News services across the UK are this monring reporting that Hilco, owners of Homebase, are lining up administrators in an attempt to save half of the 3,200 jobs that are at risk.

Sky News reports: "The Range, the privately owned general merchandise retailer, is closing in on a deal to snap up a large chunk of Homebase which will save close to 1,500 jobs but raise doubts about at least 1,700 more.

"Sky News has learnt that administrators are being lined up to handle a pre-pack sale of scores of Homebase stores amid hopes that a significant number of the company's remaining jobs can be salvaged.

"The deal with The Range, which is expected to take place on Wednesday, will involve the purchase of up to 75 stores, including Homebase's Irish shops."

In The Telegraph the headline reads: ‘Del Boy billionaire’ rescues Homebase from collapse. With their report saying: "A retail tycoon nicknamed the “Del Boy billionaire” is on the cusp of a deal to rescue scores of Homebase stores as the DIY chain calls in administrators.

"Chris Dawson, who owns and runs The Range homeware outlets, is finalising a takeover that will result in as many as 70 Homebase stores folded into his shopping empire.

"The deal with administrators Teneo is expected to preserve nearly 1,600 jobs across the UK. Up to 1,000 frontline and head office staff are at risk of being made redundant, however, unless buyers for the remaining stores can be found."

The Daily Mail headlines: Homebase heads for administration: Jobs and 130 shops at risk after DIY and garden chain lost £84.2m in a year.  "Homebase looks to be heading for administration, with the garden chain appointing insolvency experts which could mean jobs and 130 shops are at risk.

"The troubled chain is preparing to line up Teneo to handle an insolvency process, after it announced a loss of £84.2 million last year.

"Hilco Capital, which bought the retailer for £1 in 2018, looked at cost-saving measures earlier this year which it blamed on customers being more cautious in their spending habits."

Sipcam Home & Garden have added valuable industry experience to their team with the appointment of Alan Jones as Retail Channel Manager. 

With the focus on supporting growth in garden retailers, the new role will help increase Sipcam’s stockists in this channel and provide extra support and value for Garden Centre customers. 

Supported by Sipcam Oxon, an international specialist in crop protection, Sipcam Home & Garden have an unrivalled network from which to utilise new technology and expertise. Whilst supported by a large group, there is still the character of a small business offering flexibility to serve customers in bringing unique home and garden solutions to the gardening and pet market. 

Alan joins the Sipcam team, after working for some of the gardening industry’s top companies and brings valuable sales experience working with both independent retailers and national accounts. Alan will soon be celebrating 25 years in the gardening industry, and he is sure to offer valuable insight and guidance as Sipcam Home & Garden embark on a vitally important year in 2025.

Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales and Marketing at Sipcam Home & Garden said: “We are delighted that Alan is joining us here at Sipcam Home & Garden. He brings to us a wealth of experience and he will be able to get to work quickly with and for us. He has a great reputation and is well liked in this wonderful industry. It feels to us like a great fit in terms of skills, knowledge, and our culture. We are really pleased to bring Alan into this team”.

With continuous innovation across Sipcam’s product categories, Alan will be hitting the ground running helping to support recent launches in the Sipcam brand portfolio. This includes working with brands such as Fito, GET OFF, retail partner Block Blitz and flagship brand ecofective®, 2023 winner of the GIMA Sword of Excellence, with Organic Superfood Ideal for Peat-Free Compost and winner of the Best New Product at Glee 2024, with Slug Stoppa.

Speak to Alan today (alan@sipcamuk.co.uk) about his latest move and Sipcam’s innovative range of garden care products! For more information about Sipcam Home & Garden please visit https://www.sipcamhg.co.uk/

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), responds to the outcome of Sarah Dyke MP's Ten-Minute Rule Motion on the prohibition of the sale of peat.

“Every business in the environmental horticulture sector has been working incredibly hard to transition away from peat use, with significant resource investment.  The sector is currently heading close to zero peat use in bagged compost on sale to consumers by the end of this year.  This is down to the collaborative efforts of UK suppliers, retailers and gardeners to adopt peat-free practices. This work comes at a time of huge pressure and other issues, not least with the cost and impacts of border operations, challenging weather, and now navigating the implications of the Autumn Budget announcements.

“Some of our professional grower members have already made the transition to peat-free, while others are still on this journey with thousands of different plant species being propagated. We urge MPs, who will debate this subject at its second reading, to give in-depth consideration to the UK’s professional tree and plant growers and allow them time to make a smooth transition to peat-free in their nurseries.  It takes considerable trial and testing to find a mix that works – and different plants growing in different conditions may require a different peat-free mix at nursery stage.  Growers need time and grant support for trials and equipment, and they need the government to work with the sector on key complex issues such as imports and ensuring a level playing field. We ask for further consultation as we look towards a 2030 deadline for peat-free growing (with exemptions). With the right support, we can eventually achieve this milestone; without support, there will be a significant contraction in the plants and trees that British environmental horticulture will be able to produce.” 

Transcript of first reading from Hansard

Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale)

Motion for leave to bring in a Bill (Standing Order No. 23)

1.25pm Wednesday 6th Noveber 2024

Sarah Dyke 

(Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)

I beg to move,

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the prohibition of the sale in England of horticultural peat by the end of 2025; to provide for certain exemptions from that prohibition; and for connected purposes.

Let me begin by paying tribute to the right hon. Theresa Villiers, the former Member for Chipping Barnet, who previously worked hard to bring this Bill through Parliament, and by thanking Rebecca Pow, the former Member for Taunton Deane, who also endeavoured to secure a ban on the sale of peat.

Somerset is one of only two counties in England where peat extraction still takes place. The Somerset levels and moors are the second largest area of lowland deep peat in England, containing 11 million tonnes of carbon. However, drained deep peat is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and, along with peat extraction, could be responsible for as much as 255,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, according to a 2023 report published by eftec. Somerset’s peatlands are extremely rare and valuable habitats for wildlife. They are the perfect place for plants such as the sundew and the marsh violet, which in turn support invertebrates and bird populations.

Banning the sale of peat and protecting our peatlands both at home and abroad is crucial. I say “abroad” because we offshore most of our peatland emissions by importing about 60% of the peat used in horticulture in the UK. All the major parties agree with the proposal for a ban. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to restore peatlands and ban the use of horticultural peat, Labour’s 2024 manifesto promised to expand nature-rich habitats such as peat bogs, and the last Conservative Government made several attempts, despite failing to ban peat in their 14 years in office.

In 2011, the previous Government said that they wanted to reduce the amount of peat in compost voluntarily by 2020, but as the amount of peat fell by only a quarter in the subsequent years, the threat of legislation was introduced. A consultation by the last Government also revealed how popular a ban was, with 95% of respondents favouring a ban on retail peat by the end of the last Parliament. However, no legislation has been introduced that would ensure a ban on selling peat, so a vast amount of uncertainty remains in the industry today.

I want to be absolutely clear how important it is that the horticultural industry is considered and consulted before any legislation seeking to ban peat is introduced. But banning horticultural peat is the right thing to do, and that is already supported by a vast number of people in the industry, and, if done correctly, will bring huge opportunities for British horticulture. In September this year, professional growers, gardeners, nursery owners, compost manufacturers, retailers and supporters of peat-free horticulture wrote to the Prime Minister demanding a sale ban. The signatories included B&Q, Co-op supermarkets, Chris Beardshaw, Alys Fowler, Chris Packham, the Soil Association, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trust, CPRE, Evergreen Garden Care, Vitacress and the Royal Horticultural Society, to name just a few.

I recently visited Durston Garden Products, just outside Street, which is the largest manufacturer of growing media in southern England. It produces 6 million bags a year, and it supports a ban on the sale of peat. Three quarters of the bags that Durston currently produces are peat free; five years ago, the figure was just one quarter. That is because Durston, like most of the industry, took the previous Government at their word when they committed to banning the sale of peat. Durston has done what it believed was the right thing for the business and for the environment, and it has put in the time, effort and money to develop alternative growing media that can outperform peat. As it stands, however, the investment that Durston has made to prepare for a peat-free market has been for nothing.

Britain is a gardening nation. In fact, there are 30 million gardeners in the country, and 70% of them are interested in gardening more sustainably. The positive reaction to my Bill being announced demonstrates the feeling in the industry. The chair of the Growing Media Association, Simon Blackhurst, told the industry’s main trade magazine, Horticultural Week, that there is currently an “unfair commercial landscape”, as

“peat based growing media is cheaper than peat free.”

Southern Trident’s Steve Harper said:

“There really is no argument for delaying a retail peat ban”.

Floralive’s Sean Higgs said:

“Everyone is expecting it now (or believes it’s already in place)—to reverse would be counterproductive to the industry and undermine it on several counts.”

There are many fantastic examples of businesses moving towards being peat free. One such business is Kelways in Langport, in my constituency, which no longer sells compost containing peat and understands the shift that needs to take place. Moving towards being peat free would help the Government to achieve their aim of moving towards a circular economy. Peat-free compost manufacturers want to keep supply chains close to home, and some, such as Miracle-Gro, have their own on-site waste processors to produce compost. Others have partnerships with local forestry and wood processing businesses. RocketGro in Somerset processes digestate, a by-product of sustainable energy, into peat-free compost.

Advances in technology are clear evidence of the success of peat-free alternatives. The Royal Horticultural Society is set to be 100% peat free by the end of 2025, and is now at the end of a second successful year of trials funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The RHS has grown millions of plants peat free in partnership with eight major wholesale growers, and developed practices to help the wholesale industry transition smoothly. By ending the use of horticultural peat at home, we can reduce our reliance on foreign, imported plants grown in peat, and support British peat-free growers. I am fully aware that any ban would require exemptions, time for businesses to transition, and support from the Government to help businesses move forward, but setting dates in stone through legislation would remove the uncertainty that is damaging the industry and reducing opportunities.

