@tuscanygrowers.com

 

www.tuscanygrowers.com

How The Real Soil Company is driving sales in store with informative packaging and PoS

Creating stand-out PoS in an increasingly saturated retail environment was a key consideration when the team at The Real Soil Company created the packaging for its new peat-free, organic and veganic topsoil, SuperSoil...


 

Creating stand-out PoS in an increasingly saturated retail environment was a key consideration when the team at The Real Soil Company created the packaging for its new peat-free, organic and veganic topsoil, SuperSoil.

 

The highly visual packaging and supporting point of sale has been designed to not only draw the eye from across the shopfloor but, more importantly, the design makes it easy for consumers to recognise the uses and applications of SuperSoil without having to delve into the small print.  The artfully displayed handrawn gardeners, vegetables and flowers, and ‘flash’ information provide an easy reference for consumers looking to boost their grow-your-own results, whilst providing retailers with a something beyond another ‘me too’ product.

 

SuperSoil’s design enjoys a more classic colour palette which is reflective of the product’s organic credentials and high-end quality. This considered move away from the traditional greens and blues so often associated with this product category has paid dividends for the brand and retailers alike as consumers are quickly and easily able to select a product which meets their needs.

Furthering its environmental credentials, The Real Soil Company has also confirmed that all SuperSoil bags are made from 30% recycled polymer and are 100% recyclable at the end of their lifecycle.

 

The Real Soil Company’s Simon Hedley, said: “Growing media is a category driven by volume but that doesn’t mean newness isn’t desired. As such, we wanted to create a brand that not only filled the gap at the top end of the category, but also made it easy for shoppers to identify how to use topsoil throughout their gardens. In order to do this, we knew we had to invest heavily into packaging that worked hard.

 

“Whether its our packaging or our point of sale, consumers do not want to have to delve deep in order to fully understand the applications and benefits of SuperSoil, which is why we have placed all this information front and centre in both text and image form. We believe that this approach helps purchasing decisions to be done quickly and confidently but, more importantly, it helps consumers to buy exactly what they need. The clear and concise information means that gardeners purchase the right product for the job first time around, resulting in increased consumer confidence and repeat sales - benefits that any retailer will appreciate!”

 

One retailer who has already enjoyed growth with The Real Soil Company is Adam Young at Bosworth’s Garden Centre. He said: “The [SuperSoil] packaging really stands out from its competitors and catches our customers attention. The premium quality of the product really comes through in the design, and it’s great that the bag is 100% recyclable’.

 

About SuperSoil from The Real Soil Company

The hero of The Real Soil Company is the natural components which are added to enrich and enhance the soil. These natural ‘boosters’ provide quicker plant establishment and better resilience against pests and disease, whilst also enabling edible crops to benefit from nutritional enhancement and a higher crop yield.

 

Meeting and improving on the BS3882 standards for compliance and reliability, The Real Soil Company offers a number of other key benefits including 100% natural ingredients and material traceability. The enhanced soil also offers better water retention and release for optimum plant growth, whilst providing a more balanced and workable material for gardeners.

 

This wondrous SuperSoil with its high phosphorous content consistently outperforms other topsoil brands, stimulating plant respiration and growth and providing the perfect foundation for luxuriant foliage and vividly coloured flowers.

 

Find out more

To find out more about The Real Soil Company please visit www.therealsoilcompany.co.uk or email info@therealsoilcompany.co.uk

 

Hofats win two German Design Awards

Hofats has won two German Design Awards for its Bowl (Firepit & BBQ) and Spin (Tabletop Fire Lantern)...


The German Design Awards are the international premier prize from the German Design Council. Their goal is to discover, showcase and recognise unique design trends.

 

The awards were started in 2012 and are amongst the worlds most renowned design awards and enjoy a prestigious reputation that extends well beyond specialist circles.  

 

The design awards set the highest standards in terms of selecting their winners, in the nomination process expert committees of the German Design Council only invite those prodcuts that stand out from the competition on account of their design excellence.  

 

Out of 5000 submissions from 60 countries, Hofats has won the 2021 award for the Bowl and Spin. 

 

Judges comments 

Bowl - Firepit & BBQ
Graceful, multifaceted and eye-catching, the product appears both rugged and refined with its minimalist stand nestling a rounded enamel-coated body.  Clever, interchangeable accessories and simple usability result in a product that can be used as both a fireplace and BBQ in a number of possible ways.  

 

Spin - Tabletop Fire Lantern 
The product appears effortlessly slender, stylish and arresting with a choice of base to extend use for in and outdoor applications.  Clever utilisation of form in the metal base results in a twisted flame that is encapsulated and framed by a thin, resilient glass tube, which creates a visually enchanting effect.  

 

For more information on the Hofats unique range of products contact John Hinde on 0800 368 7474, email hello@ginique.co.uk or visit www.ginique.co.uk 

BaltCap sells EKJU to AMATA

Garden furniture specialists, EKJU, have followed a record year in 2020 with more exciting news for the future of the company. A deal has been agreed for a change of ownership which sees previous owners including BaltCap, exit the business and sell to a new holding company, AMATA, which will be run by the existing management team who will continue operations at their manufacturing site in Latvia...


 

Garden furniture specialists, EKJU, have followed a record year in 2020 with more exciting news for the future of the company. A deal has been agreed for a change of ownership which sees previous owners including BaltCap, exit the business and sell to a new holding company, AMATA, which will be run by the existing management team who will continue operations at their manufacturing site in Latvia.

 

As part of this management buyout deal private equity fund Flycap and Signet Bank will be financing the venture which will foster the company’s future growth and back its way towards new goals.

 

EKJU are one of Europe’s biggest manufacturers and exporters of timber Garden Furniture and have been exporting products throughout Europe for over 25 years. Their extensive product range is manufactured using northern European FSC Pine and Spruce that is ideal for use on Garden Furniture due to its high density and durable qualities. EKJU’s hero products include Picnic Tables, Garden Benches and Table Sets, which they supply to retail organisations of all sizes. They also supply a wide range of Grow Your Own products such as Planters and Raised Beds.

 

Same management, same principles

Since 2012, the EKJU management team have been improving production methods to increase productivity and has been successful in setting up a growth strategy, with sales rising from €5.6 million back in 2012 up to over €13 million in 2020. As part of this strategy EKJU have taken sustainability very seriously for many years and have been working towards carbon neutrality for all company operations, which they have now achieved.

 

EKJU are a dedicated team with a love for nature and craftsmanship, always using quality materials to create long lasting products. Furniture is manufactured with respect for nature. By working with quality sustainable live wood, they keep their promise of being environmentally friendly. EKJU pride themselves on bringing people together and closer to nature to enjoy the great outdoors.

 

It is the same management team that will now press ahead with further growth plans within the AMATA umbrella, using the same formula with the help of its valued existing employees. Customers will not see any changes to service levels or company values and will now be serviced by AMATA.

 

Changing ownership, changing market conditions

EKJU’s change of ownership comes at a time when market conditions are turbulent. Whilst demand for garden furniture products are very high, the raw material availability hasn’t been compatible in meeting these demands.

 

Shortages in timber raw materials due to periods of lockdown in the supply chain and increased demand in US markets, has led to a reduction of available products across the European timber market.

 

EKJU like many manufacturers are currently working hard to secure the raw materials to service future business whilst also contending with substantial timber price increases that the whole market is experiencing.

 

EKJU Sales & Marketing Director, Laura Galzone explained: "The current supply chain conditions aren’t ideal, but as a team we face challenges every year and this is another one we are determined to overcome. With the same successful team working together backed by Signet Bank, we are delighted to form AMATA, where we will develop the EKJU brand furthermore. Our focus remains on servicing customers and the market to the best of our ability, being sustainable and always supplying quality products."

 

To view the EKJU website click here where you can find out about EKJU’s products and capabilities.

If you want to speak to a EKJU contact about their products and services, please email UK sales Manager Austris Intenbergs at austris@ekju.lv.

Door knockers make good first impression

 

Dreamair have developed a range of door knockers trademarked Casas Door Furniture to suit and fit onto traditional wooden as well as composite doors...


"Make a good first impression when you have visitors with a stylish door knocker."

 

That’s the advice of Dreamair, who have developed a range of door knockers trademarked Casas Door Furniture to suit and fit onto traditional wooden as well as composite doors.

 

Take a look at two of the company’s newest designs – an upstanding owl and hedgehog alongside the bestselling bee, in finishes that include gunmetal silver, antique brass and copper.

 

A lovely way to update your front door and a wonderful housewarming and wedding gift idea.

 

www.dreamair.co.uk

No bubble burst yet for garden centre sales volumes

Sales may have dipped last week to below or just matching previous years’ levels for the first week since mid-February but the consensus is that the bubble has not burst for garden centres’ increased sales volumes...


