A combination of lockdown#3 and wintry weather means that even shopping for gardening essentials stays at an all time low as far as the GTN Bestsellers Epos data tells us. 

While all of the GTN Bestsellers sales indexes are a very long way behind last year sales of seeds, compost and seed propogation products are indicative of the activity and sales that will be top of the agenda when the weather improves.

Many centres we’ve spoken to over the past few weeks have reported receiving a lot of their pre-season gardening products orders already, with some even saying they’ve got their whole years’ worth of compost in stock. 

As ever, we need the weather to improve and then some good news on the lockdown situation to allow for gardeners to get out and get growing.

This weeks GTN Bestsellers includes the Top 100 Christmas products of 2020.  We’ll include the Top 100 Garden products of 2020 in next weeks issue. Subscribe to GTN Bestsellers using this link.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 2

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 76%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 86%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 54%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 63%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 2

•           All Plants with Barcode index – down 78%

•           All Items with Barcode index – down 76%

Festive Lights are incredibly proud and excited to announce that their brand new Twinkly showroom is now officially open! Based in Chorley, in the heart of Lancashire, you’ll be able to see the revolutionary Twinkly products in action, test the latest technology first-hand, and see what’s new for Christmas 2021. 

Twinkly for retail is the most advanced product for domestic light displays. It combines addressable LEDs, a WiFi and Bluetooth controller and a state-of-the-art smartphone app, allowing you to quickly and easily customise your entire lighting display. Imagine changing the colour of your Christmas lights in an instant, using just your phone (or your voice), and being able to control and animate every LED individually to create stunning visual effects; Twinkly makes this dream a reality.

Twinkly Pro is an all-in-one commercial solution, packed with technological innovation that redefines lighting projects. Giving you the ability to control up to 60,000 LEDs locally, or an entire city remotely, Twinkly Pro makes project and commercial displays a breeze. With a robust IP65 construction, grouping and scheduling capabilities, and remote cloud control, you can decorate trees, buildings, walls and a variety of structures. This includes Festive Lights’ flagship Twinkly cone trees, which were a huge success during Christmas 2020, as seen in Media City Manchester, Bradford and Middlesbrough.

If you’re interested in stocking Twinkly products as a reseller, Festive Lights are the sole distributor of Twinkly products for resellers in the UK, so have everything you need, and with retail merchandising units available. If you’re looking to create your own display using the Twinkly Pro range, Festive Lights’ knowledgeable Projects team can manage any project, from design to take down, whilst boasting access to an approved installation network. 

The brand new product brochures for 2021 are out now, so make an appointment today for a socially distanced visit to this fantastic showroom, and be one of the first to see the exciting new range!

Visits to the showroom are by appointment only, so book your visit here https://business.festive-lights.com/showroom. For pricing, brochures, and all other enquiries, call +44 (0)1257 228288. 

Unlocking the complexities of the peat debate by encouraging collaboration of the broad range of industry stakeholders to produce a roadmap the removal of peat from growing media is the focus of a new taskforce, coordinated by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA). 

It aims to reinvigorate efforts to tackle the issue of peat use in horticulture, with representatives from each area of the industry producing a plan by the end of February defining a realistic timetable for achieving what a peat-free supply chain and outline the barriers that need to be overcome. This work will help inform Defra’s forthcoming England Peat Strategy.

Leading growers, representatives from retail and landscaping and experts from manufacturing will work alongside stakeholders including the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), National Farmers Union (NFU) and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), to represent each part of the sector and develop relevant actions within this new workplan.

The complex issue of finding suitable alternatives to satisfy the needs of professional growers and hobby gardeners alike has been the focus of efforts by parts of the horticulture sector for many years, with peat-use falling in 2020 to its lowest ever level.

Speaking of his ambitions for the new group, James Barnes, HTA Chairman, said: “The debate around peat use is nuanced and complex and to successfully negotiate a way forward we must take a more strategic approach. By working in a coordinated way with representatives from the whole supply chain we will have an aligned industry approach to peat-use for the first time. By the end of February, we will have a clear action plan, objectives across the board and timescales for when we can realistically expect results.”

The newly formed taskforce sees each part of the industry represented and responsible for tackling the relevant part of the problem. It will focus on key issues including:

•    Tackling obstacles that stand in the way of removing peat from professional growing media – how can plants be produced in less peat-based media
•    How to encourage consumers to adopt peat-free when purchasing either plants or compost products
•    Introducing a responsible sourcing scheme with logos at point of sale to inform customers of product provenance and relative responsibility score
•    Improving the quality and availability of data concerning composition

Jonathan Marquis, Head of Garden Centre Operations at Lovania and a member of the HTA’s Ornamentals Management Committee, said: “For growers, the issue of sourcing good quality growing media in reliable quantities is the crux of the matter. The industry joining forces to approach the problem from all directions, with proper coordination, is a very positive approach.”

