A memorial service to celebrate the life of Paul Cooling, who sadly passed away on December 29, will take place at St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks, Kent, on Wednesday, February 22.

People wishing to attend the service at the church and then Collings The Gardener's Garden Centre afterwards, have been asked by his family to wear bright and colourful clothing as “Paul would expect nothing less!”

The family has asked those people attending the thanksgiving service and also refreshments to email paulsmemorial@coolings.co.uk

Paul’s funeral will be an invite-only affair as the local church is very small.

Paul had been a larger-than-life character in the UK horticulture industry, often present at many trade functions usually sporting his trademark waistcoats and bow ties. In particular he was significantly involved with the GCA and in 2022 held the office of Vice President of the IGCA.

The family at Scotsdales have announced that their father Mr David Rayner died in the early hours of Saturday morning 14^th January.

His daughter Caroline Owen told GTN Xtra: "He was 94 years old and died very peacefully in his sleep. Totally unexpected to be honest.

"A lovely way to go! As a family we could wish for nothing better for him. As such we will celebrate his life."

Scotsdales began when the 14-acre Great Shelford site was acquired by Swaffham Bulbeck farmer David Rayner in 1968.

He was well know for always building something and in 2007 with Caroline, David set up the Scotsdales Charitable Foundation which enabled the building of the Cambridge Cancer Centre in early 2008 on land donated by Mr Rayner.. From start to finish, the building work took just 8 months, and everyone involved in the project worked completely free of charge.

Today, the Cancer Centre’s David Rayner Building is also available to other charitable groups for workshops, lectures, information days and social events.

Hogewoning is known for many years for his wide variety for products made of natural materials like wreaths and garlands made with cones in different styles and colours.

Daan Hogewoning said: “We have evergreen natural looking Christmas product which we renew every year.  Customers know that and the market is still looking out for this natural-country looking trend, which never disappeared from the market.

“Hogewoning has the ability to present this kind of products every year in a good balance for price and quality.

“This year we will surprise our customers with new articles in this field, which we are showing at the next trade fair Harrogate Christmas & Gifts on 15-18 January.

“Hogewoning has a good webshop where you will find a wide choice of products which we pre-sell.

“Because we have now our own company in the UK we are able to give good service to the garden centre trade in the UK.  

“Transport and duty are included in our prices.’

Browse the webshop by clicking here or the button (above left).

For further enquiries email daan@hogewoning.com

Immersive content has become a hugely popular part of Glee’s annual offering and, this year, a fantastic, brand-new live project will bring industry rising stars to the fore, through the mentor-led, training-based Glee Talent Store.

Designed to nurture and celebrate garden centre and retail visual merchandising excellence, the Glee Talent Store will be an interactive feature, supported by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) and leading horticultural influencer, Mr Plant Geek (Michael Perry). The feature will showcase the different ways that houseplant and outdoor plant merchandising displays can be interpreted instore, and how different designs can be utilised to highlight the same products and trends in a variety of inspiring ways. The focus will be on mentor-led training for new talent within garden centres.

The Glee Talent Store will kick-off with a special ‘bootcamp’ where entrants will be immersed in a full day of hands-on workshops (date to be confirmed) that will focus on merchandising best practice. The workshop will be hosted by an expert in visual merchandising that has led the way on the high street and department stores alike, whilst Glee’s new “ambassador”, Mr Plant Geek, will help participants create a specialist mood board to hone their houseplant or outdoor plant style.

On site at Glee, two live ‘retail sets’ created by those visual merchandisers that make it through bootcamp will be on display to inspire visitors. Located in the NEC’s light-filled atrium, alongside the show’s beating ‘Green Heart’, each Glee Talent Store display will showcase the vision for either houseplant or outdoor plants. Maximising proven techniques for linked sales and cross merchandising, the Talent Store will provide a fresh look at these thriving product sectors seen through the eyes of these passionate and emerging talents, whilst also providing insight into how the new generation of gardeners view these core product sectors.  Throughout the 2023 exhibition, Mr Plant Geek will be leading hosted sessions within the Talent Store to provide a more in-depth look at the trends, styles and merchandising ideas that each team has identified.

Even more exciting is that the Talent Store feature will continue long after the doors have closed on Glee 2023.  The Glee team, along with the team of mentors, will revisit each participant post event to see how the Glee Talent Store has impacted their career and how their merchandising skills have developed.

Matthew Mein, Event Director at Glee, said: “Visual merchandising is key to effective retailing. It has the power to entice and inspire consumers at the point of sale, with different components appealing to and engaging a diverse mix of shoppers. Recognising this individuality, we wanted to create something that celebrated these differences and encouraged visual merchandisers from across the garden retail sector to get involved. The Glee Talent Store is a great way for these talented and vital team members to celebrate their skills, and we’re incredibly excited about what they’ll be showing us in June.

“We’re also especially hoping that the Glee Talent Store will provide an outlet for younger visual merchandisers to shine. As an industry, we know that there is a deficit of younger workers and hope that this new feature can help to create a career path for the next generation.”

Peter Burks, GCA Chief Executive, added: “The Talent Store could not have come at a better time. With houseplants witnessing a huge surge in popularity amongst younger consumers, now is the perfect time to give a platform to this new generation of plant owners to share their knowledge and to give insight into the future of houseplant retailing. I’ve no doubt that the on-site content will be thought provoking and inspiring for us all.”

Further details about how to take part in the Glee Talent Store, including sponsorship opportunities for Glee’s exhibiting suppliers, will be presented at the forthcoming GCA Conference (22nd – 25th January). Throughout the event the Glee team will be available to answer any questions regarding the launch of the Glee Talent Store.

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

One of the country’s leading commercial nurseries is featured as a case study in DEFRA’s recently published five-year plant biosecurity strategy – it also quotes the company’s Production Manager, Kyle Ross.

The document covers areas of potential regulation and opportunity and explains how increasing domestic production will make an important contribution to reducing the risk of importing harmful pests and pathogens.

Andy Johnson, Managing Director of Wyevale Nurseries, says: “We’re delighted to be included as a case study in this strategy document. The case study relates to how we were an early supporter and adopter of the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme, which we’re very proud of.