Sales may have dipped last week to below or just matching previous years’ levels for the first week since mid-February but the consensus is that the bubble has not burst for garden centres’ increased sales volumes.

 

Peter Seabrook was the first to tell GTN Xtra that it’s all down to the weather and the wind direction: “I do not think the sales volume bubble has burst, just too cold in the wind during the day and severe frost night after night. We just need the wind to move round to the South West and get some warm rain overnight.”

 

And Andy Bunker at Altons told us: “Yes it has slowed and trading changed a little but certainly not burst the bubble. We have already beaten April 2019 which is the best way to compare. In the bedding area I have stock but signs up basically saying don’t buy due to the continued threat of frosts!”

 

As summer plants start to come into stock and sell through in the GTN Bestsellers EPOS data, the only area that continues to have a great lack of stock is furniture and BBQs. Where other gardening products may be out of stock, suitable alternatives appear to be selling through instead.

 

Other garden centres have reported that this week has picked up well after a slight dip the week before due to retail reopening and the weather.

 

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 16.

  • Garden Products Top 50 – up 9%
  • Growing Media Top 50 – up 9%
  • Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 5%
  • Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 10%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2019: week 16.

  • All Plants with Barcode index – down 8%
  • All Items with Barcode index – down 1%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Dobbies hosts great pizza virtual event with Ooni Pizza Ovens

Dobbies has announced a free, exclusive virtual event with Ooni Pizza Ovens, to share top tips on making great pizza with keen cooks across the UK...


 

Dobbies has announced a free, exclusive virtual event with Ooni Pizza Ovens, to share top tips on making great pizza with keen cooks across the UK.

 

The latest in Dobbies’ series of virtual expert events this Spring, ‘Making Great Pizza at Home with Ooni Pizza Ovens’ will take place on 6 May at 6pm, with viewers invited to log in from across the country. The virtual event, hosted by Ooni’s founder and CEO Kristian Tapaninaho, will share expert tips and tricks to teach Dobbies customers everything they need to know about whipping up an authentic wood-fired pizza, from the comfort of their own home. 

 

Covering everything from rolling and stretching your pizza dough to choosing the perfect toppings, Kristian will also share the fascinating history of Ooni Pizza Ovens, along with a live pizza making demonstration – just in time for alfresco dining this summer.

 

Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit any questions they have, with Kristian answering as many as he can throughout the session.

 

Kristian Tapaninaho, founder and CEO of Ooni Pizza Ovens, said: “I am so excited to host this virtual event with Dobbies, to showcase Ooni’s game-changing products. I’ll be sharing my top tips like how to stretch dough like a pro and how to choose the best ingredients. I’ll be answering any questions you have on how to level-up your outdoor cooking game. There’s nothing better than making truly great pizza at home.”

 

The event is the latest in a series of free virtual events hosted by Dobbies this Spring. Following a successful programme of Facebook Live sessions in 2020, they provide a virtual alternative to regular events usually hosted instore. Further events have already been announced for the coming weeks, including virtual gardening hosted by Dobbies’ Horticulture Director, Marcus Eyles. Advance booking is essential for the virtual events, which are hosted on Microsoft Teams, making it quick and simple for viewers to log on and join in the event from the comfort of their homes.

 

The sessions are free of charge and exclusively available to Dobbies Club members. For those who aren’t yet members of Dobbies Club, membership is free and signing up is quick and simple, giving access to a variety of benefits, special offers and exclusive events. To sign up visit dobbies.com

 

Tickets are now available for ‘Making Great Pizza at Home with Ooni Pizza Ovens’, and are free of charge. To secure your place at the event on 6 May at 6pm, visit: https://www.dobbies.com/events

 
Horticulture students get financial boost for futures

The David Colegrave Foundation has selected its scholarship winners for the 2020-21 season. Receiving over £11,000 between them, nine students have had a boost to their future studies in sustainability, ethnobotany, biodiversity, commercial horticulture and plant breeding...


The David Colegrave Foundation has selected its scholarship winners for the 2020-21 season. Receiving over £11,000 between them, nine students have had a boost to their future studies in sustainability, ethnobotany, biodiversity, commercial horticulture and plant breeding. 

 

Jeff Colegrave comments: “This past year has been tough for everyone, but especially for those students studying a practical qualification where they are unable to study from home in the same way. This year the trustees of the David Colegrave Foundation are more delighted than ever to be able to reward and support dedicated students through this pandemic and ensure the next generation of horticulturalists do not fail to blossom.” 

 

The £1,500 John Gibson Environmental Scholarship winner is Eve Halliday 

Eve is in the second year of the BSc in Horticulture with Plantsmanship delivered by SRUC/RBGE. When selecting her second-year project, Eve was especially keen to do a project involving practical horticulture. Eve is particularly interested in the conservation, diversity and environmental aspects of plants and horticulture. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Eve said: “I am thrilled to be a recipient of the John Gibson Environmental Scholarship. It will help me to continue my studies in horticulture and botany and follow a career in restoring biodiversity to our native habitats. I look forward to creating more links between horticulture and conservation in the UK.” 

 

The £1,000 BPOA/Peter Seabrook Scholarship winner is Joshua Blakey 

Joshua is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) in Commercial Horticulture at Hadlow College (North Kent College Group/ University of Greenwich). Joshua is the student representative for his year and he has also engaged in a partnership programme with the University of Greenwich to enable him to follow a mentor at the Natural Resources Institute. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Joshua said: “I feel extremely honoured to have been awarded this scholarship. It will provide great support as I continue my Commercial Horticulture degree with Hadlow College, particularly when beginning my dissertation later this summer. It will help fund new opportunities and relieve some of the financial pressures of being a student.” 

 

The £1,500 Ball Colegrave Scholarship winner is Molli Christman 

Molli is currently working at RHS Garden Hyde Hall. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Molli said: “I’m absolutely overjoyed to receive this Ball Colegrave sponsored travel bursary as it allows me my head start in planning my future career, which includes education and travel for my work as well as any other expenses I come across.  Thank you to David Colegrave Foundation for even considering me.” 

 

The £2,500 Research Scholarship winner is Francesca Ablett 

Francesca is currently in the final year of a BSc Honours degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds, with a particular interest in plant sciences. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Francesca said: “I am honoured to have received the horticultural research scholarship and I am excited to begin my project. I am very grateful to the David Colegrave Foundation for this valuable opportunity to develop my interests in plant breeding, and to Tim Kerley for his insight and encouragement.” 

 

The £1,000 Student Scholarships winners are: 

 

Rebecca Gilroy 

Rebecca is a full-time student on the FdSc in Horticulture Programme at College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). She has a family background in horticulture and plans to work for the family nursery and landscaping business when she graduates. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Rebecca said: “When I first heard about the David Colegrave foundation scholarship, I was excited not just at the thought of winning but at the opportunity of being involved with the foundation which has helped and inspired so many young horticulturalists like myself. Having now won I am overcome with excitement and extremely grateful for the opportunities I have now been given.” 

 

William Charity 

William is currently in his second year of study of the City & Guilds, Level 3 Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture at Writtle University College. Outside of college, William has developed his own local garden maintenance business, and has already applied and been accepted onto a three-year BSc in Horticulture degree course. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, William said: “I am really pleased and excited to have been chosen for a David Colegrave Foundation student scholarship. I am passionate about horticulture and this scholarship will enable me to study water usage in bedding plants, which otherwise would not have been possible. I am keen to make horticulture more sustainable.” 

 

Nicole Connolly 

Nicole is a year one part-time student on the FdSc in Horticulture Programme at CAFRE Greenmount. She joined the course with an interest in pursuing a career in vegetable production and community gardening. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Nicole said, “I was extremely excited and surprised to learn that I was a recipient of the David Colegrave Scholarship. I’m very thankful for the foundation being so supportive of my education. Thanks to this scholarship, I will be able to reduce my work schedule, focus more on my studies, volunteering and my long-term goal which is to improve the wellbeing of the elderly people in my community through horticulture.” 

 

Sarah Powell 

Sarah is studying for a BSc(Hons) in Horticulture and Plantsmanship at SRUC Edinburgh. Sarah is a keen and enthusiastic horticulture student who has come from a background of outdoor pursuits and activities. Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Sara said: “I am overjoyed at receiving the scholarship. Beginning full time education as a mature student has been a big but exhilarating step. Having enjoyed horticulture in my spare time throughout my life, it is very exciting to be on the journey to becoming a professional within the industry.” 

 

Scott Galloway  

Scott is currently studying for a HND in Horticulture at SRUC. He is currently working on his Graded Unit 2 project which is self-led research on a relevant horticultural topic: ‘Evaluation into different free-draining growing media on the growth rate of Bergenia ‘Oeschberg’ roots cuttings’. 