Mike Burks, Chairman of the GCA and Managing Director of The Gardens Group, said: “Consumers have more of an interest than ever in the environmental impact of peat and, as retailers, we need to be able to respond with appropriate products and information. This taskforce is a real opportunity for the industry to offer information and education alongside choice to customers.”

Neil Bragg, Chairman of the Growing Media Association (GMA), said: “With the recent announcement from Bord na Mona confirming they are to stop harvesting peat in Ireland, there is more urgency than ever to understand the picture around alternatives and their cost and availability. I see this group as the best chance the industry has to see the work that’s been started begin to have an impact.”

Dave Sewell, Chairman of the APL, said: “As an industry we source thousands of plants each year, so the landscaping sector has an important role to play in this endeavour. By committing to being a part of this taskforce, we can make a real impact in terms of influencing the wider supply chain.”

With the HTA coordinating a joined-up approach to interacting with government, aligning policy inputs to policymakers, the stage is set for the whole supply chain to play its part in supporting real change.

Contributing representatives on the taskforce include:

Neil Bragg – Growing Media Association
Mike Burks – Garden Centre Association
Lee Abbey/Allie Hesketh – National Farmers Union
Alistair Griffiths, Royal Horticultural Society
Jonathan Marquis – Lovania (HTA’s Ornamental Management Committee)
Dave Sewell – Association of Professional Landscapers

Hillmount owner Robin Mercer is calling on the government to provide assistance to the horticultural sector as gardeners in Northern Ireland face a spring of disarray due to the current situation surrounding the transportation of plants, garden furniture, gardening equipment and tools from GB and other parts of the world.

Speaking about the dire consequences for Northern Ireland gardeners Robin Mercer said: “For 80 years we have supported local suppliers and growers but the reality is that around 50% of our stock comes from outside Northern Ireland as we just don’t manufacture the goods or grow the plants here to meet customer demand.

“We have been quoted £12,000 for a container from China which would have previously cost £1,200 and although we can source plants from Holland or the Republic of Ireland, the fact is that the quality of product that customers of Hillmount expect come from plants grown in Great Britain.

“We have written to our elected representatives to appeal to them to see sense and support our industry as spring approaches otherwise families up and down the country will not be able to enjoy their gardens and benefit their mental health to the same extent that they did last year.

“As I try to juggle furloughed staff, an Eat Out To Help Out inspection, the red tape involved with trying to ship goods from China and the challenges with Customs around sourcing plants from GB I fear for our fourth generation family run garden centre business. Like many others we’re on the brink of collapse through no fault of our own.”

Fortuitously the Mercer family placed orders for garden furniture, seeds and seed potatoes ahead of time at the end of last year as they were fearful of the difficulties that lay ahead but now they are faced with having to absorb the costs of storing these items during lockdown.

Robin added: “We have even been told that the pallets the goods are travelling on even requires certification. The whole thing is ridiculous. We have been ordering the same plants, bird food and gardening tools for years and almost overnight a wooden handled trowel cannot be delivered to us. Roses can’t be shipped due to how they are grown. Yet one supplier in GB is saying they can ship our order to Europe and drive it to us via the Republic. Where is the sense in that?”

Hillmount is a fourth generation family owned gardening business with garden lifestyle stores in Ards, Bangor and Belfast.

Follow Hillmount on facebook at www.facebook.com/hillmountgardencentre, on instagram at www.instagram.com/hillmountbelfast or on twitter at www.twitter.com/hillmountgarden. Shop online at www.hillmount.co.uk.

Turnover for the AMES UK group of companies broke all the records in 2020. Kelkay, La Hacienda, Apta and True Temper all posted their largest ever trading months during the year. As a group, turnover exceeded £68m, an increase of more than 8% on 2019.

La Hacienda responded to the booming ‘staycation’ demand for outdoor heating with a record-breaking April, whilst Apta followed with sales in June that broke all previous records for a single month. Despite being forced to close for several weeks in the early part of the season, Kelkay recovered to deliver a record July whilst sales at True Temper in June exceeded £1m for the first time in their history.

The growth in sales, coinciding with the most challenging supply chain anyone can remember, meant that all four businesses put extra pressure on their teams. Paul North, Managing Director says “I have been totally astounded by the way the team responded to the unprecedented pressure we put ourselves under to keep our customers serviced during 2020. It’s incredible what can be achieved with a skilled, loyal and dedicated group of employees and I could not have wished for a better team.”