I turn to the impact that a ban on peat would have on peatland. Peat grows at a rate of 1 mm per year but can degrade by 1 cm per year if it is in bad condition, which, sadly, is the case for 86% of our peatlands. As I touched on earlier, they are amazing and rare habitats. Given our current knowledge of the damage that peat extraction does to nature, the environment and the land around us, there is simply no excuse for not changing course. Somerset faces ever more devastating flooding every winter, and the degradation and destruction of our peatlands does little to worsen its impact by reducing peatland’s ability to absorb excess rainwater and act as a natural flood defence, as an intact peat bog would do. Whereas preventing the sale of peat opens up opportunities for world-beating peat alternatives, stopping peat extraction opens up opportunities for peat restoration, such as creating new jobs by reskilling the existing workforce to use their expertise in managing peatlands for restoration.

The destruction of these precious, important and beautiful habitats must stop. As many experts, the public and politicians alike have outlined, we must not miss our chance. I urge the House to support this Bill today and ensure that we take the steps that would prevent the release of thousands of tonnes of carbon, help us move towards a circular economy, open up opportunities for British horticulture and protect precious peatlands.

1.35pm

Sir Christopher Chope 

(Christchurch) (Con)

I am not going to oppose the right of the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke) to bring in a Bill, because I believe in the right of Members to bring forward whatever Bills they want. Most of them are ill conceived, and I have spent much of my time in this place attacking Bills that would have unintended consequences. I think the hon. Lady’s Bill will fit into the category of Bills that have good intentions, but would have unacceptable unintended consequences.

It will not go unnoticed that this Bill is a full-frontal attack on British horticulture, and that it is being promoted by none other than the Liberal Democrats. The hon. Lady referred to the previous Bill, which I spoke against on 16 April. It is a salutary reminder of the work of democrats in this country that none of the 12 Members of this House who supported that Bill is still a Member of the House—the electorate gave their verdict on the ill-conceived support for it. I am delighted to say today that a number of my new and not so new colleagues have said to me, “Why can’t you divide the House and oppose this Bill?” I say to them, including my hon. Friends the Members for Rutland and Stamford (Alicia Kearns) and for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith), that we should allow the Liberal Democrats to stew in their own juice and bring forward their Bill, so that it can be criticised and never reach the statute book.

One would have thought from the remarks of the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton that she was a supporter of the Horticultural Trades Association. Yesterday, the association ran an event in this House, and so many people attended that the free indoor plants on offer were all scooped up about halfway through. If the hon. Lady went to collect her free plants, she obviously missed the opportunity to talk to representatives of the association, who believe that her proposals would completely undermine British horticulture. What is most important—the HTA makes this point—is that we should have a level playing field with European growers.

We want to grow more trees. Too few trees are being home-grown, and too many of them are being imported. Likewise, we want to promote garden products, but too many of them are being imported. A very large proportion are being imported from Holland, because, far from having a peat-free environment, Holland is the fastest-growing export market for peat coming into our country. Holland is also one of the largest importers and exporters of peat, and it gets a lot of its peat from Germany, Estonia, Belgium, Latvia and Sweden.

The Dutch use peat to make horticultural products, which are then sold into our market because those products are more acceptable to consumers, not least because they tend to last longer, as peat is a substance that enables plants to retain moisture and water a lot longer than products that are peat free, such as coir. Some of the people who promote peat-free products do not seem to realise, when they talk about coir as a substitute, that it is produced mainly in the far east, particularly in Sri Lanka, and that it has to be washed and de-salted before it can be prepared for horticultural use and then has to be transported halfway across the world. That is not an ecologically friendly way of producing a peat substitute.

There is another dimension to the issue of peat. What proportion of it is used in horticulture? It is a very small proportion. I am told that about 95% of the peat consumed in the world is used for peat fires. It is put into domestic boilers and mega-incinerators or used as a substitute for coal or even natural gas. By concentrating on just one aspect of the use of peat, in horticulture, we are ignoring the much larger problem of the burning of peat for fuel. I have looked up how easy it is to buy peat for fuel in this country, and the latest information is that I could get a pallet of 10 or so bags of peat delivered to my home for £260. That peat comes from exactly the same source as peat for agriculture. Why are we having a go at the use of peat in horticulture and agriculture when we could be dealing with the much larger issue of the extraction of peat for heating our homes?

This is a sensitive, emotional subject, but we need to have some hard-headed realism around it. If you, like me, Madam Deputy Speaker, support British horticulture, you should be very much opposed to this Bill, because it is a full-frontal assault upon the viability of our horticulture industry and will result in less choice for all those who engage in horticulture, whether as amateur or professional gardeners.

I urge the hon. Lady to think carefully before she drafts her Bill. If she thinks that it will be mitigated by having a lot of exemptions set out in it, I challenge her to include on the face of her Bill all the exemptions she thinks will be necessary, because only with thousands of exemptions will the Bill be in any way acceptable. That is the challenge to her. That is why I am not going to oppose her bringing forward her Bill. Let us see what it says, but I fear it is going to be absolutely ghastly. I am disappointed, because I thought the Liberal Democrats were the friends of people working in the countryside and in agriculture and horticulture, but this Bill suggests quite the reverse. I strongly oppose it.

Question put (Standing Order No. 23) and agreed to.

Ordered,

That Sarah Dyke, Wera Hobhouse, Tim Farron, Pippa Heylings, Martin Wrigley, Caroline Voaden, Carla Denyer, Layla Moran, Tessa Munt, Richard Foord, Vikki Slade and Steve Darling present the Bill.

Sarah Dyke accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 24 January 2025, and to be printed (Bill 122).

The Prosper Garden Centre Buying Group (PGCBG) is thrilled to announce the addition of Stratford Garden Centre, a highly respected and award-winning independent business, to its growing network of distinguished garden centres. This latest membership reflects PGCBG’s ongoing strategy to bring together quality-driven, forward-thinking and independent garden centres that emphasise respectful relationships and collaborative decision-making.

Terry Head, Retail Director of Stewarts Garden Centres and Chairman of the Prosper Garden Centre Buying Group, shared his excitement about the addition: “I am very pleased to announce the addition of a new member, Stratford Garden Centre, which aligns perfectly with our vision to build a network of like-minded, independent garden centres that are leaders within our industry. This partnership represents a valuable addition to our group’s strategy and brings in a respected team who share our dedication to quality and growth.”

Helen and her team at Stratford Garden Centre bring a wealth of expertise and passion to PGCBG, contributing to the group’s warm, professional, and innovative atmosphere. The addition expands the group’s footprint and strengthens the collective ability to explore new opportunities within the gardening industry.

As PGCBG continues to grow, the group remains committed to supporting each member’s individual success while advancing the group’s shared goals. With this addition, Prosper is poised to continue creating a dynamic network of garden centres that values relationship-driven decision-making and a culture of excellence.

The Prosper Garden Centre Buying Group is a consortium of independent garden centres united by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and respectful relationships. By pooling resources and sharing best practices, PGCBG offers its members a competitive advantage and a collaborative platform to thrive in today’s ever-evolving gardening market.

Heaven Sends, renowned for their quirky and show-stopping Christmas collections, are extremely busy behind the scenes getting set for another one of their spectacular Christmas Showroom events which will take place from the 8^th – 12^th December.

The event will see the official launch of their biggest ever NEW Christmas collection to date, ready for customers to secure their stock early for Christmas 2025. Their lovely team of Angels will be showcasing an abundance of exciting and new Christmas offerings to visitors, all of which have been carefully curated to keep up with latest industry trends and must-have items.

The event will be brimming with festive cheer… including mulled wine, minced pies, festive lunch & Christmas songs galore!

Heaven Sends pride themselves on their much-loved events, an amazing opportunity for the Angels and customers to come together and explore a world of extraordinary seasonal & home décor and giftware.

The Angel reps will be on hand to provide personalised 1-1 guidance from start to finish of the showroom experience, enabling business owners to gain expert insight and industry knowledge as well as being given exclusive access to new and trending products, with incredible offers and deals which are frequently up for grabs.

The Heaven Sends team is not just focused on high quality product selections, but also in providing support to retailers with industry expertise, merchandising advice and e-commerce content. The event is not to be missed! 

To book your visit contact: sales@heavensends.com 

https://www.heavensends.com/showroom

David Gutteridge, MD of Dream Gardens has told GTN Xtra that after the retirement of Mark and Cindy at Stone Studios Dream Gardens will continue to make the range in the same colour as before.

"I’m pleased to announce that Mark and Cindy at Stone Studios have now retired after over 30 years in the business and wish them a long and happy retirement," said David. 

"I would like to confirm that Dream Gardens Stoneware have bought the majority of their moulds and have agreed with Mark, that we will continue to make the range in the same colour as before and this will be incorporated within Dream Gardens Stoneware as the Studio Range.

"We will also be introducing some of our existing Antique Range into The Studio Range with the buff finish."

https://www.dreamgardensstoneware.co.uk/

info@dreamgardensstoneware.co.uk 

Glee 50 Year Hero, Antony Harker featured in Richard Bransons blog last week: "I met a man called Anthony Neil Harker on Necker recently, and his story reminded me that you can do so much more than you think you can. Anthony’s story is especially inspiring for anyone with a stutter!"

Richard Bransons blog continues: "At seven years of age, Anthony learnt that he had a severe stutter. He realised it the hard way too – up on stage at a school play, while the audience laughed and his mother cried. School was miserable for Anthony, as his fear of speaking grew larger and larger, alongside his frustration at not being able to say what he wanted to say.

As such, he left school before graduation and began working at his father’s garden centre. He enjoyed the hard work and began to see a brighter future ahead, but his stutter was still holding him back. As he told me on Necker: "I was 29 at this point, incredibly ambitious, but trapped in a body that could not speak."

"Anthony decided he would do everything we could to manage and reduce his stutter. After completing a course called The McGuire Programme, he started doing company-wide speeches and navigated his way through tough conversations with insurance companies, banks, architects, and so forth. The garden centre went on to become the third largest in the UK. However, now that Anthony has found his voice and was able to share his opinions, it quickly became clear that he had a different vision to his father.