“We joined in April 2020, at the very start of the initiative, to help champion UK biosecurity and plant health, which is something we’ve always been very passionate about here at Wyevale Nurseries.

“The Plant Healthy Scheme is run by the Plant Health Alliance. It aims to drive up plant health management standards in the UK by making it easy to identify businesses or organisations that trade and grow plants to high plant health and biosecurity standards.

“By sourcing plants from Plant Healthy nurseries, the risk of introducing or spreading destructive plant pests and pathogens is reduced, safeguarding supply chains and everyone in the horticultural industry and right down to the consumer, who enjoys their garden at home.”

Spearheading Wyevale Nurseries’ involvement with the Plant Healthy scheme is the company’s Production Manager, Kyle Ross.

He is quoted in the strategy document talking about his experience of the scheme and says: “Our nursery already had pre-existing protocols in place but by being Plant Healthy Certified it gives us the opportunity to really shout about the good work we do.

“Having a scheme like this in place that not just plant and crop producers, but anyone who works in plants, such as landscapers, garden centres, retailers, can sign up to is a huge benefit to UK horticulture, and really shows a united front against pest and disease threats.

“The process of becoming certified was thorough and efficient, with clear guidance on what the scheme criteria means and how to achieve compliance. The team behind Plant Healthy has been nothing but helpful, the resources available on the website are clear and easy to use, and there are some fantastic training programmes available too.

“Becoming certified gives our customers confidence that plants purchased from our business are 100% compliant with all biosecurity and plant health regulations. And that we have taken proactive steps to secure our business, including rigorous plant inspections, training of staff in pest and disease management and introduction of dedicated quarantine zones should they be required.”

Despite having similar growing conditions to countries such as the Netherlands, which allows domestic production of a wide range of plants and planting material, the UK remains a net importer of plants, the strategy says.

In 2019, it states, the UK imported an estimated £1.2 billion worth of ornamental horticultural goods. It’s important for biosecurity that more plants are British sown and grown going forward.

The document goes on to say: “Government will continue to invest in our nurseries as they play a vital role in growing the high-quality plants that we need now more than ever before.

“Through the Nature for Climate Fund, Defra is supporting the tree production sector to increase the quantity, quality and diversity of our domestic seed and sapling supply, to avoid reliance on imports and enhance biosecurity.

“This includes the launch of a new Tree Production Innovation Fund which has supported a wide range of projects designed to overcome barriers to forest nursery production, through increased germination and establishment rates, automation of labour-intensive processes, and development of sustainable weed control solutions.

“The new Seed Sourcing Grant supports UK seed production and further funding has been made available in capital grants to enhance biosecurity and expand domestic nursery capacity at pace.”

DEFRA’s comprehensive, five-year plant biosecurity strategy, which has just been published and runs from 2023 until 2028 is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plant-biosecurity-strategy-for-great-britain-2023-to-2028

Wyevale Nurseries’ product selection is admired across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning plant varieties.

Its main business is to supply garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners with a comprehensive array of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants.

For further details about Wyevale Nurseries, which is based in Hereford, please call 01432 845 200 or visit www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk.

Pictured: (L-R) Managing Director, Andy Johnson and Production Manager, Kyle Ross both from Wyevale Nurseries.

The Horticultural Trades Association has expressed concern following the government announcement that energy support for businesses will be reduced from April.

The HTA represents 1,500 member businesses from across the UK including garden centres and nursery growers.

Jennifer Pheasey, the HTA’s Director of Public Affairs commented: “The news that energy bill support for firms is to be reduced from April is a concern, though not entirely a surprise, despite our calls to give businesses greater reassurance in difficult financial times. This will likely be a large reduction in energy support, which is not good news for our members, who are already dealing with high inflation and increases in the cost of doing business. Moreover, other utilities will come under pressure again in the summer if last year’s drought is repeated.

“It is important to remember that a thriving horticulture industry plays a significant role for the economy, in job creation and improving the environment, and offers health and wellbeing benefits.”

Under the new energy support scheme, starting on 1st April, businesses will get a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped, like in the current scheme.

The government’s statement explained: “As per the current scheme the government will provide a discount on your gas and electricity unit prices. Eligible non-domestic consumers will now receive a per-unit discount to their energy bills during the 12-month period from April 2023 to March 2024, subject to a maximum discount. The relative discount will be applied if wholesale prices are above a certain price threshold. For most non-domestic energy users in Great Britain and Northern Ireland these maximum discounts have been set at:

• electricity - £19.61 per megawatt hour (MWh) with a price threshold of £302 per MWh.
• gas - £6.97 per MWh with a price threshold of £107 per MWh

The discount is calculated as the difference between the wholesale price associated with an energy contract and the price threshold. The discount is phased in when the contract’s wholesale price exceeds the floor price, until the total discount per MWh reaches the maximum discount for that fuel.”

As 2023 stretches ahead of us, Primeur – the award-winning supplier behind the Tierra Verde planters, Eco-Way stepping-stones, EZ Border borders and edging, and EZ Tile flooring ranges – is laying out its stall for the year ahead with its dedicated ‘Primeur Pledge’.

These 10 “promises” are designed to offer retailers peace of mind, celebrate the Primeur difference and continue to set the benchmark for sustainable design and material management.

THE PRIMEUR 2023 PLEDGE

1. To continue to offer unique garden and home products that deliver eco-friendly credentials both now and long into the future. 
2. Strive to minimise waste and to introduce new working relationships with our suppliers and customers to ensure they are matching the same standards.
3. Continue to bring to market eco innovations that inspire gardeners across the UK.
4. To work in partnership with our customers to curate product ranges and merchandising solutions to meet their individual consumer demands.
5. Continue to deliver the highest possible customer service levels; levels which have become synonymous with Primeur.  All customers will continue to be supported by Primeur’s National Account Managers, readily available five days a week for any orders and enquiries to help optimise sales.
6. Primeur products are designed to offer a long lifespan and this product guarantee and value for money will continue this year and every year to follow. Robustly made and virtually indestructible, this material benefit remains infinitely appealing to consumers.
7. 2023 will see Primeur continue to invest in its business structure, including a transparent pricing structure and a cost-effective delivery process, together working hard to limit cost increases.
8. Continued short leads with delivery in as little as five to seven working days. 
9. From factory to warehouse to store, Primeur will take great care of every single product to ensure that it is always look its best.  From dust protection to delivery in a carefully considered manner, every step of the products journey will ensure that stock arrives clean, undamaged and with the necessary packaging so that it can be instantly merchandised instore.  
10. Market-leading merchandising support to help optimise sales. All Primeur’s market-leading merchandising support has been designed to offer flexible stand configurations, supported with a variety of POS options to best suit each individual customer’s space and to draw the focus to the products, thereby helping to optimise sales. This ‘plug and play’ solutions allow easy implementation.