Commenting on receiving the scholarship, Scott said, “I’m delighted to be awarded the Student Scholarship from DCF and would like to thank Adam Dunnett for the interesting conversation around ethnobotany. I believe herb production is going to be a vital area of expansion for the industry and look forward to studying Herbology to support my goal of growing herbs commercially.”

RHS Gardens welcome two new National Collections

The five Royal Horticultural Society gardens are to become custodians of one of the UK’s biggest National Collections of plants thanks to a generous donation from current collection holder Fibrex Nurseries. The National Collection of Pelargonium is the largest of its kind in the world, numbering more than 1,400 accessions which will be divided by group between RHS Gardens Bridgewater, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor and Wisley...


L-R: Zonartic Pelargonium 'Rushmoor Parana'; Hedera ‘Little Diamond’; Pelargonium ‘Kettlebaston’. Images courtesy Fibrex Nurseries

 

The five Royal Horticultural Society gardens are to become custodians of one of the UK’s biggest National Collections of plants thanks to a generous donation from current collection holder Fibrex Nurseries. The National Collection of Pelargonium is the largest of its kind in the world, numbering more than 1,400 accessions which will be divided by group between RHS Gardens Bridgewater, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor and Wisley.

Heather Godard-Key of Fibrex Nurseries, says: “We are absolutely delighted to see this collection move to the RHS, and we are confident now that it has a long and secure future ahead. Although we are very proud of the collection held here at the nursery, it has never been in the limelight as our location means we simply don't see the numbers of visitors that the RHS gardens do. Our hope is that this will help to raise public awareness to the astonishing variety of pelargoniums that is available and for more people to be able to enjoy them.”   

Dr Tim Upson, RHS Director of Horticulture, Education and Communities, adds: “We couldn’t be more thrilled that Fibrex has entrusted such an important and beautiful collection to the RHS. It is a unique opportunity to put these pelargoniums in front of an audience of more than 2 million annual visitors to the RHS Gardens, and help even more gardeners appreciate this fascinating and diverse group of plants. It is an honour to continue the incredible work Fibrex has done over the years to bring this collection together.”

The entire collection will go on display for the final time this summer at Fibrex Nurseries in Warwickshire, where visitors can view all the species and cultivars together free of charge from May to September. Transfer of the collection to the RHS has already begun, with a number of propagated plants now settling into new homes at the RHS Gardens, but some rare and more challenging pelargoniums will make the move after this growing season. Some of these are believed to be the only examples of their type in cultivation and cannot successfully be propagated.

Mostly originating from southern Africa, pelargoniums have a long history of cultivation in the UK, with the species P. triste first brought to the UK in the 1630s. Hybridisation began in earnest in the 1700s and continues to this day, with the genus now split into 10 principal groups with numerous sub-groupings and descriptors to distinguish between cultivars.

RHS Garden Wisley will become home to Species, Species Hybrid, Mini/Dwarf Stellar, Zonartic and Dwarf pelargoniums, which will be displayed in the Glasshouse and across the garden in container displays over the summer. Meanwhile, the Scented Leaf and Variegated Leaf types go to RHS Garden Rosemoor, where they will be central to the garden’s much-loved bedding and container displays throughout the summer.

Rosebud, Miniature, Single and Double types (including Deacons) can be found at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, where this year they will enhance container displays by the garden entrance, the Plant Centre and the Sub Tropicana Garden. The famously dry climate at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, meanwhile, is the perfect home for the drought-tolerant Ivy Leaf, Irene and Unique types, which will become an integral element in summer seasonal planting across the garden.

The largest group of more than 200 Regal pelargonium cultivars is in the care of RHS Garden Bridgewater, along with the Decorative, Angel and Dwarf Regal groups. At the newest RHS Garden, the collection will be planted in pots en masse in the Frameyard to showcase its diversity adjacent to other impactful monoculture plantings in the Trials area.

In addition, Fibrex has also presented its National Collection of Hedera to RHS Garden Wisley, where Curator Matthew Pottage has been delighted to add the 390 varieties to the garden’s existing collection. With ivy recently shown by RHS research to be a ‘super plant’ capable of cooling buildings by up to 7.2°C in summer, visitors can appraise the impressive array of leaf shapes, colours and habits found in the National Collection to help decide which to grow.

“As with the pelargonium collection, we are grateful to see our ivies go to a new home where they will not only flourish but also be appreciated by so many more people,” says Heather Godard-Key of Fibrex. “Ivy has gained an undeserved reputation as a garden menace over the years, so hopefully this will present an opportunity for new generations of gardeners to learn that ivy is not the enemy and can be a beautiful, versatile addition to the garden.”

“I am delighted to be taking on this group of misunderstood but wonderful plants,” adds Mathew Pottage. “Their wildlife value is immense and the variations of texture, colour and form are quite a spectacle. I look forward to changing everybody’s mind about them in the coming years!”

Both National Collections were originally started by Hazel Key of Fibrex Nurseries, before being passed on to her daughters, Ursula Key-Davis and Angela Tandy, to continue her legacy. The Pelargonium collection was started in 1958 and was granted National Collection status in 1987. The ivy collection, comprising both species and many hybrids of the native Hedera helix, was originally started as companion plants for the pelargoniums at shows, and earned National Collection status in 1996. The RHS currently holds 20 National Plant Collections at its gardens, including Crocus, Cornus, Viburnum and rhubarb.

Gardena searches for UK's most passionate gardener

Gardena has launched a search to find 'The UK’s most passionate gardener, during National Gardening Week...


 

GARDENA has announced its search to find “The UK’s most passionate gardener”, this National Gardening Week (Tuesday 27 April – Sunday 02 May).

 

Leading gardening brand, GARDENA is asking all UK gardening enthusiasts to submit nominations for the UK’s most passionate gardener in celebration of this year’s National Gardening Week. The lucky gardener crowned the ‘most passionate’ by GARDENA will receive £500 worth of GARDENA products.

 

The last year has highlighted just how important our gardens are to us and as we look to spend more time in the garden with family and friends this Summer, GARDENA wants to reward one lucky and passionate gardener with the chance to win the ultimate GARDENA gardening bundle to help them realise their garden dreams.

 

Nominations can either come from the individual themselves or you can nominate your green fingered friends and family. To enter, simply share your story on how gardening has helped you through the pandemic and why you should be awarded the ‘UK’s most passionate gardener’ title.

 

GARDENA encourages nominations from all types of gardeners, from beginners who have recently taken up gardening to those who have recently reignited a passion for gardening because of the pandemic to even the most experienced gardening enthusiasts.

 

To nominate yourself or another person please share a photo or video on Facebook or Instagram from Monday 19 April, tagging @Gardena.UK on Facebook and @gardenauk on Instagram and using the hashtag #PassionateGardenerUK.

 

Terms and conditions:

Submit nominations from Monday 19 April 2021 until Sunday 2 May 2021

Nominations after 11.59pm on Sunday 2 May 2021 will not be accepted

UK entrants only

1 winner will be selected and notified on Monday 3 May 2021

£500 product bundle subject to availability, non-transferable or refundable

No cash alternative

 

For more information and to shop, visit: https://www.gardena.com/uk/

Have your say on the future of Glee - Survey closes on Monday 26th April

Glee Event Director Matthew Mein would like you to tell him how his team can improve Glee: "As we prepare for the return of Glee on 14th – 16th September, I look forward to welcoming you back to the show and hope you will join us as we reunite the community for 2021...


Glee Event Director Matthew Mein would like you to tell him how his team can improve Glee: "As we prepare for the return of Glee on 14th – 16th September, I look forward to welcoming you back to the show and hope you will join us as we reunite the community for 2021.

"Ahead of the show, we would like to find out a bit more about you and your business. We recognise that many members of the garden industry will have made significant changes to their retail operations this year, with both restrictions and opportunities arising from the pandemic. That’s why we’d like to know how we can help support you through this change. Below is a link to a short survey that gives you the opportunity to have your say on the future and how we can create the right event to suit your needs.

"It should take 10 minutes to complete and your feedback will help us shape future Glee events. As a thank you for your time, you can also enter a prize draw with the chance of winning a £100 retail voucher of your choice.* 

Take the survey

"The survey will be open until 26th April 2021 and in the meantime, I look forward to reading your feedback and I hope you will join us at the NEC Birmingham for the return of Glee."

 

Many thanks,

Matt Mein
Glee Event Director

* Terms and Conditions apply

 

Drought-proofing lawns with Johnsons Lawn Seed

The global king of lawn seed has been investigating how to help drought-ridden lawns survive the summer with super-strength, deep rooting grass varieties...