"He decided to leave the business and put his £7,000 worth of savings into a new business as a gravel supplier..."

Read the full blog post here: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/a-reminder-that-you-can-do-so-much-more-than-you-think-you-can

Mill Race Garden Centre near Colchester has gone on the market with a guide price of £2,500,000.

The garden centre, which is one of the largest in Essex, includes a vast amount of storage units, distribution warehouse and a residential bungalow.

The site is set on seven acres of land with scope for further development and expansion.

The sales is being handled by Christie & Co. The agents’ at-a-glance guide says:

• 7 acre site with 120 space customer car park
• On-site restaurant
• Successful retail and online sales business
• Scope for further development
• Income from various tenancies
• Includes 4 bedroom residential bungalow

Details can be found here https://www.christie.com/3818309/

Nick Seaby, managing director at Swallow Aquatics and Mill Race Garden Centre, has been reported as saying: “After much deliberation, we have made the heartfelt decision to sell the garden centre.

"In 2019, we initially considered selling but chose to hold off due to the unforeseen challenges of COVID-19.

"During this period, we took the opportunity to enhance our facilities, including building a brand new warehouse and relocating and modernising our beloved coffee shop and restaurant.

"These improvements have positioned Mill Race as a thriving hub for garden enthusiasts.

"Having purchased the garden centre in September 2004, this decision was not made lightly.”

Leading cast stone manufacturer Haddonstone has seen a surge in sales of its container planters.  This is thanks to a growing trend amongst gardening enthusiasts to grow their own produce during winter.

In just two years, the Northamptonshire brand has reported a 22% growth year-on-year in the sale of its traditional planters and troughs.

Why is winter container planting so popular?Container planting is a great way to successfully grow delicious vegetables during the winter months.  Varieties such as kale, spinach, and winter lettuce thrive in cooler temperatures, offering a bountiful harvest of fresh greens throughout the winter.  With the right care and protection, these hardy vegetables can withstand frosty nights and still deliver exceptional flavour and nutrients.

So, despite the colder months drawing near, gardeners need not pack away their tools just yet!
       
What are the benefits of container gardening?

• Space-efficiency - perfect for balconies, courtyards and small gardens
• Greater control over growing conditions - little to no weeding and digging
• Simple and accessible to all - regardless of gardening experience and garden size.

Haddonstone's extensive range of traditional cast stone planters and troughs are perfect for beginner and seasoned gardeners alike.  
Handmade to order, Haddonstone's planters are:

• Frost-proof and robust
• Drainage hole as standard
• Available to purchase in a range of colours. 

Will Haxby, Home & Garden Sales Director said: "We've seen a remarkable increase in customers buying our planters, especially troughs, during the autumn and winter months with the intention of growing vegetables at home.  This means that not only will they benefit from fresh, nutritious produce right through winter and into spring, but their planters, which more often than not are left empty after the peak growing season, are in fact put to good use".

Haddonstone's beautiful range of cast stone planters and troughs are available to view and buy via the company's website.  They can also be viewed in person in their Northamptonshire Show Gardens.

The Garden Centre Association has launched the overarching theme for its next annual conference and has declared booking now open for the event.

‘The Unique Garden Centre Experience’ is the main theme of the 2025 Conference, which takes place at De Vere Wokefield Estate, Reading, from January 26 until 29.

Will Blake, GCA Chairman and Managing Director of St Peters Garden Centre, says: “We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to curate what promises to be one of our best conferences to date and we’re really looking forward to welcoming as many members as possible to our 2025 event.

“It all kicks off on the Sunday with a brilliant London Retail Safari, which has been organised by GCA Chairman Elect, Ben Harrison from Haskins Garden Centres and is being led by Matthew Brown from Echo Chamber.

“It starts with a trends’ presentation in central London. Then, following a fascinating tour of various retail venues, the party will meet back at Battersea Power Station for drinks and nibbles, before being taken back to the hotel via a 50-seater luxury coach. Profits from this event will be shared with the three main charities we support – Greenfingers, The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation and Perennial.”

Following the GCA AGM first thing on the Monday morning at the Conference, delegates will hear from the organisation’s four inspectors on the highlights of their spring inspections and the first batch of member awards will be announced.

Will adds: “Monday always focuses on the operational side of business, so is a great day to bring team members, especially if you think you are in with a chance of an award. We will see the presentations from this year’s Rising Stars’ finalists too and our guest speakers will be focusing on customer experience, employee engagement and leadership.

“The day finishes with our Associate Members’ networking dinner, which always includes a fancy-dress theme; this year’s is ‘The London Underground’. I can’t wait to see the fabulous get-ups that people come in. No one can forget the Millbrook King Prawns from our Conference earlier this year, but we’re hoping a team can match or beat this!”

During the day on Tuesday, there will be a particular emphasis on the economy, marketing and the environment with updates from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and the Horticultural Trades’ Association (HTA), plus an overall theme presentation entitled ‘The Unique Garden Centre Experience.’

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, says: “We will hear from our chosen trio of charities, have a fascinating talk on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and presentations from the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) and our GCA Trust. We’ve an impressive roster of guest speakers too and we’ll be releasing full details of these soon.”

The conference concludes with an Associates’ Exhibition, which will see more than 50 members presenting their wares to delegates in an informal setting and a prestigious Awards Gala Dinner.

Peter adds: “I’m delighted to say we’ve managed to keep prices the same as they were for our 2024 event. Once again there’s a 10% early bird discount available until the end of November and to Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) members. Sponsorship slots are still available, so if any companies are interested, please get in touch with me on email Peter@gca.org.uk.”

Booking is now open for GCA members via www.gca.digitickets.co.uk/tickets. Any non-members are welcome to join the organisation and come along, please contact Peter on the email above to find out more about joining.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Grovewell Garden Centres has won the Data Quality and Collection Award by Planet Mark. This accolade highlights Grovewell’s commitment to transparency, accuracy, and sustainable business practices. 

In partnership with Planet Mark for three years, Grovewell has been actively measuring and reducing its carbon footprint year-on-year. 

The evening was filled with inspiring success stories from businesses across the UK, including fellow Garden Centre Hillier Nurseries, who were commended for their five-year-long membership with Planet Mark. 

The award, which honours the efforts of Elouise Bridgestock-Perris, further motivates Grovewell to continue its journey towards a net-zero future.

Yorkshire Garden Centres was presented with a Corporate Supporter of the Year award following its year of fundraising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yorkshire Garden Centres' Group People and Culture Manager, Steph Harrison and People and Culture Assistant, Ellie Nicholas were presented with the award at an event to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of the charity's volunteers, fundraisers, corporate sponsors and local organisations.

Mrs Harrison was proud to accept the award on behalf of the team: "We had aimed to raise £19,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but thanks to the hard work of our teams and the generosity of our supporters, we exceeded our target by over a quarter to raise £24,253.

"It costs Yorkshire Air Ambulance £19,000 every single day to keep its two helicopters in the sky, saving lives across Yorkshire. Our fundraising not only covered one full day of flying but also one extra mission which is absolutely fantastic."

"I am delighted that Yorkshire Garden Centres have been recognised for all they have done for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with their outstanding support and fundraising efforts alongside their garden centre communities," said Helen Berriman, Interim Regional Fundraising Manager - West & South Yorkshire.

GIMA has announced the winners of the prestigious 2024 GIMA Awards which was held earlier tonight at the stunning Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. This evening’s ceremony recognised the finest innovations, outstanding performances, and remarkable contributions that have been made within the garden retail sector by a host of dedicated and passionate suppliers and manufacturers.

Honouring the brands, products, and initiatives that have made a significant impact across multiple categories saw 17 winners crowned, all carefully selected by this year’s judging panel. The panel was, this year, made up of Blue Diamond’s Alan Roper, Sharon McNair from Yorkshire Garden Centres, Josh Novell of Polhill Garden Centres, Haskin’s Andy Harriss, Scott Provan from Klondyke, plus Garden Trade News’ Trevor Pfeiffer, Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek, and Jade Galloway-Harrison from award sponsors, eBay.

With the judge’s work done, it fell to well-known comedian, presenter and Sunday Times bestselling author, Tom Allen to unveil this year’s winner’s rollcall. Captivating the audience from the off, Tom brought his unique sense of wit and observational comedy to proceedings, helping to make it a night to remember. 

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said of the event: “We’ve had the most incredible night! The room was packed full, laughter was ringing out from all corners, and we have a list of winners that truly demonstrates how much our sector is dedicated to finding new solutions, showcasing innovation and helping our nation’s gardeners to fall in love with gardening season after season. 

“The biggest thank you to everyone that has made tonight possible. From our sponsors and judges to those that entered and, of course, our winners. You’ve all made this a truly magical evening!”

GIMA AWARDS 2024 – THE WINNERS

One of the most coveted accolades is the GIMA Sword of Excellence, and this year saw Sipcam Home & Garden scoop it for the second year in a row, thanks to the success of its Slug Stoppa. The judges said: “The choice was simple. True innovation, and a dual-purpose product.” Highly commended for the Sword of Excellence was given to Westland for its Kent & Stowe SureCut Cutting Range.

Elsewhere, the GCA Supplier of the Year Award, was given to Westland Horticulture, with a shortlist made up of the AMES Companies, Woodmansterne, Meadow View Stone and Woodlodge.  The GCA said of Westland: “There were plenty of strong contenders for the top spot this year, but with just one vote in it Westland just beat everyone else with their complete category and range propositions, backed with superb services levels.”

This year it was Doff Portland that walked away triumphant, having been awarded the Gardenex Export AchievementAward, just pipping VegTrug and David Austin Roses who were awarded finalist status. Talking about their selection Gardenex said: “Doff Portland Ltd is our winner of the Export Achievement Award due to its strategic expansion in the EU and strong investment in proprietary authorisations.  Coupled with exclusive partnerships and success in securing product registrations for biocides and slug control across multiple EU countries. Their impressive growth, achieving multi-million pound in EU turnover, and recognition for best in market in France contributing to their success along with a King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, makes Doff this year’s worthy winner.”