To find more about Primeur’s 2023 offering, contact the team on 01274 518800, email sales@primeur.ltd.uk or visit www.primeur.co.uk

The Commercial Horticultural Association is looking forward to welcoming visitors to the IPM Essen exhibition (24-27th January) and in particular to the International Horticultural Forum on Thursday 26th January.  

With the show’s focus on Great Britain this year, Government representatives from the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will be giving talks on critical subjects for growers and suppliers.

Last year the UK Government announced a full review of import and export processes and its commitment to designing an enhanced border control regime. Victoria Clarke, Delivery Policy Lead for Plant Health Imports at the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), in her Forum session will provide an overview of this new approach to border controls, highlighting how the future of Plant Health checks will look when importing or exporting goods into or out of GB.

Dr Elizabeth Warham, Lead for AgriTech at the DIT, will be showcasing a new Department for International Trade portal, a website which connects growers with suppliers worldwide.  Launched in 2022, it is already an essential working tool for British Consulates and DIT offices the world over, assisting companies in-country to work with Great Britain or facilitating exports from the UK.

Other prestigious speakers include renowned plant breeders Raymond Evison and Lindsay Reid from Guernsey Clematis and Patrick Fairweather from Fairweather’s Nurseries, all chaired by Matt Appleby, Editor of the leading UK horticultural journal, Horticulture Week.

In addition to the UK Government information being showcased, Forum topics include:

• flagship UK events such as the Chelsea Flower Show
• the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, economic and social and how   UK business embraces these challenges
• the value of new plants

Not to be missed at this edition of IPM are the companies exhibiting as part of the CHA British Pavilion in Hall 7, stands A24 to 29 and Hall 3, 3B37. http://www.fednews.co.uk/cha/ipmessen23.html 

Pat Flynn, CHA Trade Association Manager, is particularly proud of the British group attending IPM Essen this year. “All the exhibitors are playing their part in the Country Partnership and we particularly wish to thank Air-Pot®, Guernsey Clematis, Fairweather’s Nursery, Bluepoint Tags & Labels, PPC Labels, David Austin Roses Ltd and Whetman Plants International for their contributions to the entrance displays, the opening ceremony, the press conference and the Horticultural Forum.”

Rafe Courage, the British Consul General, will perform the Opening Ceremony on day one of the show and highlights include a performance of British music, all followed by a reception showcasing English sparkling wine and craft beers plus a traditional afternoon tea on the CHA Information stand 7A24.5 at the British Pavilion in Hall 7.

The CHA is also looking forward to welcoming a group of British growers to the show on Wednesday 25th, sponsored by ICL.

The Greenfingers charity, organiser of Garden Re-Leaf Day, is calling on every garden centre and industry supplier in the UK to take part in the forthcoming 2023 Garden ReLeaf event (Friday March 24th) to help the charity reach its £60,000 fundraising target set for the 2023 event.

Since its inception in 2012, Garden Re-Leaf Day has been a key event within the garden retail calendar, and to-date has helped to raise over £1,000,000 worldwide, £800,000 of which was raised in the UK.  This money has gone towards helping the charity design and create an additional 20 magical gardens in children’s hospices throughout the UK.

With just two months to go before the national industry-wide event, participants are being urged to register their interest now to support this thriving charity day.

This year, with a £60,000 goal in mind, the charity needs even more individuals, teams and whole companies to come together on March 24th. Whether holding a coffee morning, romping across the countryside with one of the Garden Re-Leaf sponsored walks or cycle challenges, or undertaking a feat of endurance with events such as the 24-hour Plantathons, there are so many ways to get involved. Whether you are a supplier, garden centre team or even outside of the sector, the event is open to all and promises to be a superb day of memory making, team building and essential fundraising.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications, said: “We’ve set ourselves some ambitious targets for the 2023 event in order to reflect the ever-increasing costs of designing and building a Greenfingers funded garden, however we remain confident that we can achieve this target. Every year more and more people come out to support Garden Re-Leaf Day, and we hope that this year we’ll have a record-breaking turnout.

“It’s important to note that getting involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day can be done through the smallest of gestures all the way through to challenges that push your mind and body. Every action and every event really does make a difference and can help drive up that fundraising total so whether you have an hour, a morning or the whole month to dedicate to the event, please know that it will be deeply appreciated.”

How to get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2022

Registration for the 2023 event is now live, and Greenfingers is also on the look-out for sponsors of the event. To find out more please contact Linda Petrons by emailing linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

FUNdraising ideas for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023

Here’s just a few ways you can get involved and help Greenfingers to continue creating magical gardens in children’s hospices across the nation:

1. Plantathons are perfect for generating some buzz instore whilst simultaneously generating more stock and donating to Greenfingers. Previous events have included 12- and 24-hour Plantathons.
2. Hold a virtual quiz, with a minimum donation for all entrants.
3. Raffles and tombolas are a great way of getting lots of people involved. Gather prizes from around your store, or ask friends and colleagues to donate prizes, before selling raffle tickets ahead of the grand unveiling of the lucky winner!
4. Cake sales and coffee mornings – are simple yet effective FUNdraisers.
5. An online auction is a great way to raise funds and involve your friends and colleagues
6. Team up with friends and colleagues to complete a virtual walk or cycle challenge. Set yourselves a target – 100 miles for example – and work together to achieve it. Walk around your local area, on a treadmill, whatever it takes! Keep in touch via Zoom to keep the group enthusiasm going! 

For more FUNdraising ideas or to obtain a copy of the 2023 fundraising pack drop Linda a line - she’d love to hear from you.