Paul also confirmed that overall, the business headcount has been extended by 10% in response, and is benefiting from an extensive programme of internal training, development and promotion to key roles from within the existing teams.  He added “I’m proud of the way we have been able to develop talent from within the team and we will be announcing further significant appointments in the coming weeks.”

The winners of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 have been announced LIVE! on-line during Glee's Festive Focus Day today.

And the winners are...Watch the LIVE announcement during Glee's Festive Focus Day here or click below

GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards 2020 – The Winners

• The Greatest Christmas Houseplant Team – Sponsored by Woodlodge - £500 stock for the winner – Barton Grange. 
  • Highly Commended: Pengelly, The Old Railway Line

• The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team – Sponsored by GTN Bestsellers -subscriptions worth £580 for the winner – Pughs Radyr.
  • Highly Commended: Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Pengelly

• The Greatest Festive Food Hall Team – Sponsored by Garden Radio – 1 years’ service with bespoke messages, worth over £500 for the winner – The Old Railway Line.
  • Highly Commended: Barton Grange, Colemans Garden Centre, Planters Tamworth, Squires Badshot Lea

• The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team – Sponsored by SOLEX - 2 x Hotel Rooms at SOLEX 2021 for the winner – Altons BBQ World
  • Highly Commended: Hillmount

• The Greatest Christmas Pets Team – Sponsored by Smart Garden Products, Zöon -£500 stock for the winner – The Old Railway Line
  • Highly Commended: Planters Tamworth, Squires Badshot Lea

• The Greatest Christmas Community/Charity Initiative – Sponsored by Kaemingk – A display from their UK showroom for the winner - Pengelly
  • Highly Commended: Daisy Nook, Dobbies, Perrywood, Thetford

• The Greatest Social Media Christmas Marketing Idea – Sponsored by Glee – 2 x Hotel Rooms at Glee 2021 for the winner - Groves
  • Highly Commended: Altons BBQ World, Hillmount, The Old Railway Line

• The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Video – Sponsored by Premier Decorations - £500 stock for the winner – The Old Railway Line
  • Highly Commended: Bosworths, Glendoick, Pengelly

• The Greatest Winter Garden Care Sales Team – Sponsored by Elho - £500 stock for the winner - Baytree
  • Highly Commended: Lakeside Plant Centre

• The Greatest Covid Safe Christmas Display Team – Sponsored by Global Journey - £500 stock for the winner – Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange
  • Highly Commended: Baytree

• The Greatest Group Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by DCUK - £500 stock for the winner – Squires Badshot Lea
  • Highly Commended: British Garden Centres Thatcham

• The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Team - Sponsored by Ascalon - £500 stock for the winner - Pengelly
  • Highly Commended: Jacksdale, Lakeside Plant Centre

• The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Kaemingk - A display from their UK showroom for the winner – Busy Bee
  • Highly Commended: Glendoick, Planters Tamworth, Sapcote, The Old Railway Line

• The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Team – Sponsored by Festive - £500 stock for the winner – Barton Grange
  • Highly Commended: Baytree, Hillmount, Perrywood

• The Greatest Christmas Supplier – As voted for by garden centres taking part in The Greatest Christmas Awards - Kaemingk
  • Finalists: Festive, Gisela Graham, Noma - Leisuregrow, Otterhouse, Premier, Smart - Three Kings, Snowtime, Swift Imports

With almost 100 individual entries for the awards submitted before the New Years Eve deadline the judges spent many hours reviewing the entries, scanning websites and social media to produce the following list of Finalists:

Altons, Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Baytree, Bosworths, Busy Bee, Christies of Fochabers, Colemans Garden Centre, Daisy Nook, Dobbies, Garden Centre Overstrand, Glendoick, Grange Farm Nursery, Groves, Haskins, Hillmount, Jacksdale, Lakeside Plant Centre, Millbrook, Old Barn, Otter Nurseries, Pengelly, Perrywood, Planters Tamworth, Planters Bretby, Pughs, Rosebourne - Weyhill, Sapcote, Squires Badshot Lea, St Peters - Worcester, Thatcham - BGC, The Old Railway Line, Thetford, Waresley Park.

See photos from all the Finalist centres below.  Well done to them all!

Watch out for more detail about the winners in future issues of GTN Xtra and the January issue of GTN which will be published later this week.

It’s never too early to get your Christmas strategy in order. Festive Focus Day equips you with everything you need to know to make sure your 2021 Christmas ranges fly off the shelves.

Take a look at Christmas future with forecasters, Trend Bible as they dive into the emerging trends that will define Christmas 2021 using this link or click below

Fordingbridge is undertaking a major development build at Holt Garden Centre in Norfolk.