This year’s sustainability crown was given to the team at Primeur for its Tierra Verde coloured collection, which scooped the HTA sponsored Sustainability Award. The judges’ comments for selecting Primeur were: “Primeur continue to evolve a great eco range of products, this time creating further diversification within the multi-award-winning Tierra Verde range of planters.”

A ‘Sustainability Champion’ was also selected within each category (where relevant), celebrating the different ways sustainable solutions are being brought to market.

GIMA AWARDS 2024 - PRODUCT AWARDS

Garden Care - sponsored by Decco

Winner: Sipcam Home and Garden - Slug Stoppa

Finalists: Sipcam Home and Garden - Organic Superfood Concentrated Liquid Feeds, Vitax - Vitax Organic All-Purpose Feed, Pelsis Ltd. - Green Protect Box Tree Moth Trap, Westland Horticulture - Westland Lawn Care Collection

Category Sustainability Champion: Sipcam Home and Garden - Organic Superfood Concentrated Liquid Feeds

About the winner: It’s a spray that creates invisible barriers on plants, deterring slugs/snails from going near them. Unlike harmful slug products, Slug Stoppa is pesticide free and leaves slugs unharmed whilst also promoting healthier growth for plants. Slug Stoppa also has a unique spray pouch using 55% less plastic than a plastic rigid plastic bottle.

What the judges said: “We love that this product both feeds and protects plants at the same time.”

Growing Media

Winner: Southern Trident Ltd - Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes

Finalists: Westland Horticulture - Westland Houseplant Potting Mix, RocketGro - Multi-Purpose Compost 50L, Westland Horticulture - Boost All Purpose Compost

Sustainability Champion: Southern Trident Ltd - Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes

About the winner: It stands out as the first carbon-neutral, PAS 2060 accredited peat-free compost, distinguished by its extensive quality testing and customer satisfaction. Its innovative packaging, made from 60% recycled content and fully recyclable, positions it as a leader in sustainable gardening products, setting new industry standards for eco-friendly practices.

What the judges said: “A good mix of ingredients, with added loam and John Innes - and the first claiming to be carbon neutral too.”

Garden Tools, Machinery & Implements

Winner: Westland Horticulture - Kent & Stowe SureCut Cutting Range

Finalists: The AMES Companies UK Ltd - Ames Tools Carbon Steel Digging Spade, GARDENA UK - GARDENA SuperCut All Purpose Loppers, GARDENA UK - GARDENA 18V MultiCleaner AquaBrush

Sustainability Champion: Westland Horticulture - Kent & Stowe SureCut Cutting Range

About the winner: The new SureCut range comprises of loppers, shears and secateurs that have been thoughtfully engineered with the Reflex Energy System, designed to enhance performance and ease of use. This unique innovation results in maximum comfort with minimum effort when cutting, as each tool features rubber bumpers that are designed to absorb shock and promote a gentle rebound. This significantly reduces the jarring sensation for a comfortable and ergonomic experience that also ensures enhanced durability of each tool.

What the judges said: “Great technical innovation, presented fantastically and positioned commercially so it sells really well.”

Growing Planting Equipment & Sundries

Winner: Smart Garden Products - GroZone Perfect Propagator

Finalists: Westland Horticulture - Flopro Metal Multi Spray Gun, Deco-Pak - Chelsea Horticultural Seashells, Elho - Green Basics Strawberry Pot

Sustainability Champion: Deco-Pak - Chelsea Horticultural Seashells

About the winner: Its innovative features streamline the propagation process, offering a user-friendly solution that empowers gardeners to achieve successful plant growth with minimal effort, marking a significant advancement in the gardening industry.

What the judges said: “Perfect value on a small scale and simple to use - a very smart product.”

Outdoor Leisure – sponsored by LOFA

Winner: Zest Outdoor Living - Terraza Outdoor Kitchen Range Set

Finalists: Maze - Roma Rope Weave Corner Dining Set with Rising Table - Clay Stone Grey, Zest Outdoor Living - Stirling Arbour, Woodlodge Products - W Garden Living - Panama

Woodlodge Products - W Garden Living - Soft Furnishings

Sustainability Champion: Woodlodge Products - W Garden Living - Soft Furnishings

About the winner: This outdoor kitchen is designed to give a choice of configurations and not be simply linear. The range includes additional units that can be purchased separately allowing for flexibility. The attention to design ensured it reached an attractive RRP making it attainable to a wider demographic across different income levels – aspirational but affordable.

What the judges said: “Fantastic value for money, looks great and has sold well.”

Garden Landscaping

Winner: Altico Garden Products - Natural Slate feature piece

Finalists: Altico Garden Products - Pure & Natural Pebbles & Cobbles, Zest Outdoor Living – Tall Botanical Greenhouse, Deco-Pak – Eco-Stone Glass Chippings

Category Sustainability Champion: Deco-Pak – Eco-Stone Glass Chippings

About the winner: A multipurpose, decorative and natural landscape piece that can be used to create a variety of beautiful garden features. Edge beds and borders, make intricate pathways, zone outdoor spaces or use to create dramatic architectural effects.

What the judges said: “Genuinely different and makes a great look accessible to the consumer.”

Garden Clothing & Gifts

Winner: Phoenox Textiles Ltd - Hug Rug Bee 3

Finalists: Treadstone Products - Warm 'n' Waterproof Garden Glove, Treadstone Products - ClipGlove Activity Boots, Mr Fothergill's Seeds Ltd - Pudsey Wildlife Attracting Flower Mix

Category Sustainability Champion: Phoenox Textiles Ltd - Hug Rug Bee 3

About the winner: A new design, drawn and created specifically for The Bumblebee Conservation Trust to raise funds and awareness for their charity, launched at Hampton Court Garden Festival.

What the judges said: “A great design, great value and to top it all, British made.  What's not to like?”

Pet Care, Aquatics & Wild Bird Care

Winner: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Bird Feeder Collection

Finalists: Wildlife World - Frogilo, Smart Garden Products - Yak Popcorn, Wildlife World - "Woolie" the Sheep"

Category Sustainability Champion: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Bird Feeder Collection

About the winner: Uses sustainable material to make it more innovative.  Products look good and blends in with nature when used in the gardens.  Trials have shown that the birds love them and use them continually.

What the judges said: “A really well-presented, complete range of products with a great eco-message.”

Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation

Winner: Smart Garden Products - Rainbow Flaming Balloon

Finalists: The Solar Centre - Seattle Ash USB Solar Table Light, Altico Garden Products Ltd - Jada Self Contained Water Feature, Smart Garden Products - Magic Mushroom, Smart Garden Products - Maris Solar Lantern.

Category Sustainability Champion: Maze - Athena Solar Light

About the winner: A pioneering feature that offers a mesmerizing flame-like appearance, making it a standout decorative piece. 

What the judges said: “An amazing pick-up line that has ‘lit-up’ sales.”

Decorative Pots & Planters

Winner: Primeur Ltd - Tierra Verde Coloured Collection

Finalists: Elho - The Coffee Collection, Elho - Jazz Round, Capi Europe BV - Metallic Copper Groove Planter, Woodlodge Products - EcoMade Hemp Indoor Planter

Category Sustainability Champion: Primeur Ltd - Tierra Verde Coloured Collection

About the winner: New colours give customers a wider range to choose from when creating their displays.  Options for different colours, shapes and sizes allow for endless different styling options. A quick and easy way to upgrade the exterior of a home.

What the judges said: “Stylish with a good strong eco-message that's easy to understand.”

GIMA AWARDS 2024 – MARKETING AWARDS

Best Point of Sale Material

Winner: Keter UK Ltd - Stewart Balcony Range Stand by Keter

Finalists: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Tree Display, Meadow View Stone - Project Themed, Point of Sale Displays, GARDENA UK - GARDENA Multi-Function Stand and POS, Altico Garden Products Ltd - Pure & Natural Pebbles and Cobbles, Treadstone Products - ClipGlove Activity Boot Display Stand

Category Sustainability Champion: Satchville Gift Company - Earthy Sustainable Tree Display

About the winner: The majority of stands within this product category are metal, designed for a specific selection of products and have little by way of visual graphics to attract the eye. This stand, however, is bright, bold, flexible in content and immediately tells the story of the products it holds.

What the judges said: “This stand highlights the products features and benefits to great effect, helping to generate more sales.”

Best Multi-Channel Campaign – sponsored by Garden Centre Retail

Winner: Westland Horticulture - Peckish 'Colour in Your Garden' campaign

Finalists: Westland Horticulture - The Westland Garden newspaper, Evergreen Garden Care - Miracle-Gro “Have yourself a Gro-ment” campaign, GARDENA UK - Grow With GARDENA

About the winner: Peckish launched its biggest ever media campaign on TV on Christmas Day 2023. ‘Colour in Your Garden’ was a multiplatform campaign with a £1.5m investment that reached over 25 million consumers. In the new creative, viewers are treated to a spectacular show of the vibrant colours of wild birds enjoying being fed with Peckish. The captivating scenes encapsulate the essence of Peckish, revealing how the brand truly does bring everyone closer to nature in a sustainable way, and highlights the joy of wild bird feeding.

What the judges said: “A beautifully crafted and engaging multi-channel campaign seen by 25 million consumers.”

Best Social Media Campaign

Winner: Westland Horticulture - Westland Beneath the Leaf campaign

Finalists: Elho - The Coffee Collection social media package, Westland Horticulture - Peckish For Nature: Year-Round Communications Campaign, GARDENA UK - Flymo – First Cut Sunday

About the winner: In recent years, houseplant sales have surged, with the HTA reporting a 12% year-over-year increase in December 2023, and nearly half of Britons purchased a houseplant in 2022. Recognising this growing market, Westland launched a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness of its houseplant product collection and educate consumers on maintaining a thriving indoor jungle.

What the judges said: “This campaign taps into what has been a growth market in recent years. It's perfectly aimed at keeping consumers engaged with some great content ultimately driving sales.” 