The Garden Re-Leaf Sponsored Walk has long been an integral part of the annual fundraising calendar that supports of the Greenfingers charity. Ahead of the 2023 event, a new ‘North Walk’ joins the line-up in the hope to encourage even more intrepid walkers to take up the challenge.

Organised by long-term Greenfingers supporter, Jane Lawler, the new ‘North Walk’ will make it even easier for those manufacturers and retailers based in the north of the country to join the annual Garden Re-Leaf activity without having to travel as far or spend money on overnight accommodation to ensure they are at the start line on time.

Taking place for the first time on Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023 – Friday March 24th – the new North Walk will add a healthy dose of competition to the sponsored walk, with northern walkers enjoying a pub start and end point! Starting at The Pickled Pheasant in Holmbridge, the 12-mile circular route will take in moorland, riverside paths, pretty villages and reservoirs, extending into the Peak District National Park, skirting the Pennine Way. Along the route, walkers will be able to see Last of the Summer Wine country, including Nora Batty’s infamous steps and Compo’s Fish & Chip shop.

Adding an extra challenge to proceedings, a treasure hunt will also be introduced. This will consist of quirky questions, the answers to which can only be found along the route. A prize will be made available to the winning team (maximum of four people per team) with a prize sponsor currently being sought. 

The North Walk will be supported by route app guidance, with a lead and ‘last’ walker to ensure all participants find their way around the route. Mulch’s Will Armitage, Primeur’s Jenny Douthwaite, Cowell Garden Centre’s Martin Cowell and Will Blake from St Peter’s Garden Centre in Worcester, have all offered to support on the day. 

South Walk & Cycle Ride continues

For those not in the North, the annual south based Greenfingers Sponsored Walk and Cycle Ride will continue in 2023. This year all southernly routes (10 and 20 miles) will start and end at Tring Garden Centre, part of British Garden Centres.

Get involved

Participation in the Garden Re-Leaf Walks will be on a first come, first served basis. To register your interest please contact Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.

Any brands interested in sponsoring the walks and cycle ride, including pre- and post-walk refreshments, are invited to also get in touch.

Find out more

To find out more about how you can get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023, including fundraising inspiration, please visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/get-involved/gardenreleaf

You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media -https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

The London Landmarks Half Marathon is now just a few months away (2nd April 2023) with 11 runners from across the garden retail sector and beyond taking part on behalf of the Greenfingers Charity.

Taking part in next year’s race will be Hammerlin’s Jason Richardson, Ali Adigun and Kate Sparling from corporate supporters, Clarins, Kyla Sansbury, Greenfingers Finance and Office Administrator, plus Alison Kirk, Heidi Towse andKatie Boyd from STV. Woodlodge will also see a team of four tackle the race together, made up of Neil Blake, Graham Pack, Simon Neale and Richard Newton. 

Together these eleven runners will each look to complete the 13-mile route whilst helping to raise much needed funds for Greenfingers. All monies raised will allow the charity to create even more therapeutic garden spaces at children’s hospices across the country.

Entry to the London Landmarks Half Marathon is free, though the Greenfingers fundraising team ask that a minimum fundraising target of £500 is set. If there are other intrepid runner that would like to support the Greenfingers Charity at this year’s LLHM event, please do reach out to the team as additional spots can be secured if required.  To register your interest email Linda Petrons, Greenfingers Director of Fundraising & Communications via linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

About the London Landmarks Half Marathon

Launched in 2014, the London Landmarks Half Marathon has been set up to shine a spotlight on not just London’s iconic landmarks, but also its quirky hidden gems. The route - which starts at Nelson’s Column before taking in such landmarks as London Eye, Big Ben, Downing Street, the world’s smallest police station, the largest grasshopper, Guy Fawkes house and so much more – travels through the heart of Westminster and London City, whilst celebrating the rich heritage and culture that shapes our nation’s capital. 

To keep runners motivated, the route will also be adorned with musical performances, DJs, dancers and themed cheer stations, including a floral themed Greenfingers one!  All roads will remain closed for the duration of the race.

Find out more

To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please visitwww.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/

You can also join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media -https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Ivyline is set to unveil a series of new collections at Spring Fair 2023, where the specialist in luxurious home and garden accessories will have a stand in Hall 7 E70.

Visitors can look forward to seeing beautiful new designs for Spring/Summer 2023, whilst Christmas 2023/4 and a new lifestyle gardening collection will also be launched at the show.

Sustainability will be at the heart of the Ivyline offering, as this great British supplier strives to ensure that all aspects of its sourcing and manufacturing meet the highest possible standards. The company has moved the majority of its production to Europe from the Far East, which not only reduces the carbon footprint of its products, but also ensures orders aren’t at risk of being stuck in transit.

Ivyline has also continued to reduce its reliance on plastic and includes a minimum of 30% recycled material in its production and packaging. Recycled glass features highly across all of its seasonal collections, alongside premium handmade and hand finished planters. As it works towards a more sustainable future, Ivyline is building relationships with partners who also prioritise sustainability, including zero-waste pottery makers and companies using solar and hydrogen-powered kilns.

Fresh for Spring

Ivyline’s new Spring/Summer 2023 collection will bring shops to life with the freshness of the season, offering buyers the chance to incorporate the biggest home interior trends into their merchandise. There will be a strong focus on planters and vases to help retailers capitalise on the ongoing houseplant boom which shows no sign of abating as we start the New Year.

The collection is presented across six beautifully curated concepts - Nature’s Stories, Purity, Coastal, Curiosity, Global Journeys and Japandi – and incorporates specialist designs for orchids and cacti, two of the most popular varieties of houseplant.

With a beautifully muted colour palette, reactive glazes and textured finishes, Nature's Stories brings the best of the great outdoors into home interiors. From the pretty by name, Jolie, in cool two-tone pastel hues and small tripod legs, and the timeless greens and greys of Azalea, to the pale pink beauty of Morganite (pictured) and wholesome Celine, constructed entirely from recycled materials, this is the perfect collection for those who seek a pared down natural style and quiet sense of luxury.