 

Lockdown has helped millions of Brits fall back in love with gardening and with the new work from home trend here to stay for many people, the state of the nation’s gardens has never been a hotter topic.

 

Whilst the average householder or gardener tends to judge the state of their lawn by making a quick assessment of surface conditions, most of us don’t have a clue what goes on beneath this top layer.

 

For Johnsons Lawn Seed, what lies beneath is the subject of intense research and huge investment. As part of the ground-breaking RadiMax project*, the global market leaders in lawn seed have pulled out all the stops to develop new crops with deeper roots that will perform better in a world that's likely to experience more frequent droughts.

 

‘Drought!’ - we hear you cry – surely Great Britain is the rain capital of the world for much of the year? It can indeed seem that way, but according to the Environment Agency, England's anticipated demand for water will exceed its supply by the year 2045. In 2019 there were particularly low groundwater levels in 25 separate areas of England - the highest recorded number of drought-prone zones since records began in 2006.

 

Broadly speaking, there are two types of drought in northern Europe - spring and summer – both of which are occurring more frequently and can have a severe impact on the state of our lawns. In 2020 – and for the sixth year in a row - northern and parts of central Europe were, to various degrees, hit by spring and early summer droughts.

 

In a typical spring drought the top surface of the ground is dry but lower down around the plant roots water levels are fine; to cope with the spring drought conditions, root performance is key, but most species bred for northern European conditions are not adapted for this as spring drought did not used to be an issue in the past.  In an English summer drought, which tends to be considerably more severe, the soil also dries out further down. Some varieties of grass are tolerant to both sorts of drought, whilst others are better equipped to deal with either spring or summer water shortages.

Consumer Manager for Johnsons Lawn Seed, Guy Jenkins, says: “Plant growth faces great challenges in the future. Climate change has already had an effect on agriculture, parklands and other areas of green turf grass. The need for robust, drought-tolerant crops and turf grasses has never been greater.

 

“We spend millions each year on research and development so we can identify the most suitable grasses for different sorts of lawns, capable of withstanding the extremes of British weather. This does not mean any kind of genetic modification, we’re far too eco-conscious for that, but we do carry out gene mapping of hundreds of thousands of cultivators to find the best varieties of grass for your lawns.”

 

Not only do drought-tolerant grasses have a vastly improved appearance during dry spells, they also reduce the need for water guzzling lawn sprinklers and rising household bills. Stronger, healthier grass lawns are also less prone to weed invasion and require less fertilizer.

 

“The RadiMax research scientists have selected grasses with the fastest root growth, the deepest roots and highest root mass. This has enabled them to identify a number of best in class varieties when it comes to drought tolerance,” Mr Jenkins adds.

 

RadiMax is a one-of-a-kind research project and facility launched in 2016. It is a collaborative efforts between Johnsons Lawn Seed parent company, DLF, three Danish universities, and three other partners. The project utilises four three metres deep, soil-filled V-shaped pits. The plants that grow on the surface of the pits receive irrigation from the bottom only, whilst mobile tents ensure that no rain falls on the crops during the drought tests.

 

Plants that grow in the middle of a pit will have to root down to three metres to reach water. Measuring the biomass above ground enables the scientists to get a very good indication of the root system below. All relevant plant materials are then analyzed to generate genomic selection models, which breeders use to predict rooting depth of new breeding material and later select the most drought-resistant varieties.

 

Find out more

To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed products please visit http://www.johnsonslawnseed.com/product-range.aspx

 
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AMES UK demonstrate their commitment to people

AMES UK have announced the appointment of Nicola Sykes to the newly created role of HR Director...


AMES UK have announced the appointment of Nicola Sykes to the newly created role of HR Director. Nicola joins the business with a strong track record of developing talent and building strong organisation networks that bring teams together and drive business performance.

 

Nicola spent her early career in the retail and food sectors, including several years at Morrisons and also Greencore, the world’s largest sandwich manufacturer. Nicola brings a wealth of experience from various FMCG, retail, logistics, public sector and manufacturing environments, which have proven invaluable in the challenge to bring the business units of AMES UK together.


True Temper, Kelkay, La Hacienda and Apta are all essentially sucessful family businesses and Nicola is relishing the opportunities in bringing them all together into a single, strong, harmonised team. Her strategy includes elements of organisational change, talent development, employee engagement and health & wellbeing.
     
The program is already showing signs of progress with 20% of employees promoted to new senior roles and an overall 10% increase in headcount in the group. Nicola is developing the AMES Leadership Programme which is designed to continue this success and build succession plans for the future.
 
Amongst several initiatives designed to ensure the business is able to meet its ambitious business goals is the Health & Wellbeing plan. All AMES UK colleagues have access to a confidential 24 hour Employee Assistance Line which is able to support individuals on a wide range of work and personal issues.
 
Nicola says “Organisations succeed because of their people, so I’m not surprised that the four AMES businesses have been so sucessful – there are some phenominal people. My challenge is to manage the organisational development and create a single, harmonised AMES business with the right processes, systems and support networks for all colleagues”

 


 
Nicola’s most recent initiative has seen the launch of the My AMES Stepping Stone scheme, an employee benefit programme that gives discounts on a huge range of products and services from over 900 retailers. All employees are registered with the scheme which is available online and from a SmartSpending app which provides vouchers, cashback and pre-paid discount cards.


Paul North, AMES UK Managing Director added “I’m delighted to have Nicola on board and she has already made a huge difference to all our colleagues at AMES UK. One of the watch words for me is engagement and I’m pleased that the whole organisation is now benefiting from Nicola’s strong focus on communications. Our journey is so much smoother when everyone in the team knows where we are headed and each of us understands our role in reaching our goals.

 
Gardening demand at an all time high

Despite the lull in sales due to the continued cold weather, garden product sales for last week exceeded sales during the same week in 2019 by 9% and that was an Easter week...


 

Despite the lull in sales due to the continued cold weather, garden product sales for last week exceeded sales during the same week in 2019 by 9% and that was an Easter week.  

 

So, demand continues to run at an all time high. The only thing that may start to hit sales comparisons is a lack of stock as even alternatives start to run out of supply.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Vitax Acer Fertiliser 0.9kg Pouch is the highest chart climber, up to No 12 and Vitax Buxus Feed is a new entry at No 47.
  • Garden lighting is back on the agenda big time: Smart Solar’s Crystal Glass Stake Light is the highest placed re-entry at No 11 and the Smart Solar Flaming Torch Slate is a new entry at No 22.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
It's official: the UK is a nation of gardeners

A recent survey carried out by the Crop Protection Association’s Common Sense Gardening Group confirmed that the UK really is a nation of gardeners, with over 85% of people surveyed engaged in gardening in some way. ..


A recent survey carried out by the Crop Protection Association’s Common Sense Gardening Group confirmed that the UK really is a nation of gardeners, with over 85% of people surveyed engaged in gardening in some way. 

 

75% of households carry out gardening activity at least monthly through the season – either planting, pruning, fertilising or weeding.

 

Importantly, 85% of those that perform some form of gardening activity do so because they recognise it’s good for their physical and mental wellbeing.

 

Ben Shapiro, Chairman of the Crop Protection Association’s Common Sense Gardening Group said “We are indeed a nation of gardeners.  Whilst this includes those who simply tend to a potted outdoor plant or mow their lawn, over 75% of us are quite actively engaged in our outdoor spaces through the season. 

 

"Our survey has also confirmed what we know about gardening’s positive contribution to our mental and physical well-being.”

 
Gardeners delight for Grow Your Own

Veg plant sales grew again last week, up by almost 12% week on week, despite the cold weather...


 

Veg plant sales grew again last week, up by almost 12% week on week, despite the cold weather. 

 

The desire to grow your own at home is at an all time high. So much so that eleven of the Top 50 plants by genus/groupings were veg or herb plants, accounting for over a quarter of all the GTN Top 50 Plant volume sales.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • In the GTN Veg-2-Gro chart, Quantil Tomato Gardeners Delight 8cm moved up one place to No 1.
  • Quantil Cucumber Mini 8cm moved furthest up the chart to No 7.
  • Ambrose Strawberry Jumbo Pack of 6 were the highest new entry of the week, in at No 35. 

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
GIMA confirms Scarlet Opus to return for new series of virtual webinars

GIMA has recommissioned its Consumer & Design Trends research for the third year running, once again optimising the leading insight from trend agency, Scarlet Opus...


GIMA has recommissioned its Consumer & Design Trends research for the third year running, once again optimising the leading insight from trend agency, Scarlet Opus.

 

In a series of virtual one-hour webinars Scarlet Opus will look at not just the garden and outdoor products expected to prove popular in spring/summer 2022, but will also delve deeper into the colours and design trends that look set to shape consumer demand and spend.