Now available from Webb is the latest 2-in-1 Cordless Grass and Shrub Shear range, designed to offer customers a versatile gardening experience at an affordable price. 

The Webb Eco 2-in-1 Cordless Grass and Shrub Shears is a multipurpose and lightweight gardening tool with grass and shrub blade attachments for added convenience.  Powered by long-lasting, 7.2V Lithium-ion battery technology for a more sustainable gardening experience, the new 2-in-1 Grass and Shrub Shears is the latest addition to the Webb garden machinery range. 

Designed for carrying out light maintenance jobs in the garden, the new 2-in-1 Webb Grass and Shrub Shears delivers 1200 rpm and has a cutting width of 90mm for grass and 170mm for shrubs. By combining the convenience of a hedge trimmer and a grass shear into one ergonomically designed tool, the latest addition to the Webb range efficiently trims hedges and small shrubs with precise results on branches up to 8mm thick. Additionally, keen gardeners can tidy up patio edges or flower beds for a professional finish by simply swapping heads. 

For more challenging or hard-to-reach hedges, the Webb cordless 2-in-1 Grass and Shrub Shears with Telescopic Pole handles offer an extended reach of up to 90cm, eliminating the need for additional tools or ladders. 

Designed for optimal performance with a super-fast battery recharge, the new Webb cordless garden machinery range provides an eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternative to traditional petrol and corded options. Quiet to use and cordless in design, the new range offers a flexible and simple solution, with no power cables to get in the way.

The new Cordless 2-in-1 Shrub Shears are the latest addition to the Webb Garden machinery range, which includes an existing product offering of lawnmowers (including the Webb Eco cordless rotary lawnmower which was awarded BBC Gardeners’ World magazine 2024 Best Buy status), line trimmers, pruners and tillers. 

To discover more on the Webb range and to purchase direct at trade pricing, visit: https://webbgardenpower.co.uk/become-a-webb-stockist/

Spring Fair, the UK’s leading Home, Gift, and Fashion retail trade show taking place from 2-5 February 2025 at NEC Birmingham, has launched a competition to win a 2-night stay during the show to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

Register for Spring Fair 2025 by November 13th to be one of two lucky winners to receive a 2-night hotel stay at one of the show’s exclusive hotel partners. Here’s what the prize includes*:

• 2-night stay at Novotel Birmingham Airport or Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Airport
• Complimentary breakfast included
• Easy access to the NEC with frequent shuttle and train services

Don’t miss this chance to make your Spring Fair 2025 experience extra special! Register now for FREE to stand a chance to win a stay at one of these fantastic hotels and celebrate Spring Fair’s milestone event.

As the UK's largest retail trade event, Spring Fair brings together home, gift and fashion retailers and suppliers of all sizes from across the industry to create new business opportunities. Tts legacy of expertise attracts the largest buyers from across the industry - and this year's anniversary event is set to be even bigger.

Over 1,200 quality exhibitors in 12 unmissable buying destinations dedicated to Home, Gift, Fashion and Everyday, over 1 million products with 38% available exclusively at Spring Fair, and over 400 new brands, means there’s endless opportunities to find your next best-sellers and transform your collections.

The 2025 anniversary edition promises to be one of the most highly anticipated in the event's history, featuring industry-leading brands alongside hundreds of newcomers. This milestone event will bring the retail community together under one roof creating an all-encompassing place for home, gift and fashion brands to meet buyers face-to-face, to trade, inspire and learn.

Register for free to enter the competition at Spring Fair 2025. *T&C's apply.

To explore all the show’s hotel partners visit: Accommodation & Hotels Near NEC Birmingham | Spring Fair

phs Greenleaf has won four industry-leading awards for its outstanding horticultural work in the business sector.

The Plants at Work Awards, run by the association representing interior landscapers, awarded two gold awards and a silver and bronze award to phs Greenleaf, which has been providing planting and landscaping services to businesses for over 25 years, including indoor and outdoor plants, artificial and live planting, living walls, grounds maintenance and Christmas trees and decorations.

The team won Gold for their work with Getinge, a leading medtech company. Getinge recently opening its new global Centre for Excellence in Chemistry and its UK headquarters at St Modwen’s Park Derby. The building is modern and innovative, in keeping with Getinge’s dynamic brand, but its team wanted to introduce more elements of biophilia to enhance the well-being and health of those using the building.

phs Greenleaf installed a striking, large scale living wall into its reception area. The living wall was an unusual and challenging project. With a staircase attached to the wall, the living wall needed to be broken into 4 separate parts and planted in a way to give the illusion of one large continuous living wall that the staircase ‘floated’ through. This also meant that the team had to design four different water points to ensure the wall was properly irrigated.

Greenleaf also took Gold for its design and installation work with car manufacturer Kia. Kia prides itself on car showrooms and office spaces that are sleek, modern and welcoming. As part of its branding, it aims to inject greenery into its spaces to help customers and employees feel relaxed and at ease, and to promote a sense of well-being.

The Greenleaf team transformed the Kia Derby showroom and the London head office with innovative interior greenery, including a large living wall and plant dividers.

Greenleaf were awarded silver for their work with Kauai health cafes and juice bars. Kauai teamed up with Virgin Active Gyms in 2023 to open their first UK cafes in London, serving their gym members.

Kauai needed an experienced interior planting partner to work with their visual merchandiser and design team to bring to life their specific brief, so that all five of their new London cafes would mirror the brand’s original South African café aesthetics.

With a very specific brief of plants, layout and measurements to meet, Greenleaf had to undertake careful planning, detailed sourcing and exacting installs to ensure the client’s vision could come to life.

Finally, Greenleaf took Bronze for its design and installation work for Culligans, a leading premium water solutions company. The project focussed on integrating natural design elements into their office space, including hydroplants and Nordic-style planters, to create a striking yet calming design.

Stephen Dieppe, Managing Director of phs Greenleaf, said: “We are incredibly proud of our team, who always go above and beyond to bring our customers’ visions to life. We are lucky enough to work with some fantastic, forward-thinking brands, which understand the importance of biophilic design and the impact it can have on everything from mental and physical well-being to productivity and sales.”

Part of the phs Group, phs Greenleaf supplies over 8,000 customers in a range of sectors with high quality horticultural and gritting services, including hospitality and leisure venues, retail spaces, public buildings, commercial premises and even Buckingham Palace. phs Greenleaf holds a Royal Warrant – the mark of recognition for those who have supplied goods and services to the royal household for at least five years. Since 2010, phs Greenleaf has held a Royal Warrant for the installation and maintenance of plant displays in Buckingham Palace.

SBM Life Science has unveiled a fresh new look for its iconic gardening brand, Maxicrop.

Known and trusted by consumers for its range of organic, seaweed-based bio-stimulants for plants and crops, the rebrand introduces a refreshed, contemporary aesthetic to its signature brown bottle and is set to cement the Maxicrop’s marketplace this season.

A gardening staple for over 80 years, its premium formulation remains unchanged. Featuring sustainably sourced, high-quality seaweed cultivated in the purest waters off the Norwegian coast, Maxicrop’s highly concentrated solution provides plants with a blend of nutrients, antioxidants, betaines, amino acids and phytohormones, to develop strong cells and boost root growth, while building resistance to disease, drought and cold.

The rebrand will be rolled out across the full range, including its hero product, the popular All Purpose Growth Stimulant, and its wider collection of NPK-enhanced (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) formulations, comprising of the Vegetable Growth Stimulant and Feed, Tomato Growth Stimulant and Feed, Growth Stimulant and Sequestered Iron, and Moss Killer and Lawn Tonic.

Certified organic by the Soil Association, Maxicrop has become much-loved over the past eight decades for providing visible results for flowers, fruit, vegetables, shrubs and lawns, and the SBM team hopes the new look and feel will extend its popularity to the next generation of gardeners.

To support the company’s greater focus on the brand, SBM Life Science has invested heavily in its marketing strategy, creating eye-catching in-store point of sale to support retailers and partnering with specialist garden PR agency, Honest Communications, to increase consumer awareness and broaden reach.

It comes as the family-owned group marks its 30th anniversary, celebrating its continued global success in developing a wide range of solutions for the gardening sector, as well as agricultural and aromatherapy.

Angharad James, product manager for Maxicrop, comments: “The Maxicrop brand has always been synonymous with high-quality and undeniable results. Thanks to its enriched formula and unique blend of ingredients, it’s been hugely popular with gardeners for over eight decades.

“Recognising the continued rise in the popularity of gardening among younger demographics, we felt it was time that Maxicrop had a bit of a makeover to attract that next generation of gardeners, while continuing to provide consumers with the finest formulations on the market.

“As market leaders in sustainability and product innovation, we hope that the rebrand will allow us to further strengthen our position in the sector and offer our retail partners a premium product that consumers will purchase for many years to come.”

For more information about Maxicrop, visit www.seezon.co.uk

For more information about SBM Life Science, visit https://sbm-company.com/

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre has announced that its annual Spooky Halloween Walk raised an impressive £1,005 for this year’s two chosen charities: #BeMoreFrank, a special fund of the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, and the Ewing’s Sarcoma Research Trust.

This year’s Halloween Walk, which ran throughout October, attracted families from the local community, providing a fun, spine-chilling experience while raising awareness and funds for these vital charities. All proceeds will go directly to supporting groundbreaking research and supporting families affected by childhood cancer.

Matthew Lewis, Retail and Events Manager at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre, expressed his gratitude to the community: "We're overjoyed by the incredible generosity of our visitors. It’s truly inspiring to see so many people come together to support these amazing charities, and we're grateful to everyone who contributed. Every donation brings us closer to better outcomes for children and families impacted by cancer."

The Spooky Halloween Walk has become a beloved annual event in the area, offering a family-friendly Halloween experience while giving back to those in need. The Garden Centre thanks all visitors who made this year’s Halloween Walk a memorable success.

As the Garden Centre moves into the festive season, visitors can look forward to exploring this year’s impressive Christmas displays, which have been specially designed to spread festive cheer and celebrate the magic of Christmas. With a wide range of beautiful decorations, lights, and festive gifts, the displays promise to delight guests of all ages. 