Bolder colourways are introduced with Curiosity, which includes a stunning range of hand finished, ethically sourced seagrass baskets and the 100% recycled and frost proof Pula. Reactive glazes in Burnt Orange, Forest Green and Pebble Grey, frosted ribbed glass vases and opulent metallic planters made from 95% recycled glass are presented alongside copper-finish hanging planters, watering cans and hammered bowls up the luxe appeal of this covetable collection. The Timeless Boston design is pictured here.

Elegance and simplicity are the keynotes of Global Journeys, with eye-catching metallic planters on tall or short stands helping to make houseplants into the heroes of home interiors. The Mayfair and Kensington  hanging baskets will bring ceilings and gloomy corners to life, whilst the hand-finished beauty of Solis and Zendaya offer embossed accent pieces in exquisite gold tones. A spot of Italian-inspired style comes from the Pisa and Tivoli designs, whilst macrame hanging baskets and standing planters bring a relaxed and bohemian style.

Cool, clean and contemporary, Japandi is a flawless blend of Scandi chic with Japanese design. The gorgeous Akemi vessels in Carbon Black and Pure White headline this super-stylish collection. The stunning Lagos planters are handmade in Portugal for high-end style, whilst the Luna design is high on functionality with matching stoneware planters and saucers. Lightweight bamboo features in hanging and standing two-tone planters, whilst Anzio makes a simple but effective statement with its four wooden legs topped with perfectly proportioned stone vessels.

Purity lives up to its name with a serene collection in highlights of dusky peach and the premium handmade Nico collection of tall planters in Rustic White and Mocha. The delicate Aurora with small handle detail brings more handmade rustic chic to the table or shelf, whilst two-tone Puro (pictured) has pretty cottage-core style. The luxurious Fairford, with its debossed textured surfaces will help charm shoppers into your store.

For lovers of Coastal style, the sixth Spring-Summer concept from Ivyline has a strong sustainable ethos, with seagrass hanging planters and nested jute baskets. The Geilo jute design functions equally well as a waterproof planter as it does a storage basket, whilst Panza brings bold seafaring blue to the fore. The strongly textured Vasto design includes a beautiful wide planter, perfect for creating varied planting arrangements. 

The wider home, garden and gift portfolio from Ivyline incorporates an extensive range of indoor and outdoor planters, vases and accessories. These include watering cans and plant misters, candles, tealight holders and hurricane lanterns, Advent decorations, and stocking and wreath hooks. Stylish ranges of outdoor dining furniture, firepits, log stores and water features, complete an offering which brings home and garden together in style.

Find out more

To find out more about Ivyline visit www.ivylinegb.co.uk, email sales@ivylinegb.co.uk or by calling 024 7633 9180.

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It has been announced on Linkedin that Planteria journalist, editor and publisher Phil Evans dies suddenly in 12th January 2023.

Recipient of a Blue Diamond Scholarship in 2022, career changer, Jessica Mears, who had been delivering letters for the Royal Mail in Bristol for two years after completing her Masters degree in mathematics, says life is about Lavender and the 400 or so varieties of other herbs she is involved in growing now, rather than letters!

Always interested in gardening,  she became intrigued by all the plants she saw in front gardens while delivering letters, and how they changed with the seasons,  Jessica was inspired by horticulture as a career and signed up to do a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Horticulture with Sparsholt College in Hampshire. 

Now qualified and with college behind her, Jessica is working with Jekka’s, a herb growing specialist in south Gloucestershire, where she is able to put into practice so much of the horticultural knowledge she has learnt and hone her skills in propagation techniques. 

The 31^st January sees the closing of the application season for the varied range of Colegrave Seabrook Foundation scholarships for 2023. Bursaries from £500 up to £5,000 are available to students studying horticulture, on a full or part time basis, through one of the colleges in the UK. 

Jessica Mears, the recipient of a Blue Diamond Garden Centres scholarship in 2022 told us: 

“Gaining my scholarship made such a difference to my final year of studies. Taking away some of the financial pressures enabled me to concentrate on study and enjoy college so much more. The application process was easy, the fact that it was not means tested also made it so much more accessible. Being able to do some extra studies and qualifications has helped me so much with my work now. I am really grateful to the Foundation for their support and would recommend students to make their own application.”

You will find full details and application advice for the range of Scholarships including those supported by Blue Diamond, Smart Garden Products and Majestic Trees on the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation website, but do not delay as the deadline is looming and on line applications close on the 31^st January 2023. www.colegraveseabrookfoundation.org.uk

College lecturers play an important part in the application process, bringing the opportunities to the attention of students that the Foundation’s scholarships bring and supporting their applications. Students who demonstrate the right attitude, ability and ambition to make their career in one of the many branches of horticulture should apply for some financial support to help with costs of living, purchase of course materials, fees, travel costs or something as specific as the purchase of a new laptop or other tools to assist their studies.  

Pictured: Jessica at the nursery in Gloucestershire, now putting into practice some of what she learnt at Sparsholt College, supported by a Scholarship from the Colegrave Seabrook Foundation in 2022. 

The Horticultural Trades Association welcomes the publication by the government of the Independent Review of Net-Zero, and supports its recommendation for more action to ensure the economic benefits of green growth can be realised.

In 2021, the UK’s environmental horticulture sector published ‘Unlocking Green Growth’, which set out the key enablers and opportunities for delivering green growth. The HTA has also published a separate paper which found that the sector – if given the necessary regulatory and policy support – has the potential to play an integral role in advancing five out of the ten aims in the UK’s 25-year environmental plan.

Jennifer Pheasey, HTA’s Director of Public Affairs, commented: “Environmental horticulture in the UK contributes significantly to the economy, the environment and to physical and mental health. The Net-Zero Review recognises the value of green spaces, the role of tree planting, as well as other nature-based measures to support the government’s net-zero ambitions.

“The HTA seeks robust policy-making and proportionate environmental regulation, which will ensure businesses can continue to thrive and contribute to this journey. We’re also calling for consideration to be given to extending the scope of existing policy frameworks, such as climate change agreements, which would benefit the wider horticulture industry.”

The HTA is a member of the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group, which published the Unlocking Green Growth document and submitted evidence to the Independent Review of Net-Zero. The HTA also participated in a British Retail Consortium roundtable with Chris Skidmore MP, at which the HTA raised questions over the complexity and clarity needed for Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.