 

The sessions will also explore the consumer behaviour consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the Scarlet Opus team will be offering ideas on how to future proof new product development, visual merchandising, packaging and marketing plans.

 

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We’re pleased to confirm that we have recommissioned Scarlet Opus to run our trend webinars for the third year running. All previous sessions have been incredibly well received and provided significant content for our members to take away and incorporate into their future plans. We’ve also seen many of Scarlet Opus’ trend predictions come into fruition, so we’re excited to hear what the 2022 season holds for us!”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

The webinars will take place on Monday 17th, Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th May. All delegates will have access to the live sessions and follow-up copies of the presentation, complete with transcripts of the trend translations.

 

GIMA’s Consumer & Design Trends webinars will be priced at £225 for members with each additional delegate priced at £25 Non-members and retailers are invited to contact the GIMA team via info@gima.org.uk to learn more about joining the webinars, including prices.

 

To find out more please visit www.gima.org.uk or call 01959 564947.

 
30% more growing going on

On average, it’s now fair to say there is 30% more growing going on so far this year than any of the four years leading up to 2020. After Growing Media Top 50 sales last week exceeded sales of Easter week 2019, year to date volumes are now 19% up on 2019 and 42% up on 2018 levels...


 

On average, it’s now fair to say there is 30% more growing going on so far this year than any of the four years leading up to 2020. After Growing Media Top 50 sales last week exceeded sales of Easter week 2019, year to date volumes are now 19% up on 2019 and 42% up on 2018 levels.

 

Highlights of the week were:

  • Westland Top Soil (Value Bag) 35 litres stays at No 1.
  • Westland Container & Basket Planting Mix 50 litres is the highest chart mover, up 19 places to No 25.
  • Evegreen Garden Care Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Fruit & Veg Compost 40 litres is the only new entry of the week, in at No 39.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

 
Promotion for Haskins Garden Centre’s Catering Manager

Jason Froggatt, who first joined Haskins Garden Centres in 2003, has been promoted to Group Catering Manager...


Jason Froggatt, who first joined Haskins Garden Centres in 2003, has been promoted to Group Catering Manager.

 

Jason started his career working in the catering department at Haskins’ Roundstone centre where he remained for a number of years. Following this, he undertook several other roles in the catering industry, including a stint at Chessington World of Adventures Resort Hotel and a four-year employment with David Lloyd Leisure.

 

More recently, in summer 2019, Jason re-joined Haskins as Restaurant General Manager at its new Snowhill centre. After assisting with the launch of the new restaurant, Jason was promoted to Group Catering Manager.

 

As Group Catering Manager, Jason will now oversee the entirety of Haskins’ catering department, for all five of its centres.

 

Jason Froggatt, new Group Catering Manager at Haskins, said: “I am excited to be taking on a new role at Haskins. I’ll be working hard in the coming months to build on the quality of the food on offer in our centres, as well as grow the variety of options for visitors.

 

“My career in catering was born from when I was younger, working in my family’s restaurant. I have enjoyed my time in other businesses, upskilling in the catering sector, but am pleased to be bringing my experience back to Haskins, where I first realised this was the industry for me.”

 

Julian Winfield, Chief Executive at Haskins Garden Centres, added: “Throughout Jason’s career, he has undertaken a number of high-level catering roles across a variety of sectors. Having worked with us for a number of years previously, Jason has an excellent understanding of our restaurants and we’re excited to see him implement his vast experience and knowledge across the business.”

 

Haskins has centres in Ferndown (Dorset), West End (Southampton), Roundstone and Snowhill (West Sussex). Haskins Snowhill reopened at the start of 2020 following a £15million redevelopment at the Crawley-based centre. Haskins Garden Centres also recently acquired Forest Lodge Garden Centre and Birdworld in Farnham, Surrey.

 

Haskins reopened its restaurants for outdoor dining on Monday 12th April, in line with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

 

Please visit www.haskins.co.uk for further information.

 
RHS & Biscuiteers collection launched by renowned British hand-iced biscuit company

The Royal Horticultural Society has licensed Biscuiteers, the original hand-iced biscuit company, to produce the RHS & Biscuiteers collection...


The Royal Horticultural Society has licensed Biscuiteers, the original hand-iced biscuit company, to produce the RHS & Biscuiteers collection: two extra-special biscuit tins, a wonderful letterbox gift box and two delightful Jolly Gingers (gingerbread, men) all containing Biscuiteers’ famous hand-iced biscuits and all inspired by the love of gardens and gardening.

 

Now on sale online at biscuiteers.com, and Biscuiteers’ Boutique shops in Battersea & Notting Hill and soon available at leading retailers including the RHS Garden Wisley Garden Centre, the collection is specially designed to conjure up the joys of British gardens in the spring and summer.

 

The Bouquet Luxe biscuit tin brings together a selection of colourful biscuit ‘blooms’ – spring flowers using a bright colour palette. A number of very skilful icing techniques have been used to capture the delicate textures of the petals of the different flowers including roses and pansies. Biscuiteers’ unique recipe is based upon a traditional twice baked English style biscuits, its texture is somewhere between the snap of a gingerbread and the crumble of a shortbread. The 16 designs in the Bouquet Luxe tin are a subtle lemon flavour, which gives fresh citrus notes to balance the sweetness of the biscuit.

 

The RHS Veg Box biscuit tin contains colourful biscuits all using Biscuiteers’ famous hand-icing techniques to look like carrots, tomatoes, aubergines and other popular vegetables. Perfect for lovers of grow-your-own veg, the nine biscuit designs come in Biscuiteers’ classic gingerbread flavour, which uses a delicious mix of spices to give a subtle fragrant yet sweet flavour. 

 

The Biscuiteers Garden Tools letterbox collection of chocolate biscuits, using a lilac and rose design inspired by the branding for this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is the perfect shape to fit through a letterbox. As are the two RHS Jolly Gingers, new additions to the popular Biscuiteers line of gingerbread characters depicting happy gardeners. Both are special, playful and tasty treats for the gardener, or budding gardener, in your life.

 

And the tins are special too. For the keepsake tins Biscuiteers has created a beautiful co-branded design, bringing together Biscuiteers' famous illustrations with beautifully detailed botanical illustrations from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world’s finest collection of botanical art. RHS branding is featured on the tin decals. 

 

The target market for the RHS collections is a wide one, encompassing anyone who loves gardening – or high-quality biscuits. The tins, box and Jolly Gingers have been designed to suit a variety of horticultural interests and budgets and all are ideal gifts to send to a gardening or biscuit-loving friend at any time of year – but especially now we can all enjoy sunnier days and get out in the garden a lot more.

 

Biscuiteers has been selling beautiful iced biscuits since 2007 and is renowned for its design-led collections and personalised gifting offerings, which are today delivered to 117 countries. The company is uniquely positioned as an artisan business working at scale; each biscuit is intricately hand-iced by artists. The company’s purpose-built head office and bakery ices over 2.5 million biscuits each year. 

 

Harriet Hastings, Founder and Managing Director of Biscuiteers, says: “Over the years our Spring collections have become a real Biscuiteers classic – so the RHS was an ideal partner for us. We're both British brands and this collection, like the work of the RHS, has been inspired by the beauty of the British garden.”

 

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, says: “The RHS & Biscuiteers collection of British craft-company-produced biscuits is a wonderful addition to our licensing programme: a tribute to British gardens that is colourful, beautifully packaged and superbly designed – not to mention delicious! And what could be better than enjoying sitting in your garden on a sunny day with some RHS & Biscuiteers biscuits and a nice cup of tea – or your favourite tipple?”

 
Gardena honoured with Red Dot Design Awards

The Gardena ClickUp! range, the RollUp range of wall-mounted and garden hose boxes as well as the new robotic lawnmower SILENO minimo have been awarded the highly coveted Red Dot Design Award 2021...


The Gardena ClickUp! range, the RollUp range of wall-mounted and garden hose boxes as well as the new robotic lawnmower SILENO minimo have been awarded the highly coveted Red Dot Design Award 2021.

 

One handle, a whole host of possibilities. The GARDENA ClickUp! offers garden lovers the opportunity to change the design of their garden throughout the year with a variety of decorative features. 

 

ClickUp! – the new, modern lifestyle system for the garden – consists of a handle and various attachments, providing gardeners with a wide range of options, right throughout the year. The insect hotel, flower bowl, rain gauge, torch fireplace and bird feeder can be mounted on the handle with a single click and blend in beautifully with their green surroundings. The geometric design of the attachments is simple yet sophisticated, combining a lifestyle product with clever functionality.