For more information about the Old Railway Line Garden Centre visit www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk.

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The Scottish Parliament’s Gardening and Horticulture Cross-Party Group, which brings together industry professionals and Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), hosted Rural Affairs Minister Jim Fairlie MSP on Wednesday evening for an engaging discussion on the sector's opportunities and challenges.

Also attending the session were Cross-Party Group Convener and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Rachael Hamilton MSP, Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Tim Eagle MSP, and Deputy Presiding Officer Annabelle Ewing MSP. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) serves as the group’s Secretariat. 

Minister Fairlie expressed the Scottish Government’s appreciation for the horticultural sector’s wide-reaching contributions, noting the role gardening can play in supporting mental health and recovery. Responding to concerns about funding for therapeutic gardens, he pledged to reach out to the Health Secretary on behalf of the group to advocate for increased support. The Minister also fielded questions on the devolved issue of peat and invited the group to provide feedback on what practical support could look like. 

The meeting featured insightful presentations from the University of Aberdeen on their school gardens project, David Lydiat from the HTA on horticulture sector statistics in Scotland, and a moving tribute by Stan Green of Growforth to the late Jim McColl, regarded as the “Grandfather of Scottish Horticulture,” who had been laid to rest earlier that day. 

Professors from the University of Aberdeen urged a renewed focus on outdoor learning in schools, calling for resources that enable schools to establish and maintain gardens for students. They advocated for gardening to be integrated into the curriculum across subjects and emphasised the need for teachers to have access to garden-based learning programmes. 

Rachael Hamilton MSP, commented: “It was a privilege to convene the Gardening and Horticulture Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament last night. We heard from Professors from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh about the importance of incorporating outdoor education into the curriculum through school gardens and the benefits that this can have for young people in Scotland. I look forward to working with the industry to advocate for greater recognition of the benefits the sector can provide at future CPG meetings.”

The Garden Press Event, a unique one-day exhibition organised by the Horticultural Trades Association and GIMA, returns to the Business Design Centre in London on 18 February 2025.

As the only event of its kind in the gardening industry, this annual event offers an unrivaled opportunity for suppliers, brands, and garden innovators to unveil their newest products, themes, and stories directly to the media.

For exhibitors, the Garden Press Event is a powerful opportunity to gain exposure, share brand stories, and set the tone for the upcoming gardening season. Whether you’re launching a new product line, unveiling a fresh theme, or strengthening connections with garden media, this event is an important part of your 2025 strategy.

Designed to welcome companies of all sizes, the Garden Press Event offers special introductory rates for first-time exhibitors, with additional discounts for HTA and GIMA members.

Sarah Cottle from Rollins commented: “Bulldog Tools has been attending the Garden Press Event for over 15 years; it’s a firm fixture in our calendar and a vital day of networking at the start of the year with all forms of media, friends, customers and contacts in a great venue. We would highly recommend it to others who are serious about operating in the garden market.’’

All exhibitors are invited to participate in the popular New Product Awards, voted on by the media attending the event. These awards help raise funds for Greenfingers, a charity that builds magical gardens for UK children’s hospices. Could you be a winner in 2025?

Visitor entry is free, but strictly limited to accredited editorial press - ensuring that your brand gets in front of bona fide journalists, writers, influencers, and media professionals in the horticultural industry. The Garden Press Event has consistently proven to be a launch pad for numerous successful companies and products.

Secure your spot at this key event alongside other leading exhibitors and get a head start to 2025.

For further information about booking a stand, the new product awards or sponsorship opportunities, email events@hta.org.uk and Jo Gildea jo.gildea@hta.org.uk or visit www.gardenpressevent.co.uk

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) announces the three young horticultural professionals who have been selected as finalists for the Young International Grower of the Year Award 2025.

For the fourth year in a row, AIPH is collaborating with Jungle Talks to present the Young International Grower of the Year category of the established International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards. This category celebrates vibrant individuals, aged 25-40, who will lead the industry into the future.

Participants of Jungle Talks’ Pro Manager Mastercourse who submitted an entry for the award have been assessed and three young professionals have reached the final.

The finalists were announced by Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek, on the Decorum stand at Trade Fair Aalsmeer on 6th November 2024. They are:

David Marin, Colombia, is a Director at Deliflor Americas S.A.S. He has extensive experience in marketing, having earned qualifications in marketing, commercial management, and business administration at EAFIT University, Colombia.

Stuart van Staalduinen, Canada, began his journey with Bayview Flowers in 2009 as a Key Account Manager. In the past 15 years, he has committed to the growth of the company and has recently become Sales Director.

Thomas Reeves, Brazil, is the Ornamental Plant Production Director at Naturayo, a role he has held for over 13 years. He is responsible for commercial and strategic development, as well as increasing exports and national sales.

AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe, was involved in the process of selecting the finalists.  He commented: “It is always inspiring to interview the candidates for this award.  They bring dynamism, enthusiasm and passion for their work and offer great hope for the future of our industry.  I wish each of them well as they face the jury in the coming weeks.”

The finalists will be interviewed by a distinguished international jury chaired by AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio and one will receive the title of Young International Grower of the Year 2025 at the IGOTY Awards Ceremony on 28th January 2025 at IPM Essen, Germany.

Tickets to attend the ceremony cost €120 and include a standing buffet dinner and post-award celebratory drinks. Groups of five are priced at €480, saving 20%, and groups of ten cost €840, saving 30%.

To find out more about the IGOTY Awards and to purchase tickets, visit the AIPH Website.

AIPH thanks Headline Sponsor MPS, Host Partner IPM Essen, Category Sponsor GLOBALG.A.P., Support Sponsor MyPlant&Garden, and Founding Partner FloraCulture International for their continued support of the awards.

Following the success of last year’s Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) drop-in showcase in Parliament, the HTA has once again presented ‘Plants in Parliament’.

Around 60 MPs, Peers, and staff had the chance to engage with the HTA and industry representatives and hear directly about the impact of key policies, from border operations to tax changes, and how these are hitting hard-working, hard-pressed horticultural businesses, in a challenging year. The timing was particularly pertinent just a few days following the Budget and a day ahead of further Parliamentary debates on peat-free horticulture.   

The event saw an array of UK-grown plants taken into Parliament, with much focus on how we can unlock growth in horticulture and the extensive benefits of the industry across multiple policy areas, such as the economy, trade, environment, health, and wellbeing. Parliamentarians across the UK had the chance to engage directly with the HTA, whose members across horticultural or landscaping businesses have a presence in 567 UK constituencies.

HTA members Jonathan Whittemore of Johnsons Nurseries and Peter McDermott and Henry Willams of You Garden Limited, the providers of the showcased plants, joined the HTA team in representing the sector and shared valuable insights on how policymakers can best support the industry. 

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, commented: "Environmental horticulture is a vital sector for the UK – delivering for environmental ambitions, health and wellbeing and critically to the economy - with the potential to deliver over £40bn to the UK by 2030.  The HTA’s Plants in Parliament event gave parliamentarians from across the political divide a chance to hear first-hand some of the challenges and opportunities facing UK horticulture and see the fantastic products our members are delivering.  Last week’s budget will have a huge impact on all our members, growers, retailers, landscapers and manufacturers who are already dealing with tight margins, an increase in the cost of doing business, regulatory changes and increases in wages.  With this coming on top of an already challenging year, difficult weather, chaos at our borders, and the need to invest in a peat-free future, it is critical that policymakers and politicians see and hear about these issues from HTA and its members. We are a sector that mostly consists of SMEs and many family-owned businesses. By taking both plants and some of the people behind them into Parliament, we were able to speak directly about the impact of key policies on the sector’s ability to deliver for UK green spaces, jobs and investment. The HTA’s members are spread across the four corners of the UK and almost every UK parliamentary constituency and can drive economic and environmental delivery across the UK with the right support for environmental horticulture."

Ben Goldsborough, MP, commented: "Horticulture is an important part of South Norfolk - from grower businesses to gardens. It was a privilege to support the environmental horticulture industry drop-in event in Parliament this year. The commitment and expertise of our growers and horticultural businesses continue to enhance not only our landscapes but our economy and wellbeing. The Horticultural Trades Association has been instrumental in bringing to light both the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. It's essential now that we explore ways for government to support and sustain this vital industry for the benefit of our communities and future generations." 

BBC Gardeners’ World launches its 2025 events calendar with news that Nick Bailey will be designing the headline Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025. 

The BBC Gardeners’ World presenter, designer, plantsman and author will create a sustainable garden that’s bursting with colour. Nick will host live, daily sessions from his garden, sharing tips and advice on how to garden more sustainably. At the Let’s Talk Plants Stage in the Floral Marquee, experts from Hillier, plant supplier for the headline garden, will be explaining how to recreate its look - and ethos - at home.

2025 is set to be another inspiring year for BBC Gardeners’ World fans with three unique events on offer – the flagship BBC Gardeners’ World Live and seasonal, boutique events at heritage locations. Each event has its own distinct appeal, and visitors can expect achievable, take-home ideas, top quality plants, hands-on experiences and a great day out across the board.  

The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair celebrates the start of the gardening year, returning to beautiful Beaulieu from 2 – 4 May. This delightful day out in the New Forest appeals to gardeners, heritage seekers and motor enthusiasts alike with tickets that include access to Beaulieu’s extensive grounds, gardens and attractions, like the National Motor Museum and Palace House. At the Spring Fair’s Hillier Experience, visitors can enjoy the headline sponsor’s woodland-inspired show garden, plant advice pods and extensive plant retail area. BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost, Carol Klein and Arit Anderson will join the buzzing BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage to chat topical gardening advice with the magazine’s editors. There will be Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders and College Competition gardens too.  