The company is adding over 15,500 square feet of covered retail space to the centre, which is part of The Kelling Estate.

The store temporarily closed on December 22nd so the area could be cleared and groundworks could begin. 

The plan includes wider customer flow points and a greatly improved plant area, with the centre re-opening next month. 

“The bulk of the works will be made up of a large triple-span barrel vault canopy, designed and manufactured by us in our West Sussex factory, which we are now assembling on site,” said Fraser Dixon, business development manager of Fordingbridge.

“As with the bulk of our structures, it will feature our Opal 60 roof, ensuring the area is naturally well lit to create a pleasant shopping experience.

“It is a true destination garden centre, off the beaten track, but well known for its quality and consistent offering. 

More information on the centre can be found at https://www.holtgardencentre.co.uk/

Already the UK’s largest peat-free growing media manufacturer, The Greener Gardening Company has confirmed that it is currently exceeding its own expectations, with almost 60% of its product portfolio set to be peat-free in 2021, up from 20% in 2019.

This significant achievement – great news for both the industry and the environment – has come about through a combination of investment and innovation, with the company’s UK-manufactured 100% peat-free Happy Compost range - the company’s most eco-friendly and sustainable brand to date - helping to drive these targets quicker than first anticipated through consumer confidence and significant repeat sales.

Since its launch two years ago, the Happy Compost range has continually outperformed all brand-leading peat-free growing media. As consumers witness first-hand the exceptional level of performance offered by Happy products, the switch towards sustainable growing media has gained significant momentum. Couple this with the fact that sustainability remains at the very heart of the Happy Compost brand and it isn’t hard to understand why the company continues to exceed expectation.  All Happy Compost packaging is recyclable and also incorporates 30% recycled plastic in its bags, while all core raw materials are recycled or sustainable by-products, including bark, wood fibre, coir and green compost, heightening the range’s appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and making it the top choice for retailers across the country.

Jason Pike, National sales Manager at The Greener Gardening Company, said: “We knew we had created something really special with Happy Compost but to see its growth over the last 12 months has been a significant moment for us. The combined retailer and consumer confidence is enabling us to project even greater majority percentages for our peat-free portfolio in 2021 than first expected, something which will only ever have a positive impact for both the environment and retailer profits. It’s an exciting place to be, and we are commited to developing this further over the coming season.”

The Greener Gardening Company’s move towards a peat-free future is also echoed by its parent company, Bord na Móna, which has ended peat harvesting. Jason Pike, added: “It is great to see Bord na Mona contuining to commit to a more sustainable future, but we want to reassure our retail customers that these changes will not have any immediate impact on our offering. The Greener Gardening Company will continue operating as normal, supported by existing peat reserves.  In line with our overall environmental strategy and coupled with the required climate solution proposals, we are focused and committed to taking our loyal consumers on a journey which is focused on reducing peat and developing alternative growing media solutions over the coming years”

Happy Compost offering extended in 2021

The initial Happy Compost line-up, launched in 2020, included All Purpose Compost, Vegetable Compost; Rose, Tree & Shrub Compost, Soil Improver and a Tomato Planter. With demand outstripping supply, The Greener Gardening Company is bolstering its offering for 2021 with new additions to the Happy range: Farmyard Manure, Enriched Top Soil, Lawn Soil, Mini Chip Bark, Composted Bark, Medium Chip Barkand Chunky Chip Bark.

Find out more

To find out more about The Greener Gardening Company’s leading range, please visit www.thegreenergardener.com

elho has continued to provide reassurance and stability to its customers, at a time of uncertainty following Brexit. Throughout the entire process, the company has remained in open communication with customers, offering practical solutions to avoid any issues that may arise for the Netherlands-based company and its UK customers.

elho has made the transition into a post-Brexit world as smooth as possible for its customers. UK Sales manager, David Nicholson said: “We have spent a lot of time to ensure operations are clear post-Brexit and are doing our upmost to provide a continued ‘easy way of working’ between the customer and elho. These measures include continuation of the current Incoterms (international commercial terms) and elho easing the issue of initial export paperwork and customs clearance into the UK. This means that goods will arrive with no additional paperwork to UK delivery addresses.”

In a letter to its customers, elho explained how deliveries will work going forward, with ease and little to no disruption to proceedings, advising that the sales team or the carrier (Bring UK) will contact customers when they make their first order of 2021 to establish the key requirements.

To further confidence, elho has expanded its UK team with the appointment of an experienced new sales rep to cover the south west, meaning the company now has full UK coverage. Zoe Vernon joined the company on the 1st of December 2020 from Carte Blanche, with 15 years’ experience within various sectors and brings with her knowledge, enthusiasm and a passion for nature to the role.