 

The wall-mounted and garden hose boxes from the new RollUp range are the perfect solution for walls or the ground. They enable the hose to be rolled up precisely and evenly, without requiring any effort. As the boxes are usually permanently attached directly to the wall of a house, they have a simple, restrained and more architectural design to enable them to blend in as much as possible with their surroundings. What’s more, the two new garden hose boxes are fixed into the ground using a ground spike, which enables them to be used in an even more flexible way.

 

The jury was also impressed by the SILENO minimo. The smallest GARDENA robotic lawnmower is extremely compact; it can be connected to a smartphone at close range and easily controlled using the new Bluetooth® app. The typical GARDENA design with softly flowing, yet clearly defined lines lends the lawnmower a friendly appearance. At the same time, the design is the visualisation of the cutting-edge technology and high quality standards on which the product is based.

 

To be awarded the highly coveted, internationally renowned Design Award, the products have to impress the jury in several respects. Consisting of 50 international experts, the jury evaluates the products in terms of their degree of innovation, functionality and formal quality. However, the products must also meet the requirements where ergonomics, durability and ecological compatibility are concerned. GARDENA is therefore proud to have received the awards for several of its new products for the 2021 season.

 

The origins of the Red Dot Design Award extend back for more than 60 years. Today, the award is considered one of the most desirable quality seals for good design.

 
AIPH World Green City Awards launched to champion ‘Living Green’

In response to the growing importance of greening our world’s cities, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has launched the first city based ‘Living Green’ Awards...


 

In response to the growing importance of greening our world’s cities, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has launched the first city based ‘Living Green’ Awards.

 

AIPH strongly believes that the correct use of plants and the landscape in cities plays a critical role in the fight against climate change and all its associated impacts. It is proven that greener cities make healthier citizens and stimulate social and economic development.

 

The AIPH World Green City Awards celebrate the inclusion of plant life and nature into city design, planning and function and applaud the leaders of this growing movement.

 

Bernard Oosterom, President, AIPH says, “It is imperative that we embrace a nature-orientated approach to city design and operation. Through the AIPH World Green City Awards, we promote the essential role of plants in creating vibrant urban areas in which people and businesses can thrive. We are calling on city authorities all over the world to showcase what they have done and how they have used ‘Living Green’ to make their cities better for all residents, more sustainable, and more resilient.”

 

Entries are invited from city governments and relevant organisations around the world that promote and support ‘Living Green’ in their plans. Cities will be celebrated through six categories: Health and wellbeing, Climate change, Economic recovery and inclusive growth, Biodiversity, Water and Social cohesion.

 

Supporting the Awards, Tim Beatley of Biophilic Cities says: “The importance of nature in our urban lives has never been clearer. Nature can’t just be an afterthought. It must be the central design and planning principle.

We need to recognise and celebrate those cities around the world that are investing in nature, and that understand and see nature as an essential ingredient in happy, healthy, and meaningful lives.

 

“I am excited that for the first time there will be a global award that shines a light on those most exemplary green cities. We believe this award will play an important role in accelerating the global biophilic and green cities movement.”

 

We want to celebrate every city that, like AIPH, is a champion for the power of plants - Enter the AIPH World Green City Awards 2022.

 

Visit aiph.org/green-city/green-city-awards

 

Register an expression of interest to receive application documentation Register your interest in the AIPH World Green City Awards

 
Hotter and RHS announce new spring/summer canvas shoe range

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced that Hotter, the UK’s biggest shoemaker, has launched a limited-edition range of new RHS Molly shoes – canvas shoes for women with active outdoor lifestyles...


The Royal Horticultural Society has announced that Hotter, the UK’s biggest shoemaker, has launched a limited-edition range of new RHS Molly shoes – canvas shoes for women with active outdoor lifestyles.

 

The shoes are available in two designs – RHS Rose Floral and RHS Blue Floral. The RHS brand will be highlighted on the packaging and swing tags for both pairs of shoes.

 

Using carefully selected illustrations from the RHS Lindley Collections, the world’s largest collection of botanical art, Hotter has created these two exclusive repeat pattern designs to deliver something unique and evocative. Both designs evoke aspects of what makes the British outdoors so special: the beauty of the carefully tended garden in the elegant Rose Floral shoes and the joy of the wildflower meadow on the beautiful Blue Floral shoes.

 

The shoes are not just modern and stylish – they are also practical and comfortable. All Hotter deck shoes use Ortholite, a branded footbed recognised as a trademark for comfort in the industry.

The shoes are aimed at women in the core Hotter demographic – active outdoors-loving consumers over 50. The launch is timed to arrive when spring and summer send more people outdoors – a happy coincidence this year, as the launch occurs just before lockdown eases, retailers reopen, and people meet friends and family at the much-loved RHS gardens.

 

A total of 1,400 pairs of the shoes have been manufactured at Hotter’s Skelmersdale factory. They are now available through the Hotter website and 23 stores and garden centres. They will also be sold in the US and internationally via hotter.com

 

This is the second major RHS footwear launch by Hotter, which has been exclusively licensed by Britain’s favourite gardening charity to provide a selection of comfortable and elegant footwear. The agreement, first signed in 2019, was recently extended for another year.

 

Claire Pearl, Chief Product Officer at Hotter, said: “Our design team created these practical, comfortable, modern and stylish designs in collaboration with the RHS just in time for the start of national easing of lockdown. Like many other organisations and visitor attractions across the country, the RHS has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and at Hotter we wanted to play our part in raising awareness of this fantastic horticultural charity.

 

“It’s fantastic to see these unique designs come to life on our comfortable footwear. The launch of this small, focused collection is even more poignant at a time when we know that our customers are keen to be outdoors enjoying long-awaited walks with family and friends.”

 

Shereen Llewellin, Licensing Executive, RHS, says: “With their strong evocation of the joys of meadows and roses these shoes underline the RHS message about the health benefits of getting outside to enjoy gardens and nature, while adding a touch of flair and style that makes these shoes truly stand out. These Hotter deck shoes are a joy to look at and I’m sure will be a joy to wear.”

 
The best of last week's

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


 
David Isaac says farewell to Johnsons of Boston

Twenty-three years after buying Johnsons of Boston, David Isaac, a self-described "engineer from a family of retailers", has retired and the business sold to Dobbies.  GTN Xtra had the privilege of visiting David and his team on their last day of independent trading, Sunday 18th April 2021, before the centre closes for a two week re-fit...


Read more and see our photo gallery from the centre

 

Twenty-three years after buying Johnsons of Boston, David Isaac, a self-described "engineer from a family of retailers", has retired and the business sold to Dobbies.

 

GTN Xtra had the privilege of visiting David and his team on their last day of independent trading, Sunday 18th April 2021, before the centre closes for a two week re-fit.

 

While David proudly showed us around his centre a steady flow of customers and staff came up and wished him well.  David and his garden centre are clearly well loved in the area. “Everything I’ve done at the centre has been geared to making as many reasons as possible for customers to keep coming back,” David explained.  That’s why Johnsons of Boston were one of the first garden centres to add a convenience food hall over twenty years ago.  “I remember Tesco’s tried to stop us selling food,” recalled David.  That’s rather ironic now as the Fine Foods Hall, which had been emptied by shoppers before Sunday, will now become a Sainsburys food hall within the Dobbies Garden Centre.

 

 

As we left the centre, the queue to use the cash machine, which has also been a longstanding reason for people to visit, got even longer.

 

The garden centre re-opens as a Dobbies Garden Centre on Friday 30th April with all the current staff retained, but GTN Xtra understands, without any of the previous concessions that have been a feature of the centre.

 
Dobbies acquires Johnsons Garden Centre

Dobbies has announced the acquisition of Johnsons Garden Centre (Johnsons) located in Boston, Lincolnshire.  This takes the total number of Dobbies stores to 71...


 

Dobbies has announced the acquisition of Johnsons Garden Centre (Johnsons) located in Boston, Lincolnshire.  This takes the total number of Dobbies stores to 71.

 

Andrew Bracey, Chairman of Dobbies, said:  “We are very pleased to acquire Johnsons, it reflects our continuing ambition to grow Dobbies having more than doubled the business since we acquired it in 2016.”

 

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “We are delighted to welcome the team at Boston to Dobbies and over the coming weeks we will be investing in the store to bring it in line with our format.  This acquisition comes shortly after the opening of our second little dobbies store in Bristol and we look forward to announcing more new stores in the near future.”

 

David Isaac, Managing Director of Johnsons Garden Centre, said: “I am delighted that Dobbies Garden Centres will be taking over Johnsons, bringing with them a wealth of experience in garden centre retailing. They will undoubtedly take the business to the next level. I wish everyone prosperity and happiness as the new owners make their mark and continue to nurture garden centre retailing in the area.”