New for 2025 at the Spring Fair is the In Conversation Stage, featuring a daily programme of informal chats with acclaimed horticulturalists and gardening personalities. Another new addition is The Spring Table, an eye-catching, ticketed space for seasonal food, drink and tablescaping demonstrations. The Spring Table features guest chefs and mixologists from the Lime Wood and Pig hotels, floral designer Jordan Weston (AKA The Bearded Botanist) and expert mushroom growers, Caley Brothers.

The Spring Fair’s floristry and mushroom workshops are back, along with Plant Expert Tours of Beaulieu’s kitchen and ornamental gardens, and an extensive array of specialist plant nurseries and garden retailers. The vibrant Good Food Market offers a delicious array of street food and artisan produce to taste, tipple and take home, with plenty of live music to kick back to. Book Spring Fair tickets at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com.

As spring turns to summer, Birmingham’s NEC transforms into a haven for bees as BBC Gardeners’ World Live comes to town. Taking place from 12 - 15 June, this ever-popular, flagship event attracts tens of thousands of keen gardeners looking for the wow factor, new plants, and an idea or two for their beloved gardens. Headline designer Nick Bailey will lead a talented bunch of award-winning designers, all committed to inspiring the crowds with their impressive show gardens. The Association of Professional Landscapers returns to BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2025 with its showcase avenue of brilliant back gardens, created by a selection of member companies to demonstrate their technical excellence, attention to detail and creative use of materials. This year’s APL Avenue features a very special garden, celebrating the organisations 30th anniversary.

BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Monty Don, Adam Frost, Nick Bailey, Frances Tophill and Rachel De Thame will join Nicki Chapman and the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine editors for summer gardening chat and questions from the crowd. New for 2025 is The Tasting Table, an alfresco cooking workshop space hosted by Adam Frost with chefs from the Good Food Show Summer, bringing fresh, ‘plot to plate’ ideas to life. Ticketed sessions go on sale soon.

Providing inspiration for smaller gardens and tricky spaces are the ever-popular Beautiful Borders, each packed with creative design and planting. With a theme of ‘Cultivating Connections’, each will have a unique story to tell. In the spectacular BBC Gardeners’ World Live Floral Marquee, visitors can expect stunning displays by leading specialist plant nurseries and growers, the orchid societies and groups of the  International Orchid Show, and thousands of plants to browse and buy. In the Hot Off the Potting Bench walk-through gallery, plant breeders will be unveiling exciting new varieties, all competing for the Peter Seabrook Award for Best New Plant. There’s expert horticultural advice to be had throughout the Floral Marquee, from drop-in talks at the Let’s Talk Plants Stage, sponsored by Hillier, to the Plant Experts’ advice desk.

The Urban Garden space returns for 2025 with its stylish showcase gardens, retail space and stage, all offering ready inspiration for town and city gardeners. Fans of indoor gardening will enjoy the Houseplant Market and stage for the best in eye-catching home greenery and top tips from house plant experts. With its extensive Plant Village, hundreds of garden retailers and exhibitors, guided Garden Walks and Plant Expert Tours, hands-on demonstrations and the Schools’ Wheelbarrow Competition, there really is something for everyone.  

Tickets for BBC Gardeners’ World Live include entry to the Good Food Show Summer which celebrates seasonal summer food with talks, top chefs and experts, tasty food and drink, and live entertainment. Book tickets at www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com.

Looking ahead to mellow autumn days and the changing seasons, we move to wonderful Audley End House and Gardens in Saffron Walden, Essex for the BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, in association with English Heritage (29 August – 31 September). BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost, Rachel De Thame and Frances Tophill will take to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage for daily garden chat, seasonal gardening advice and visitors’ questions with the magazine’s editors.

Autumn Fair highlights include inspiring Showcase Gardens, Beautiful Borders, and the Association of Professional Landscapers’ Skills Competition, where local landscaping teams compete to build a show garden in just 16.5 hours. The new Autumn Table features seasonal food and drink workshops, and visitors can take in Audley End’s restored Parterre Gardens while enjoying ‘in conversation’ chats with horticultural personalities. There are Plant Expert Tours of the organic Kitchen Gardens, hands-on floristry, seed sowing and mushroom growing workshops, and a great range of growers, nurseries and retailers selling quality plants, gardening equipment, accessories, furniture and more. At the Good Food Market, visitors will find scrumptious street eats, fabulous food and drink to taste and buy, and live music. Autumn Fair tickets include full access to Audley End House, grounds and gardens. Tickets available at www.bbcgardenersworldfair.com from spring 2025.

Lucy Tremlett, Event Director at Immediate Live, organisers of BBC Gardeners’ World events, said: “2025 is set to be another fantastic year of BBC Gardeners’ World events, with exciting new features across all locations. We’re particularly thrilled to have Nick Bailey joining us at BBC Gardeners’ World Live with his inspiring garden design that champions sustainable gardening practices. Whether you’re a seasoned regular at BBC Gardeners’ World Live or are joining us for the first time at the Spring or Autumn Fairs, you’ll be blown away by all the incredible show gardens, plants, friendly advice and more on offer.”

Desch proudly presents the all-new Colour Your Story #17! The familiar inspiration magazine, but with a completely new look & feel in which trend colours play the leading role. 

This edition features the latest trends and colour themes for spring/summer 2025, with a special focus on our sustainable products. Plus an exclusive interview with Marcel Zandvliet and Gabriëlle van Leeuwen of Dutch Flower Group and a delicious pizza recipe to make your own on the BBQ.

Innovation, sustainability and trends

At Desch, we always strive to deliver innovative value-added products. Be it the right colour, attractive and informative printing on pots, or sustainability. A good example are our D-Tect®Plus pots, which can be printed in one to as many as eight colours. In this Colour Your Story, you will read about how these pots offer the perfect solution to growers and retailers who want to combine aesthetics with functionality.

Further in Colour Your Story #17:

• The trend predictions for spring/summer 2025 according to trend watcher Hilde Francq.
• The winners of the Gold Medal and FleuroStar Award 2025.
• The latest products from Beekenkamp, Danziger, Dümmen Orange, HilverdaFlorist, Florensis, Selecta One and MNP/Suntory.
• Our sustainable products, including D-Tect®Plus and Recover®, designed with recycling and environmental friendliness in mind.

Colour Your Story is distributed free of charge. 

Fifteen months after buying Brookfields in Nottingham, Planters have now added a further centre to the business buying Pacific Nurseries in the West Midlands.

Peter and Tom Beharrell posted on the Pacific Nurseries website: "The time has now come for us to look forward to our retirement and we are thrilled that Gerald and Christine Ingram from Planters Garden Centres have agreed to buy both of the businesses.  They were very much our chosen partner to take us over, they have been our biggest wholesale customer for many years.

"Gerald, Christine and Bethany (their daughter) know many of our staff through attending joint meetings of our Trade Associations and we are confident that the transition will be seemless from the Beharrell family to the Ingrams.

"We have made so many friends while we have been at Pacific whether they be suppliers, customers or competitors.  It is a very friendly industry with which to have been involved. It just leaves Tom and myself to say “thank you” to you all for your custom and friendship and for us to wish all of the staff and the Ingram family every best wish and we leave in confidence that the business is in safe hands."

Gerald Ingram told GTN Xtra they were delighted to be acquiring both the garden centre and the nursery. "We will be runing the nursery as it has been and the team will remain the same in the garden centre. Pacific is in a great location and has been built on firm foundations for future growth"

"We are pleased that the business is moving from one family to another" added Gerald.  "Our acquisition of Brookfields 15 months ago is proving very succesful with over £1m being added to the turnover already and the Brookfileds planteria team winning an internal competion recently."

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Van den Berk Nurseries from Sint-Oedenrode, the Netherlands, has announced it will be acquiring Tandee Nursery, based near Peterborough. The acquisition will provide a strong foundation for growth and will allow Van den Berk to meet the needs of customers in the UK private market. 

The newly established company will continue under the name Tandee & Van den Berk Nurseries Ltd, starting 13 January 2025.

For existing customers and suppliers of Tandee Nursery, nothing will change – all services and deliveries will continue as usual. Van den Berk is working closely with the existing team at Tandee Nursery to ensure a smooth transition, with owner Deanna Craighead remaining in a key role within the new organisation.

Deanna said: “With this partnership, we can continue to provide our customers with the same quality and service they are used to. We look forward to a bright future where we can further expand our knowledge and experience together.”

Pieter van den Berk commented: “I am very pleased that we have reached this point and that we will be able to better serve our current and future customers from this location and new company.”

Van den Berk Nurseries specialises in large trees and shrubs. With extensive experience, Van den Berk supplies trees and plants to landscapers, landscape architects, developers, private individuals, and municipalities across Europe.

PATS – the Pets and Aquatic Trade Show – is set to reach new heights following its acquisition by Raccoon Media Group. This development promises an exciting future for the show and its exhibitors, as Raccoon Media Group’s recent launch of an Animal Health Division will bring enhanced resources, international expertise, and vision to support PATS’ continued growth in the UK. 

By working in close collaboration with the existing PATS team Raccoon’s Animal Health Division is committed to elevating the event experience and creating new growth opportunities in the UK and beyond for the pet trade sector.

Industry professionals can expect a dynamic evolution of the show, with an expanded focus on product innovation, networking, and insights that will serve both emerging and established brands. The existing PATS team will work closely with the Raccoon Media Group team, combining resources and expertise to enhance and evolve the PATS brand and experience for both exhibitors and attendees. Gordon Thomas, Director of PATS, will continue in his role, working alongside Nicole Cooper, CEO of Raccoon Media Group’s Animal Health Division, to build on PATS’ strong foundations and drive the show to new heights.

Since its inception in 2009, PATS (Pets and Aquatic Trade Show) has grown to become the UK’s largest and most respected trade event for the pet and aquatic industries. Originally launched as a modest gathering for pet retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers, PATS quickly gained a reputation for showcasing the latest innovations in pet products, health, and wellness. Over the years, the show has expanded to feature hundreds of exhibitors, from established brands to exciting new startups, and now attracts thousands of industry professionals and buyers from across the UK and beyond. With a dedicated focus on supporting business growth and providing networking and educational opportunities, PATS has evolved into a must-attend annual event that consistently raises the bar for trade exhibitions in the pet sector.