Looking to 2021, extra investment has been made to extend the company’s production and warehouse capacity, which is spread over additional locations in the Netherlands, to ensure that stock levels remain high enough to support customer needs in the coming year. There are also additional plans to secure the safety of stock for the new season in order to avoid any possible restocking issues.

This month, the elho Group brand is launching easyday, to offer more variety to garden centres and meet the demand for an affordable, basic range that others have been unable to meet. The range includes a watering can, flowerpot, trough and balcony planter, with RRPs starting at £2.99. 

With commitment to exemplary customer service, planning and innovation, elho continues to exceed expectations and enable consumers to bring nature to their homes, inside and out. 

For more information on any of the above and for details about stocking the new elho collections please contact david.nicholson@elho.nl.

The Horticultural Trades Association has partnered with sustainability certification the Planet Mark as a first step in delivering its Sustainability Roadmap. The partnership will help both the HTA and its members to reduce their carbon footprint, protect the natural environment and combat climate change. 

The partnership provides members with an opportunity to access expert support in reducing their carbon footprint, to make a tangible difference to both their business and the planet. The partnership will also see the HTA commit to reducing its own carbon footprint, taking the journey alongside members to place the UK horticulture and landscaping industry at the leading edge of sustainable business.  

The Sustainability Roadmap, which sets out key ambitions for the horticulture industry, contains a specific goal of reaching a 20% net reduction in CO2 emissions in aggregate across HTA membership. In horticulture, most carbon emissions are made up from energy use in heating commercial glasshouses for plant production; energy and heat for garden centres; transport of products through the supply chain and waste produced throughout the supply chain. Using a certification scheme that recognises continuous improvement, encourages action and builds an empowered community of like-minded individuals, the Planet Mark  offers a credible way of measuring and reducing a business’s carbon footprint.  

Companies are certified as soon as they sign up based on their commitment to sustainability. To keep the Planet Mark certification, an organisation must reduce their carbon footprint every year, commit to engage their staff in the process and commit to communicating their progress externally. 

HTA Futures and Sustainability Manager David Denny comments “We’re delighted to be working with the Planet Mark to help our members move forward on sustainability. It’s essential that our industry takes action to tackle the main causes of carbon emissions and we have been impressed by the ways the Planet Mark team have worked with a broad range of organisations to help them in this endeavour. Access to their free starter workshops is specifically geared at small and mid-size HTA members and is a really exciting extra benefit to HTA membership.” 

Founder and CEO of the Planet Mark, Steve Malkin comments “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Horticultural Trades Association, helping members access expert advice and supporting their sustainability strategies and certification requirements. By becoming a certified Planet Mark holder, the HTA will be leading by example, building upon the work already done by HTA members to put the UK horticulture and landscaping industry as leaders in sustainable business.” 

To start the journey, the Planet Mark are offering a free workshop this February to HTA members who would like to find out more about what they can do to start their own sustainability journey. Members who make a commitment will receive a 5% discount on joining or renewing their membership with the Planet Mark. The certification will help members fully assess their carbon footprint, social value and help to future-proof the business.  The Planet Mark can also help larger businesses with Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) compliance. 

Managing Director of Squires Garden Centres, Martin Breddy said “Squires was looking for a team who could handle our SECR reporting audit, but also motivate us to progress our sustainability strategy. The Planet Mark team demonstrated the capability to deliver the audit for our 2020 results, but just as importantly, showed the passion and commitment to inspire a more progressive environmental policy. We’re far from perfect and have a long way to go, but the Planet Mark accreditation programme will motivate us to keep improving. That’s great for our people, our customers, and the wider world.” 

To find out more go to https://hta.org.uk/business-support-and-services/products-and-services/the-planet-mark.html or planetmark.com  

The workshop will take place on Tuesday 9 February – to secure your place visit https://hta.org.uk/training-employment/academy/planet-mark-workshops.html  

This workshop will be the first in a series of workshops and events available to HTA members to enable them to realise their carbon reduction and sustainability potential. 

Ebtech Glasshouse Systems Ltd, based in East Yorkshire, and Smiemans Projecten BV in the Netherlands have joined forces in offering their combined services to the UK garden centre market. Both companies have been building and renovating glass structures for many years now and the two have recently cemented their working relationship. 

This partnership allows garden centres in the UK a wider range of services and a local service point.

For many years Ebtech Glasshouse Systems Ltd have offered a wide range of services in the UK including supply and construction of new or used commercial greenhouses, service & maintenance, civil works, screening, climate control systems and heating.