The HTA Sustainability Roadmap can be found here: https://hta.org.uk/news-events-current-issues/sustainability 

Unlocking Green Growth and the HTA’s report on How the Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping Industry underwrites the 25-year environment plan can be found here: https://hta.org.uk/policy/unlocking-green-growth

BHETA has promoted its former marketing manager, Stephen Richardson to the newly created role of Marketing Director, making him part of the associations’ executive team.  Steve has been with BHETA since 2019, following eight years at Travis Perkins plc.

In his new role he will continue to support the Exclusively Show, the UK’s premier housewares and gift exhibition, which is owned by BHETA as well as assisting sector managers in member engagement and recruitment and spearheading new initiatives to add value for BHETA members.

Commenting on the new role, Chief Operating Officer for BHETA, Will Jones said, “Since the 2020 lockdown, BHETA’s role in supporting members has necessitated a change in focus and promoting Steve onto the executive team will help the association continue its drive to provide market data, retail engagement, educational webinars, and essential lobbying on key issues. 

“The promotion is also well deserved.  BHETA has made significant progress during the last three years and Steve’s contribution, together with the rest of the team, puts it in a strong position to move forward and consider future industry opportunities.”

Executive Chairman Andrew Weiss added, “I am very pleased to be welcoming Steve to the executive team. His insight into digital marketing and experience in sustainability issues gained with his previous employer, Travis Perkins, will help us to shape new initiatives for our members. We have a very strong team within the association and as BHETA continues to develop its longer-term plans, I am very confident that we have the right talent to deliver continued value for the membership.”

Steve Richardson has more than twenty years’ experience of both B2B and B2C marketing roles in blue chip organisations.  Prior to his eight-year career at Travis Perkins Group, he spent ten years at Focus DIY latterly as Strategy and Development Controller.  Before that he worked in a senior marketing role for Collectible World Studios, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers and importers of giftware.

More details of BHETA’s programme of events for members and extensive range of member services can be found on www.bheta.co.uk.  For further information, contact Rajni Kaur from the BHETA Member Services Team on 0121 237 1130 or alternatively, email on rk@bheta.co.uk.

The Young People in Horticulture Association has announced 2023’s first in-person event, which will be run in conjunction with Coolings Nurseries and Garden Centres, will take place on Thursday 2 February.

YPHA members will be heading to Coolings for another fantastic day learning about life in horticulture. 

The day will consist of an in-depth guided tours of the garden centre and nursery, as well as the innovative setup at Coolings ‘Lifestyle’. Members will also enjoy talks from marketing guru,  Liz Dowling,  and also from BBC Gardeners’ World Presenter Adam Frost.

As most of  you will be aware that Paul Cooling – a great friend to YPHA and the wider industry – very sadly and very suddenly passed away late December. Arranging this event was his final gift to YPHA and, after much discussion, all parties involved decided unanimously that Paul would want the event to go ahead.

YPHA are grateful to all parties involved for working together to get this event organised and looking forward to a day at the Centre in Pauls honour.

For more information on YPHA please visit ypha.org.uk

For more information on Coolings, visit https://www.coolings.co.uk/

Glee is set to expand its offering into a dedicated Home, Gift & Clothing ‘village’ for the 2023 event, reflecting the central importance of these categories in garden centres around the UK.

This expertly curated sector of the show will incorporate a wealth of inspirational new products that are especially suited to the home and gift trade within garden centres. Products will include outdoor clothing, footwear and fashion accessories, greetings cards, stationery and books, home fragrances and decorative accessories, toys and other gifts for children.

For garden retailers who are seeking to diversify their offering, Home, Gift & Clothing at Glee will have the trend-led solutions they need, whilst traditional gift shops and homeware retailers will have the opportunity to see stand-out suppliers in a different setting and discover the new product innovations that will inspire their customers in seasons to come.

As the most important UK exhibition for the garden centre trade, Glee offers access to hundreds of brands across multiple show sectors, with thousands of new product innovations under one roof and an exceptional programme of content. The event offers a golden opportunity for home, gift and clothing retailers who seek to bring the outdoors instore and build an all-round lifestyle merchandise mix for their customers.

The late June timing of Glee is also ideal for gift, homeware and apparel buyers in search of the hottest new merchandise ahead of Christmas. This was demonstrated at last year’s edition of the show, where buyers turned out in droves to do some serious ‘Christmas shopping’. The introduction of a dedicated ‘village’ for Home, Gift & Clothing will facilitate show navigation for retailers seeking exciting new brands, trend-driven collections and Christmas-ready ranges across complementary merchandise categories.

As the first Q2 trade buying show ahead of Christmas 2023, retailers in search of exceptional new launches won’t want to miss this, as Glee will put them at the front of the ordering queue for the hottest home, gift and clothing products of the season.

Glee Director, Matthew Mein comments: “We are incredibly excited about the next edition of Glee, where so many plans for the future of both this event and the garden retail trade will finally start to manifest. We have a lot to share with our audience and look forward to welcoming suppliers and retailers from across the home, gift and clothing spectrum to the NEC next June, where they will find a natural home alongside our fabulous garden offerings, DIY and retail solutions. All these elements together will help make Glee into an event which really taps the seismic consumer lifestyle shift towards gardening and pet care, grow-your-own and houseplant cultivation – all-round outdoor living with a strong sustainable ethos. Home and Garden are as one at Glee.”

Home, Gift & Clothing Exhibitors

A host of new names will join important returning exhibitors across the home, gift and clothing spectrum, including: Legendary greetings card publishers, Woodmansterne, UK Greetings and Museums & Galleries; British arthouse providers of candles and home fragrance, The Candle Brand and Freckleface; crafting king specialist, Search Press, The Crafty Kit Company; eco-friendly and fairtrade home and gift supplier, Tilnar Art; APAC, which has major brands including Bolsius Candles and a beautiful range of silk flowers, eco-friendly gift and homeware supplier, Jarapa (a specialist in beautiful recycled glass products); major wholesale supplier, Global Journey Gifts, whose original gift ranges are supplied on customised displays with vibrant Point of Sale; handmade wooden plaque and giftware supplier, The Giggle Gift Company; international supplier of candle holders, Hellmann-Versand GmbH, Little Karma, The Wheatbag Company and garden lighting specialist, Lighting Legend.