Gordon Thomas, Event Director of PATS, shared his optimism: “Joining Raccoon Media Group is a fantastic opportunity for the PATS brand and our team. Raccoon’s commitment to our industry, alongside their expertise in running successful trade shows, means we’ll be able to take PATS to the next level. I look forward to working alongside Nicole and the broader Raccoon team as we embark on this exciting journey together.”

Nicole Cooper, CEO of the Animal Health Division at Raccoon Media Group added: “We are thrilled to welcome PATS into the Raccoon family. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver industry-leading experiences in the animal health and wellness sector across the globe. PATS has long been a respected platform in the pet and aquatic trade world, and we’re excited to build on its success and create new opportunities for growth and collaboration across the sector.”

PATS has a well-established reputation as the event in the UK for pet and aquatic industry professionals. With Raccoon Media Group’s resources and strategic vision, the event is poised for an exciting new chapter.

Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, commented on the acquisition: “This is a significant moment for Raccoon Media Group and our new Animal Health Division. We are excited to join forces with the PATS team and combine our strengths. Together, we’re confident that we can continue to grow and enhance PATS’ value to the industry, delivering a world-class event that supports the success of our clients, partners, and stakeholders.”

Sue Allen, who has been the driving force behind Greenfingers Charity during her tenure as Chairman, has stepped down from the role. Sue, however, will continue to serve the charity as a dedicated Trustee for another year.

Taking up the reins as the new Chairman is Boyd Douglas-Davies, a longstanding supporter of Greenfingers and the founder of the hugely successful Garden Re-Leaf Day annual fundraising event. Boyd’s vision for the future is clear – to create more beautiful and therapeutic gardens for children in hospices across the UK and provide essential on-going maintenance and makeovers for existing projects. However, this mission will require continued financial support from the industry, the public, and partners, and Boyd will continue to be involved in the ongoing programme of fundraising events to support this.

Celebrating Sue’s legacy

During her time as Chairman, Sue has been instrumental in driving the charity forward through challenging times, most notably steering Greenfingers through the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership also saw the launch of the Greenfingers garden maintenance programme, which ensures the gardens remain welcoming and rejuvenating spaces for children and their families and carers.

Among Sue’s many notable achievements are the ‘Brave the Shave’ which saw Sue and her daughter, Tammy Woodhouse, raise over £20,000 by shaving their heads, as well as her role in securing a £20,000 legacy through a conversation at the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. Under Sue’s leadership, Millbrook Garden Centre’s support via the Pennies initiative and in-store fundraising events also proved invaluable.

Sue’s commitment during her time as Chair has been unwavering, travelling across the country to attend garden openings, Greenfingers events, and industry gatherings – barely missing any in her efforts to promote the charity and its work.

Talking at the AGM, Sue Allen said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Greenfingers Charity, and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together over the last five years.

“I am confident that Boyd will lead Greenfingers with the same enthusiasm and drive, and I look forward to supporting him and the charity as a Trustee. My thanks go to everyone who has supported me during my tenure, and I encourage everyone to continue their great support of the vital work Greenfingers does." 

Boyd’s vision for Greenfingers’ future

Boyd Douglas-Davies brings with him a renewed sense of purpose. His vision focuses on expanding Greenfingers’ work – creating more gardens and supporting more hospices with makeovers and re-freshes. Boyd is keenly aware of the importance of gardens in providing therapeutic value, especially for over 100,000 children and their families who are in the UK’s hospice system.

Boyd emphasised: “Hospices are under enormous pressure to fund the essential care provided within their walls and that’s where Greenfingers steps in. We’re the only charity dedicated to creating therapeutic outdoor spaces for children’s hospices and, with the support of our partners and the public, we can continue to make a difference.”

A warm hello and heartfelt goodbyes

Greenfingers bid a fond farewell to two long-standing members of its Board. Colin Wetherley-Mein has retired after a period of exceptional service to the charity. His connections within the gardening industry, particularly through GIMA, have opened many doors for Greenfingers over the years.

Rob Jones, meanwhile, stepped down after the completion of his tenure. Rob’s contribution as a Trustee and Chair of Greenfingers’ Garden Committee has been invaluable. His guidance and support have helped shape numerous garden projects, and his enthusiastic fundraising, particularly through Garden Re-Leaf Day, has made a lasting impact. From leading garden blitzes to workshops, Rob has gone above and beyond to raise funds for the charity.  The charity looks forward to Rob’s continued support, from the sidelines. 

Greenfingers is delighted to welcome David Carey as the newest Trustee. David brings with him a wealth of experience and a passion for horticulture, making him a valuable addition to the team.

Looking Ahead: 25 Years of the Greenfingers Charity

With Greenfingers' 25th anniversary finale coming next year, Boyd’s focus is not only on celebrating past achievements, but he is also looking ahead to the next milestone – 30 years of transforming gardens at children’s hospices. To continue this work, the charity needs ongoing support from the industry, corporate partners, as well as the wider community.

Boyd concluded, “We’ve achieved so much over the past 25 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, but we need to keep going. We’re calling on everyone to continue backing Greenfingers, whether that’s by participating in Garden Re-Leaf Day, attending the Floral Ball, or partnering with us for a mutually beneficial experience.”

Get involved!

As Greenfingers embarks on this next chapter, supporters are encouraged to get involved in a host of forthcoming fundraising activities. Join the Greenfingers Charity for Garden Re-Leaf Day (21st March 2025), attend the Floral Ball (26th June 2025), or reach out to the team to explore partnership opportunities. Together, we can make a lasting impact to the lives of children and families in hospices across the UK.

Further information regarding the Greenfingers Charity can be found at www.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.

Picture credit: Devon Live https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/live-huge-fire-breaks-out-9679384

Firefighters were called to The Old Well Garden Centre, Uffculme, near Cullompton, in the early hours of Friday after a huge fire broke out.

A large warehouse was well alight by the time firefighters arrived, and local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “We received a call at 1.27 am due to reports of smoke and flames at a garden centre off the A38 near Uffculme. Three appliances and an aerial platform were initially dispatched from Cullompton, Tiverton and Taunton fire stations. On arrival, a large warehouse was well alight and an additional five appliances were dispatched to assist.

"Crews have made steady progress through the night using hose reel jets, safety jets and an aerial ladder to control the fire and the incident is beginning to be scaled down as crews locate and dampen down hotspots. Due to smoke, residents in the local area are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.”

The garden centre announced on it Facebook page that it was closed on Friday, and the social media post received over 300 comments from concerned customers.

Timber garden product specialist Zest’s new Ascot and Newbury Pergolas are proving a winner alongside its ‘at one with nature’ outdoor cooking and entertaining collection. 

The Zest Ascot 2.4m Pergola has a sturdy 90mm x 90mm post frame and elegant chamfered rafters, perfect for outdoor entertaining. Handcrafted from PEFC certified slow-grown softwood, it's an eco-friendly and durable choice that adds style and function to any space and is a winner for the 2025 season.

The Zest Newbury 2.4m Pergola is an alternative and has a 70mm x 70mm post frame.

With its consumer-focused outdoor living strategy, Zest has developed a collection of innovative on-trend products which are not only about relaxation in the outdoor space, but also creating the complete – and nature inspired - outdoor room for alfresco cooking, dining and entertaining.  The products sit naturally alongside Zest’s grow your own collection together tuning into the trending consumer ‘grow, cook, eat’ well-being approach.

The collection includes the Zest Terraza Outdoor Kitchen Set offers everything the consumer needs from a kitchen outdoors and blends beautifully into the natural environment.

Zest’s Garden Bar & Two Stool Set - a perfect party piece which is also space-saving and innovatively versatile. Two stools are included which can be stored within the unit when not in use.

Zest’s Garden Pizza Oven Table with 360-degree access for fuelling and cooking has been specifically designed with outdoor cooking in mind. 

Head of Commercial Development, Simon Davison commented, “We’re thrilled to offer a curated collection of outdoor entertaining products and the new Pergolas to garden centre stockists, department stores, and online retailers.”

The Zest collection is made from sustainable slow grown softwood sourced from PEFC certified (PEFC/16-37-1490) forests.  Retailers can also benefit from a library of product photography and lifestyle videos. 

For further information about Zest’s outdoor entertaining and grow your own products, visit www.zestoutdoorliving.co.uk or email Sales-Team@p-a-group.com

New Products for the UK Garden Trade for 2025 from GIMA Members: Ames, Auto Pot Global, Avocet Hardware – Greenman Tools, Azpects, Bulldog Tools, Burgon & Ball, Capi Europe, Coir Products, Durston Garden Products, elho, Evergreen Garden Care, Fandango Fire Tools, Fargro, Forest Garden, Gardena, Glee, Greenkey, Greenleaf Horticulture, Handy Distribution, Harvest Pet Products, Hortiwool    , Hozelock, Johnsons Lawn Seeds, Kleen-Tex, LBC Ultralight Boots, Marriages, Meadow View Stone, Museums & Galleries, Panacea Products, Phoenox, PlantWorks, POTR, Primeur, Primus, Sipcam, Smart Garden Products, Sorbus, The Solar Centre, Tildenet, Treadstone, Vitavia, Vitax, Witt UK & Ireland, Woodmansterne, Zest Outdoor Living, GIMA Member Directory, Join GIMA.

GTN October 2024. In this Glee Review Issue: RocketGro – Towards Climate Positive, Open for business in Shetland - GTN visits the new centre in Lerwick, It’s Christmas – Entry details for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2024, Glee 2024 – The Buzz is back, Making an impact at Glee, Potr - GIMA Seed Corn Fund Winner, Glee Hero’s – Influencing the past 50 Years, Glee New Product Award Winners, Floral Thursday at Glee sets new records, Hold on tight – Wing walkers for Greenfingers, GTN Planteria – Seasonal picks for 2025 and beyond, Navigating change at the HTA Conference, HTA Viewpoint – Presidential reflections