For almost half a century Smiemans Projecten has been the reliable and flexible partner for building all over the world, high-quality and innovative glass structures of which garden centre buildings have been the major focus.

Now that the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU, this collaboration ensures a better, continuous, and faster realization of their services in the British market, whilst still providing the Smiemans technology & experience.

Hyve Group are proud to present Spring Fair @Home taking place virtually on 8^th - 10^th February 2021. This year, in place of physical shows, Hyve Group’s UK portfolio will be going virtual. Designed to bring the industry together, even when we remain apart, Spring Fair @Home will provide a key hub for industry professionals in the UK and around the world. 

The exciting line-up will feature a keynote appearance from business mogul Theo Paphitis. In an exclusive interview, Theo Paphitis will discuss his experiences with the BBC’s Sasha Qadri, offering an insight into his experience, his views on the future of retail, and sharing advice for other entrepreneurs and small businesses. 

Spring Fair @ Home will also be joined by Beth Horn, Head of Industry, Retail & Ecommerce at Facebook who will share her insights into the role social media will play in the future of retail, one of the biggest opportunities for retailers to harness.

Trend insights will also make up a key portion of the Spring Fair @Home line-up, with appearances from Mintel, Colour Hive and Trend Bible. EMEA Director of Trends at Mintel, Simon Moriarty will discuss consumer behaviour trends for 2021 and beyond, outlining the effects of the pandemic on shopping habits and purchasing decisions. Colour Hive’s Creative Director, Sam Donnachie, will share the latest trends in colours, materials and finishes, helping buyers to inform and refine their purchasing decisions. Trend Forecaster, Owen Wright, from Trend Bible will also share the macro-trends informing the more niche product aesthetics. 

Julie Driscoll, Managing Director of UK Retail for Hyve Group said, “I am delighted to be welcoming such key names as Theo Paphitis onto the Spring Fair @Home line up. Our speakers have so much experience and knowledge to share with our audience and I know that they will bring real value to many of the businesses involved in Spring Fair @Home. It is a privilege to be able to provide such a valuable platform for learning and trading to our community and I am excited to hear how this has helped brands and retailers navigate this continually challenging time.”

 Alongside this exciting line-up, attendees can expect even more panel sessions and practical business advice on social media, marketing and more. 

If that wasn’t enough, Spring Fair @Home will also provide buyers with an easy and accessible way to discover new brands and see what their current partners have to offer via the Virtual Showroom. The return of the Product Showcase concept will also see brands taking buyers on showroom tours, or simply talk through their latest collections during a sector-specific time slot throughout the three-day forum. 

Spring Fair @Home is open to all buyers and takes place on 8^th – 10^th February 2021. Register here to get involved. 

With the popularity of houseplants hitting stratospheric levels and three million new gardeners* embracing their green fingers for the first time in 2020, it’s safe to say that gardening has become mainstream once again. One brand that is helping gardeners – and retailers – to maximise the many benefits of this pastime is the multi-award winning German brand, LECHUZA, which is bringing to market an exciting new range of recyclable plastic pots and planters which will help retailers offer something different for the discerning buyer.

Backed by 20 years’ experience designing planters and bringing them to life via an environmentally friendly production process, and with a supply network which spans 70 countries, LECHUZA is a brand with a proven track record. Relatively new to the UK market, LECHUZA is reaching out to retailers to share information on what makes its offering so unique, starting with the fact that LECHUZA forms part of the Playmobil family. This means the LECHUZA company has access to the same plastic molding and manufacturing as the world-renowned brand; a legacy which can be seen in the quality and build of every LECHUZA pot.

Self-watering offers a real point of difference

One of the biggest turn-offs for new (and established!) gardeners is the worry that planting will fail. Whether it’s a houseplant, GYO project or shrubs, getting the watering right is so often the cause of plant expiration. Central to LECHUZA customer success is the innovative self-watering system which ensures optimum water supply to any kind of cultivated plant. The water reservoir is hidden in the underside of every planter and can hold up to 26 litres, depending on the model, allowing plants to take up the exact amount of moisture and nutrients they need. It is this innovation – so easy to install - that is winning LECHUZA legions of new fans and helping to drive repeat sales within the retail setting.

New for 2021

As we look ahead to 2021 its clear from social media that houseplant sales will continue to thrive, echoing the events of 2020 where sales were reported to be up in the region of 60 – 81% according to the RHS and Garden Centre Association. On Instagram, the hashtag #houseplants currently has over 5.5million tags whilst #urbanjungle and #growyourown have 5.6million and 6.3million tags respectively. With so much opportunity, now is the time for retailers to ensure that their planter offering meets the needs of the modern shopper, including contemporary design which complements interior design trends, and solutions which give even the most amateur gardener the confidence to grow more. All of this, plus so much more, is highly achievable with the 2021 offering from LECHUZA. Here we dig a little deeper into what is on offer from this exciting new brand. 