 

Johnsons Garden Centre will close to the public from Monday 19 April and will re-open on Friday 30 April.

 

 
Honeyfield’s, the gift that keeps on giving

Honeyfield’s Wild Bird has dedicated years to developing and sourcing quality products to make the bird feeding experience as easy as possible. This care and attention to the full experience ensures that there is a solution for every consumer, by creating differing price points throughout their range...


They say the way to a persons’ heart is through their stomach and it is exactly the same when it comes to birds.

 

Honeyfield’s Wild Bird has dedicated years to developing and sourcing quality products to make the bird feeding experience as easy as possible. This care and attention to the full experience ensures that there is a solution for every consumer, by creating differing price points throughout their range.

 

This competence and care runs deep throughout the Honeyfield’s brand by not only offering the gift of wild birds in the garden, but providing the gift of wildlife via their collaboration with conservation grade Fair To Nature.

 

The gift of conservation

Driven by innovation and high-quality standards, Honeyfield’s became the first supplier of Fair to Nature Bird Seed in the UK. This is no mean feat because to be awarded the Fair to Nature accreditation companies must commit to, where the ingredients allow, using cereals and other seeds grown on Fair to Nature farms. Fair to Nature Farms dedicate 10% of their land to wildlife. This means that Honeyfield’s Wild Bird Food not only feeds the birds in the garden but looks after the birds and other wildlife in our countryside too!

 

The gift of birds 

Studies have shown that seeing and hearing birds in your garden has a direct link to lowering levels of stress, anxiety and depression all whilst providing nutritious food for the birds. This enrichment that birds bring to people is a key reason for the love of wild birds, an experience that the public often pass on to loved ones via gifts such as bird feeders, dining stations and treats, so they can also benefit from the gift of birds in their garden.

 

The Honeyfield’s range has elegant products that would fit into any gift area, such as the Cottage Garden Feeders which feature a decorative squirrel proof cage and are available in Peanut, Seed and Suet Feeder options. 

 

To treat the avid bird lover, the decorative yet functional Dining Station is the perfect gift to display multiple feeders. Complete with detachable fork stabilising base, water and treat bowls and 12 feeder hangers, this really does offer perfect centre piece for the bird lovers garden.

 

Honeyfield’s recognises that presents don’t need to cost a lot, which is why they launched their Pre-filled feeders last season. These are easy fill and easy clean feeders which are full of the birds favourites such as seeds mix, peanuts, suet pellets and even mealworms. 

 

For an energy packed treat, look no further than the new Honeyfield’s Suet Blocks and Urban Garden Suet Block Feeder. These Suet Blocks are available in 2 flavours, Mealworms & Insect and Fruity flavour and are available as 300g single blocks, packs of 4 blocks and a mixed pack of 8 (4 Fruity and 4 Mealworm & Insect).

 

To enhance your gifting area, please email Honeyfield’s at info@honeyfieldswildbird.co.uk or call 0845 257 0232.

 
Time to stock up for spring!
GTN Xtra Promotion

A popular choice for DIY enthusiasts is ONDULINE EASYLINE lightweight roofing sheets, available to garden centre retailers in a branded standalone pallet, complete with accessories and fixings...


 

As the clocks have gone forward and with the longer days upon us, now is the right time for garden centres to stock up for the big spring garden makeover.

 

Certain to be high on consumers’ priorities will be upgrading garden sheds, summer and play houses, wood stores and other garden buildings.

 

A popular choice for DIY enthusiasts is ONDULINE EASYLINE lightweight roofing sheets, available to garden centre retailers in a branded standalone pallet, complete with accessories and fixings.

 

ONDULINE EASYLINE is both an easy solution to stock on any shop floor and an easy solution for the end-user to install. 

 

Bethany Hall, Technical Sales Manager for Onduline Building Products, said: “Longer evenings, brighter days and the freshness that comes with spring really puts people in the mood to be outside and in their gardens.

 

“As well as getting the garden looking good, consumers think about their garden buildings, whether that’s a refurbishment or giving them an upgrade.

 

“Alongside a coat of paint, replacing tired and worn-out roofing felt with ONDULINE EASYLINE roofing sheets is the perfect way to make sheds and summer houses look more attractive, while making them watertight for years to come.”

 

 

ONDULINE EASYLINE roofing sheets are very compact (only 1 x 0,76 m²). They can be easily transported in any car and due to their light weight and size they can be easily handled on the roof and are simple to install.

 

Available in seven bright colours, the ONDULINE EASYLINE roofing material is asbestos free, containing no hazardous substances, making it completely safe. 

 

It can be cut with a standard cutter or roofer knife, and it comes with a 10-year guarantee.

 

With the shortage in supply of timber resulting in huge cost increases for buying new garden buildings; homeowners are looking for innovative ways to renovate their existing sheds, summerhouse and other timber buildings. Onduline’s light weight roofing sheets are just the product to assist.

 

 

The ONDULINE EASYLINE standalone POS display is available in stock and ready for delivery from our UK warehouses. Get in touch today to discuss how we can support you this spring: enquiries@onduline.net or call 0207 727 0533.

 

For more information on Onduline’s lightweight, eco-friendly and durable roofing solutions please visit the website.

 
Allensmore receive Klondyke’s Plant Supplier of the Year Award

Congratulations to Allensmore Nurseries who were recently voted as the Klondyke Group’s Plant Supplier of the Year for 2020...


Congratulations to Allensmore Nurseries who were recently voted as the Klondyke Group’s Plant Supplier of the Year for 2020.

 

The award was announced at Klondyke’s recent virtual Plant Conference, which was attended by the Group’s 22 Plant and Garden Centre Managers and Horticultural Buying Team.

 

The online conference gave the perfect opportunity to plan and discuss stock for the 2021 season by bringing them together with many of the best from the UK plant supply chain; via video tours and updates. 

Klondyke Buyer Jo Cooke commented “The Klondyke Plant Supplier of the Year award is voted for by the garden centre plant managers. It recognises suppliers who perform consistently well throughout the year, with regard to both their stock quality and ease of ordering.

 

In the exceptionally difficult season of 2020, Allensmore worked incredibly hard to keep our centres supplied with fresh, colourful, home grown herbaceous product. Their relationship between their sales staff and the centres is superb and the plant quality is reliably good.

 

We look forward to further building sales with Allensmore as we move into 2021 and are very glad of the opportunity to recognise and thank them for all their hard work.”

 

Will Thomas of Allensmore added “All of the staff at Allensmore Nurseries were delighted to receive the Supplier of the Year award from Klondyke/Strikes.

 

Being family run ourselves it’s great working with a business that also has a strong family setup. Over recent years we’ve worked closely with the great team at Klondyke to develop our range and hope to continue to grow with them for many years to come.”

 
Seventh generation Durston joins family business

Dan Durston's daughter Katie has joined Grandfather Steve and Great Uncle Chris who are current directors of the Durston Dynasty, which has been operating on the Somerset levels for over 150 years, in the family business as part of an Apprenticeship in Business Administration...


Apprenticeships are a great way to earn money, learn new skills and gain on the job experience; whilst allowing you to work towards obtaining a nationally recognised qualification.

 

So it wasn’t too surprising for company director Dan Durston of Somerset based Durston Garden Products when daughter Katie suddenly announced last year that she would like to join the family business in the autumn.

 

Strode College in Street offers an array of Apprenticeships and the one Katie has opted for is in Business Administration.  The course will last between 18 months to 2 years and will allow Katie to work alongside her Father Dan, Grandfather Steve and Great Uncle Chris who are current directors of the Durston Dynasty which has been operating on the Somerset levels for over 150 years.

 

As Katie obtains on the job experience at Durstons she will be working towards a recognised national qualification.  The apprenticeship involves working 32 hours a week at the company plus an additional 7.5 hours at college.

 

When asked how it felt to be working with Dad, Katie said:“I was a bit nervous at first but extremely grateful to be given such a great opportunity. I don’t expect to be treated any differently than any other member of staff and as Dad did before me,  will work from the bottom up, learning as many skills along the way as I can. This opportunity will hopefully give me a clearer vision of what career I would like to pursue going forward”.

 
Squire’s Garden Centre Reigate receives GCA GROW training award

Squire's Garden Centre Reigate has been presented this month (April 2021) with the Garden Centre Association’s Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) award for completing the most GROW training modules last year (2020)...


 

Squire's Garden Centre Reigate has been presented this month (April 2021) with the Garden Centre Association’s Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW) award for completing the most GROW training modules last year (2020).

 

The award was first introduced in 2015 to encourage GCA members to utilise the programme by rewarding an individual garden centre whose employees complete, on average, the most courses throughout the year.