For the first time in 2023 they will be joined by licensed gift wholesaler, GB Eye (Abysse UK), which has a huge array of branded products featuring a multitude of top licenses from across the worlds of music, film and television. Toy companies joining the fantastic line-up include Hippychick Ltd, Playmonster UK, Playpress Toys, Robbie Toys Ltd and Toyway by Bachmann.

On the Clothing side are hard-wearing outdoor sock brand, HJ Hall (a great gift for hikers and outdoor workers); fairtrade knitwear supplier, Black Yak, Soake Ltd, and ultra-lightweight wellington boot brand, Leon Boots Co, which can effectively cross the divide from garden centres to specialist shoe shops and department store retailers.

Elsewhere at Glee, buyers in search of the latest trends in home accessories will have the chance to discover the luxurious, design-led gardening, houseplant and outdoor accessories of garden centre favourites such as Burgon & Ball, Ivyline, Capi, KW Metal Flowers and Jonart.

New Look for Glee!

Reflecting the great diversity of companies and brands who come together under one roof at Glee, the show has unveiled beautiful new-look branding which starts its roll out this month (December 2022). Featuring bright colour palette and icons representative of Glee’s product categories, the branding’s rich visual tapestry captures the fresh and forward-thinking lifestyle ethos of an event where consumer trends take shape and come into bloom.

Find out more

Glee is the UK’s leading garden retail show, focusing on building year-round profits for buyers and suppliers within the core gardening and outdoor leisure product categories.  To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com.  To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2023, which will take place June 27th – 29th, please call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Smart Garden Products has been working hard to bring you more than 300 new products, including several entirely new ranges. 

Brand new Candy Cane Ornaments, Stakes, Nutcrackers and Plush, Gingerbread Plush, Tree Décor, Lighting and Ornaments, and a staggering 52 new Wreaths & Garlands, all join the range. 

And we can’t forget our incredible new Self-Inflating Characters that are sure to take centre stage in even the most outlandish and spectacular Christmas displays!

“Collections” is our favourite word for Christmas 2023! Following the success of our matching lines across Briers and Zoon, we know how consumers find a connection with a pattern or theme and love to spread that joy throughout their home and garden spaces. Favourite Three Kings ranges have been revamped and extended to provide those recognisable link sales, across Gingerbread, Candy, Gonk and Nutcracker themes. Customers can find coordinating plush, cushions, stockings, hanging pendants, lighting, ornaments and figurines to dress their homes from top to bottom! Our Faux Décor Christmas assortment also has new lines so everywhere from the front door, to the table and the staircase can be adorned with colour matching wreaths, garlands and festoons. 

As always, we promise amazing quality and value for money across all lines. The complete Three Kings range, comprising over 750 items, will be displayed in our custom Christmas Showroom in Peterborough. Contact your Account Manager today to book a visit.

Below is a picture gallery of new products from the range.

Rutland Nursery has revealed that its new 100-seater restaurant overlooking Rutland Water will be opening in the spring.

Posting on its Facebook page on New Year’s Day, the garden centre announced: “For the past two years we have had the absolute honour of designing and building a new home for ourselves. It’s been incredibly exciting planning layouts and choosing materials - even down to the finding the perfect espresso cup.

“The new L-shaped building faces Rutland Water and sits just behind our current site. One half of the building will house our beautiful new shop, with vaulted ceiling and a special corner ‘lookout’. Having a much larger space here will allow us to enhance and increase our current offering of thoughtfully-curated pieces.

“The centrepiece of the project though, is our new 100-seater restaurant, ‘The View’, with its floor-to-ceiling windows taking in unrivalled, panoramic views across Rutland Water to the hills beyond. Here you can choose to join family at one of our larger refectory tables, or cosy up next to our stone fireplace with friends.

“The building complex wraps around a brand new landscaped courtyard which will showcase a rich variety of plants and trees and provide a peaceful place for you to sit and take a moment. Here we can offer drinks or a light bite to enjoy outside too. Also within the boundaries of the courtyard sits ‘The Glasshouse’ which gives a new home to our houseplants and selection of outdoor furniture pieces.

“We’re truly thrilled to be finally sharing this news with you today, and it’s our absolute commitment that you will continue to receive the warmest of welcomes and experience those special touches you’ve become accustomed to from our dedicated and friendly team.

Happy 2023 to you all!”

Illustrations taken from Rutland Nursery’s Facebook page.

It is a new year and gardeners cannot wait for days to become lighter and brighter so that we can get outside and enjoy the space that we are so lucky to have created. Each year, we witness the latest trends unfold, so as we prepare for the new season and 2023 sees a resurgence of gardening aided by the pandemic, British Garden Centres take a look at how consumers can use their garden and embrace the trends that look set to take over the outdoors this year.

Sustainability

With consumers becoming more empowered and eco-aware, we can expect to see more natural and recyclable products in gardens. Gardeners looking at reducing their carbon footprint on our planet will be looking for British-grown plants and locally-made products – both stocked widely by British Garden Centres.

We expect to see more plant pots made from recyclable materials such as ocean plastic, recyclable rubber and reclaimed waste on patios, balconies and gardens across the country. Solar-powered lights and water features, as well as cost-saving LEDs, will light up our outdoor spaces after dark.

Following the unprecedentedly hot UK summer last year, it is thought that more warm weather can also be expected in 2023. The threat of a dry gardening season and lack of rain leaves gardeners old and new in a watering predicament of when to water, and what to plant. Watering plants using a watering can, bucket, or using rainwater from a water butt will become a regular occurrence and will prevent wasting water and help your plants thrive during the hot spells.

Plants

The biggest event this year is set to be King Charles’ coronation in May, and we expect to see trends from the celebration spread into our homes with households planting their gardens and containers in patriotic red, white and blue.

His majesty has made no secret that his favourite plant is the Delphinium which he describes as magnificent and grew at Highgrove. King Charles is a well-known advocate for gardening so we think delphiniums which symbolise positivity, will be a popular choice for gardeners as he becomes the country’s next monarch.