The PILA collection is the shining beacon in LECHUZA’s 2021 portfolio. Perfect for when space is at a premium, or simply for consumers that enjoy multi-functional products, the PILA range combines a shapely planter – complete with irrigation system – and practical storage to create a planter with a unique talking point. The stackable design means that consumers can create their own look, combining colours and creating different height units to match their interior and exterior design needs. Available in six matte colour ways including coral red, petrol blue, pastel blue, and grey, the PILA collection fits perfectly into current interior trends, helping the planters to take centre stage whilst providing practical solutions.

A new offering for the grow-your-own category is LECHUZA’s TRIO Stone 30 range. These mini ‘beds’ come complete with three plantable inserts and are compatible with LECHUZA’s matching vine trellis, making them a top choice for tomatoes, chillies and other vertical growers, whilst also creating a great natural screening option for balconies and patios. Each insert benefits from LECHUZA’s irrigation system, helping to direct four litres of water to each plant for maximum and continued growth.

With urban gardening on the rise, or simply to update your window box offering, LECHUZA’s BALCERONA Colour range offers a superb contemporary alternative to traditional designs. Benefiting from the same colour palette as the PILA range, giving consumers even more choice, these planters come complete with wall brackets so they can be quickly mounted to railings or walls to encourage vertical planting schemes.

Contemporary designs continue throughout LECHUZA’s other new-for-2021 ranges, including the sleek lines of the STONE collection, and the CANTO Stone 80 wide– perfect for dividing outdoor spaces and creating zones with its 56 litre planter.

Retailers looking for more traditional styles will be interested to learn that LECHUZA has also turned its material innovation into classically designed planters which will not be out of place in an English country garden. The new Sand Brown designs, introduced across the ‘Colour’ range, offer a natural colourway reminiscent of natural stone planters without the excessive weight that is associated with planters of this construction.

Braided rattan-style can be found in the Cottage Collection, available in granite, graphite black, light grey and sand brown. The soft lines of this design complements perfectly both traditional and contemporary planting schemes and can be found in a range of planter sizes from six litres to the trio style with three 31 litre plantable inserts.

LECHUZA’s Arvin Bhudia said: “From truly contemporary planters that help urban gardeners to take their home-growing to another level, to traditional gardeners looking for new material innovation and planters which withstand the ravages of the weather and human impact, the LECHUZA offering really does have something for everyone. What’s more, our unique irrigation system offers a real point of difference, helping to give consumers the confidence to grow more plants, safe in the knowledge that their plants will be receiving water when it is needed most. It is this confidence that is seeing consumers become loyal LECHUZA buyers, sharing their experiences via social media and helping to drive others to the brand and ultimately into store.”

Find out more

LECHUZA brings decades of experience in state-of-the-art, precision manufacturing to bear on their high functionality range of planters. All LECHUZA products are designed in-house and manufactured in Dietenhofen, Germany, from high-quality, robust polypropylene, which is weatherproof and frostproof. All LECHUZA planters and furniture are DIN EN ISO certified (Energy Management System 50001 and Enviornmental Management System ISO 14001) and can be fully recycled.

For more information on how you can become a LECHUZA stockist please visit: https://www.lechuza.co.uk

* The HTA Garden Retail Monitor

The pandemic and lockdown is proving difficult for most of us, but there are many who are struggling more than others. For that reason, Steve Harper, CEO at the high-quality coir product company Southern Trident Ltd, is once again supporting the charity Perennial, which helps people in horticulture and their families. This time Steve aims to walk or run 2,021 kilometres during 2021. His ambition is to raise… yes you’ve guessed it £2,021 for the charity.

Steve Harper, CEO at Southern Trident, says: “This challenge will keep me motivated to exercise, but more importantly to help Perennial to help others who work in Horticulture who are struggling to cope for whatever reason during this difficult time.” To complete his target of 2,021 Km, Steve will have to walk or run at least 5Km each day, come rain or shine.. or even snow! 

To encourage Steve with his challenge and support Perennial our very own industry charity please donate using Steve’s Just Giving link here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Steve-Harper5.

And if you wish to keep updated with his progress do follow his journey on social media here:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/steven.harper.5055

T: https://twitter.com/The_Harpmeister

Perennial – Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society is the only charity helping everyone who works in (or are retired from) Horticulture and their families when faced with a life changing event, unexpected crisis or overwhelming challenge with free and confidential advice as well as financial assistance. 