 

Antony Snow, Instructional Designer for GROW at the GCA, said: “Last year (2020) was a very difficult time for numerous reasons, but the national lockdowns and restrictions on travel meant that the more traditional on-site face-to-face training of employees wasn’t always possible.

 

“However, GROW users were able to continue to access valuable training, even when on furlough, as the system is available 24/7 from any device. While the overall number of course completions was slightly less than previous years, it was encouraging to see so many users participating in courses last year and the average number of completions among the top 10 centres was still very high.

 

“It’s great to see garden centre staff benefitting from GROW and we’d like to say a huge ‘congratulations’ to all staff at Squire’s Garden Centre, Reigate.”

 

Thanks to the GROW e-learning facility, garden centre staff can improve their knowledge, gain confidence and expertise and improve the quality of the customer’s experience at their garden centre.

 

Users can be assured that they are always receiving the correct, practical and unbiased advice, solutions to problems and help with gardening projects.

 

It is the most cost-effective way of delivering training to everyone employed within a garden centre.

 

Antony added: “Following on from GROW’s success in 2020, we will be launching a variety of new modules in 2021. A major addition will be a series of modules on the Environment and Sustainability, of which greener gardening will be a part of. These are subjects we have always wanted to cover in more detail and after consideration, it was felt that we could do this via two or three separate courses, so users can look out for these this and next year. They will be a major addition to GROW in 2021 and beyond.

 

“Other new modules include poisonous plants, which provides learners with an overview of which commonly sold plants, aren’t necessarily fatal, but pose a risk if ingested or if a person or pet comes into contact with them and a till security module will provide an overview of the best practices for checkout staff to follow to ensure that they don’t become the victim of fraud.

 

“We are also looking to improve our current manual handling training, which covers the basic principles, but we felt could be improved to be more relevant for lifting and handling tasks in a garden centre environment specifically. We also hope to explore topics including equality and diversity.”

 

As well as being available exclusively to our member garden centres, the GROW facility is now also available to Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) garden centre members too.

 

Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “I was so delighted to receive this award on behalf of my colleagues at our Reigate garden centre. This award is really important to us. It represents a great deal of commitment on the part of the team at Reigate and their dedication to serving our customers through continuously enhancing their knowledge. GCA GROW is an intrinsic part of our training programme and we look forward to seeing how it develops in the future as further modules are added.”

 
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Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour

In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.


In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.

 

To add your garden centre Christmas photo tour to GTN Xtra simply get snapping and enter The Greatest Christmas Awards.  See the categories here.  Send an e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk for more details

 

 
Squires Badshot Lea - Christmas 2020
Sneak preview of Squires Badshot Lea Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Squires Bashot Lea's Christmas Awards entry photo tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of the photo tour submitted by Squires at Badshot Lea as part of their entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 so get snapping and enter your garden centre team today!

 

Full details are here.

 

 
Perrywood at Christmas 2020 - with correct photo gallery now...
Sneak preview of Perrywoods Greatest Christmas Awards entry
See Perrywoods Christmas Awards Entry Photo Tour here

 

Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below.  Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.

 

There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today.  Full details can be found here.

 

 
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...


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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

 

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 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 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

 

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for last 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.

 

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

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 £100m.

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@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

All the latest news from the world of pet products


 
It’s not just furry animals that have been popular in lockdown

Squire's Garden Centres has experienced an upsurge in interested in people buying fish and aquariums since the start of the covid-19 pandemic...


 

There has been a massive rise in pet ownership since lockdown began last year. In the UK an estimated 3.2 million households acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, meaning that 17 million households (nearly half of all households in the UK) now own pets, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA).

 

But it’s not just furry animals that have been popular in lockdown. 

 

“We’ve noticed more people buying fish and aquariums,” commented Dan Reep, Pets & Aquatics Manager at Squire’s Garden Centres.

 

“Keeping fish is a great hobby and can be very rewarding, and a fish tank or pond adds tranquility and peacefulness to your home. Now is the best time to buy pond fish such as Koi Carp as our new season stock has just arrived, so there’s a wide range of colour varieties and sizes to choose from. We’ve also got an excellent range of plants, liners, pumps and filters to keep your pond in top condition and give you lovely clear water year-round.”

 

Koi at Squire’s Garden Centres

New season Koi are available now at Squire’s Garden Centres in Badshot Lea, Twickenham, Stanmore and Washington. There are four beautiful colour varieties available:

  • Platinum Koi – pure white
  • Kohaku – white with red markings
  • Sanke – white with red and black markings
  • Yamabuki – gold

Prices range from £10 for a 3-inch Koi to £520 for a 20-inch Koi. Stock varies by centre.

 

What’s so great about Koi?

Koi are a beautiful ornamental species of fish that descend from carp. There are over 22 varieties, each categorised by their colour, pattern and nature of their scales. They are easy to care for and symbolise good fortune and prosperity in Japanese culture. Koi are intelligent, and can recognise the person who feeds them and can even be trained to eat from his or her hand. They are social and very docile fish and enjoy the company of other Koi. Their size is determined by the environment they are raised in, diet and genetics. On average they live for 30-60 years, but they have been known to survive for over 200 years in the right conditions!

 

What do you need to keep Koi?

You need a large pond with at least 5,000 litres of water, and a minimum depth of 1.5 meters, so that your Koi can swim to the bottom where it is warmer in the winter. As well as deep water Koi also need shade as they are susceptible to sunburn. The water should be kept at 15-25 degrees Celsius and it should be oxygenated by adding a pump. A good quality filter is also essential as it will ensure that your water is free from waste, such as ammonia and nitrite caused by the fish, keeping your Koi happy and healthy.

Koi are omnivores, eating both plants and animals – they particularly like insects, snails, worms, fruit, lettuce and even peas! Squire’s recommend a complete food such as Medikoi by NT Labs, as it contains high quality, natural ingredients, and is scientifically formulated to help maintain the immune system and keep fish healthy.

 

www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Eezy Peezy! for lawns – it helps to prevent burn marks

 

At a time when lawns are coming under siege from dry weather CSJ has a herbal product on hand to help…their 'Eezy Peezy!' has been specifically formulated to optimise urinary health and help prevent burn marks on lawns caused by pet urine. 


At a time when lawns are coming under siege from dry weather CSJ has a herbal product on hand to help … their 'Eezy Peezy!' has been specifically formulated to optimise urinary health and help prevent burn marks on lawns caused by pet urine. 

 

With ingredients including Burdock Root, Celery Seed, Golden Rod and Dandelion, Eezy Peezy! sprinkled on dogs’ food is a simple way to help care for pets and lawns alike.

 

A typical customer comment says, “In the past I tried other lawn burn tablets, but to no avail, there was still loads of bad burn marks. It got to the point I was having to hose down the area after my dog toileted to stop the damage! So I decided to try a more natural alternative. I must say this has done wonders in reducing the lawn burn in my garden, will definitely continue!”

 

CSJ suggests ordering the resealable 300g foil pouches of Eezy Peezy! now before lawns get really bad!

 

 

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470

 
Wild bird feeders from Henry Bell boast unique design

Leading quality pet, wild bird food and accessories producer Henry Bell has a unique design on their collection of wild bird feeders: a forward-facing perch which enables garden birds to gather as much food as they need and in a safer environment.


 

Springtime is a busy season for wild birds as they actively claim their territories, search for a mate, and prepare nests to raise their young. For all this activity, they need as much energy as possible, sourced from rich nutritious food.

 

Leading quality pet, wild bird food and accessories producer, Henry Bell (www.henrybell.co.uk), has a unique design on their collection of wild bird feeders: a forward-facing perch which enables garden birds to gather as much food as they need and in a safer environment.

 

With bird wellbeing at heart, Henry Bell feeders have ring perches added to the design to make feeding easier and safer. The ring perches on the feeder's unique design consists of a crossbar enabling garden birds to feed in their natural forward-facing position. The increased perching area also allows birds to have a greater sense of safety, using their peripheral vision to keep an eye out for predators.

 

The distinctive ring perches are popular amongst many garden birds. In particular, the traditionally ground feeding Robin has been seen to benefit from using the ring perches as they feel more secure on the larger perching area. The unique ring perches feature is available in the Henry Bell Essential RangeHenry Bell Heavy Duty CollectionHenry Bell Sterling Collection and Henry Bell Heritage Collection.

 

Henry Bell & Co is a fourth-generation family-owned British business that has been producing high quality wild bird and animal foods for a number of years.

 

The company launched its own range in 2019, Henry Bell Wild Bird Care, which features over 140 quality products catering for every type of garden bird, all designed with health and wellbeing of birds in mind.

 

Henry Bell has made sustainable packaging a priority with all their Wild Bird Food packaging being 100% recyclable.