Continuing the cottage core trend is the Queen Consort whose favourite plant is the Lady’s Mantle or Alchemilla Mollis with its attractive green crimped parasols of foliage and delicate yellow flowers. It makes an excellent ground cover and is ideal for cottage-style gardening which has continued to grow as people look to turn their homes and gardens into an idyllic conception of rural life. Expect to see the rise of cottage favourites and nostalgic plants like roses, lilac, hydrangea, and hollyhock too as the country prepares for its first coronation for over 70 years.

On December 1st, Pantone, the colour trend experts, revealed the highly anticipated colour of the year for 2023: ‘Viva Magenta’ which will dominate fashion, the home and the garden. Pantone describes the colour as “brave and fearless, a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative” which we believe will transfer outdoors.

We love pelargoniums which produce attractive dark magenta flowers, (as well as other colours) which are fit for the 2023 Pantone colour trend and will also appeal to wildlife lovers who want to bring pollinators to the garden.

Grow your own

Penny-saving planting will rise as household bills soar, so we expect to see more people growing their food in their gardens. Whether it be alpine strawberries or fresh herbs, whole summer salads to root vegetables and fruit, being self-sufficient will play a key part in 2023.

Growing your own not only provides a sustainable and convenient source of fresh produce, but also allows for greater control over the quality and safety of the food being consumed, and can be a fun, healthy and rewarding hobby.

Microgreens will also become a popular culinary trend because of their intense flavour, high vitamin content and ease and speed to grow – the perfect window-sill crop!

Outdoor living

There will be a strong focus on outdoor living and relaxation with space to entertain friends with the garden now viewed as an outdoor room or an extension of existing living space. Luxurious and sociable eating areas, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and decking will be must-haves for 2023. We also will see dining al-fresco become more and more popular with outdoor kitchens accompanying garden furnishings.

Wall art, outdoor mirrors, and garden décor are also taking off as homeowners decorate their outside with as much care and thought as their interior. Metallic accents are steadily gaining popularity and can add warmth or a focal point outdoors. To incorporate metallics into your garden aesthetic, try using wall mirrors with thin silver frames and use metal lanterns to enhance pathways or as table centrepieces.

Houseplants

Houseplants are extremely popular both as a hobby and as interior décor as they are renowned for adding texture to your space and can even improve your health. Biophilic design, which is all about incorporating nature into our homes through design, will continue to thrive as it has shown that it can make us healthier and more productive. Houseplants with attractive foliage will continue to trend like calatheas for their many different shapes and colours. With customers now looking for something new, there are over 100 cultivars to choose from to suit any room or taste.

Oversized houseplants are due to make a statement in the home in 2023. Monstera or the Swiss Cheese Plant and palms will adorn dark corners of every room, whilst cacti and succulents will continue to thrive with novice gardeners and will remain popular and are easiest to grow.

The Garden Centre Association is reminding its members to book their places at its first face-to-face conference since 2020, which takes place at the end of this month.

The event, which will include talks, industry updates and opportunities to network, is being staged at the Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa in Lancashire from January 22 until 25.

GCA Chairman, Tammy Woodhouse, says: “This conference is particularly significant, as we’ve not been able to meet all in one place properly, since our event in 2020, just before the first Covid lockdown.

“We’re reminding our members to make sure they have their places booked for our annual conference soon if they are still hoping to attend. Members can visit our website via www.gca.org.uk to reserve their place.

“It will be held at the 700-year-old Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel and Spa. Members can expect a line-up of top-quality speakers including Linbert Spencer OBE, Casper Craven, Dave Goulson, Guy Singh-Watson, Roger Martin-Fagg and Felicity Aston MBE, and plenty of opportunities to catch up with friends, colleagues and associates from the industry in person at last.”

The conference kicks off on Sunday, January 22 with the Greenfingers Challenge Cup at Barton Grange Garden Centre’s The Flower Bowl Entertainment Venue.

The evening will be full of fundraising activities and friendly competition to raise money for the charity, Greenfingers. Transport is available from the hotel directly to the Flower Bowl and back, to book, please visit www.gca.org.uk.  

Tammy adds: “Monday’s (January 23) part of the conference will focus on the operational side of our industry and will include talks from a range of inspiring and engaging business speakers to help motivate us for the year ahead.

“In the evening it will be our eagerly anticipated fancy-dress Associates Dinner, which is themed as ‘The Great GCA Garden Party’.

“During the day on Tuesday (January 24) there will opportunities to listen to some inspirational speakers and a chance to help attendees define their strategy for 2023 and beyond.

“There will also be our Associate’s Exhibition providing the chance to meet suppliers in an informal setting before concluding in the evening with our annual black-tie gala dinner and our famed awards ceremony.”

The GCA represents more than 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.

The GCA’s annual conference will be held at the Mercure Blackburn Hotel & Spa in Blackburn, Lancashire from January 22 – 25, 2023.

For further information or to book a place, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Leading garden care company Evergreen Garden Care has announced changes to its leadership team.

After working as a Marketing Director for two years at EGC, Ian Hepburn will be leaving the company, with Rich Fisher (pictured) succeeding him.

Rich, the previous Category Management & Customer Marketing Controller transitioned to the position of Head of Marketing on Tuesday 3rd January. Rich joined Evergreen in October 2019, and in the subsequent three years has led successful management responsibilities for shopper marketing, category management & insights, the EGC trade academy, alongside the sustainability function too. It is now an appropriate time for Rich to transition to a more strategic role, and lead the consumer marketing, category development, customer marketing and sustainability strategy for the UK.

Rich Fisher comments: “I’m delighted with the opportunity to lead this key team within the business. The colleagues who have been working with me for the last few years know that I’m all about simplifying gardening for shoppers and consumers and ensuring they get the best possible results – and I plan to keep that focus going forward.

“We have a brilliant family of brands at Evergreen and the unique opportunity to keep leading the way in this extraordinary industry. I’m keen to get started and look forward to working with customers and colleagues alike.”

Rich will be working on the following EGC brands: Miracle-Gro, Levington, Roundup and Weedol.

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.

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.