Southern Trident Ltd, through its brand Coco & Coir™ in the last 12 months has enjoyed substantially beyond budgeted, increased sales growth. Southern Trident is a UK company with strong roots in India supplying high quality coir based growing medium and eco-friendly doormats. Customers are supplied direct from source to market in a fully Southern Trident managed seamless operation. Sustainability is at the heart of Southern Tridents foundation believing that the coconut is the perfect crop that will work for the consumer, the environment and meet the aims of the Southern Trident strongly held company values, Green today, Greener tomorrow. 

For more details on our range of products visit: www.southerntrident.com/product-range

To book an appointment with your local sales representative please click this link: https://southerntrident.com/sales-agents/

The UK’s largest grower of roses has partnered with a plant information company to offer its customers a library of images for webshops and websites.

Whartons Nurseries has recently been looking at ways to help garden centres create their webshops and websites and has now joined forces with Joy of Plants based in Berkshire.

Jo Davey, Marketing Manager at Whartons Nurseries in Diss, Norfolk, said: “We’re always happy to supply customers with images and descriptions to help them sell more roses in store and more recently, online. Doing this in a way that’s efficient for our customers and ourselves while ensuring the copyright of our images and those from our breeders was the challenge.

“By working with Joy of Plants and giving it access to our images and content, we are providing our customers with an image library they can all use for webshops and websites. 

“Our customers can now add images for our full 2021 range to their webshops and websites by using Joy of Plants’ services. The system allows garden centres to add images and descriptions for our roses to their webshops via a simple file upload and add a Plant Finder containing our roses via a plugin, vastly reducing the amount of time it takes to add images to webshops, and at the same time ensuring that the correct images are used and that the copyright of each image is respected.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Joy of Plants on its Image & Text Library and Plant Finder services. These services give our customers a quick and easy way to add our roses to their webshops and websites, all customised to match our customers' own branding.”

Joy of Plants’ mission is to make plant information easy and accessible to all. It has created a library of more than 14,900 UK garden plants and trees and offers a platform of tools to help garden centres, retailers and growers maximise their plant sales. It provides information in many forms including an Image & Text Library for ecommerce sites, Plant Finder for websites and Touchscreen Kiosks, Bed Cards and Apps.

Terri Jones, Managing Director at Joy of Plants in Twyford, explained: “We’re thrilled to be working with Whartons Nurseries to offer our plant information services to their customers. Our Image & Text Library makes it quick and easy to add high quality images of their roses to webshops based on WooCommerce, Shopify, or Bluepark, and our Plant Finder can be added to almost any website.”

The rose selection available from Whartons Nurseries is all British grown and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning varieties from the best breeders in the world.

Whartons Nurseries is the UK’s largest grower of garden roses and its main business is to supply garden centres and nurseries in the UK with a comprehensive range of bush, climbing, rambling, patio and shrub roses.

For further details about Joy of Plants, please visit www.joyofplants.com. For further information about Whartons Nurseries, which is based in Diss, please call 01379 606020, visit www.whartons.co.uk, follow the company on Instagram at www.instagram.com/whartons_garden_roses. 

The national media is full of panicked headlines about price rises and shortages across the retail sector. However, one leading lawncare supplier has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure a smooth supply of product for its customers.

Johnsons Lawn Seed, the UK’s oldest lawn seed brand and part of the DLF Seeds family, has been planning for Brexit for well over a year in order to get ahead of the changes that came into effect on January 1, 2021 and go into the New Year on a strong footing. Whilst some business have been caught out by what has been described as the ‘Brexit shock’, Johnsons Lawn Seed and its staff have been working around the clock to limit the impact these challenges have on its supply chain and meet the anticipated uptake in demand during the peak lawncare season.

Pre-season orders have seen an exponential increase throughout autumn and winter, which is great news for business but has put added pressure on the supply chain. Fortunately, Johnsons had the foresight to get stock in place at the right time to mitigate any potential disruption, meaning retail customers can still depend on a smooth supply of product and the high level of service they have come to expect.

Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Guy Jenkins said: “We have been preparing for Brexit for the past 18 months, at least. It was important for us to get ahead of the game, so there would be minimal disruption for our retail customers in the UK. We know their main concerns are over delays at port and increased freight charges, despite an agreement with the EU. So, to counteract this, we used our transport links across Europe to bring raw materials in through less overcrowded ports and we stocked up early.”

He continued: “All of our EU customers are now stocked and ready for the peak spring season and, in the UK, we have substantially increased our stock holdings across the Johnsons and Neudorff ranges to ensure continuity of supply for pre-season and for the arrival of spring. We have already adapted to the new inbound customs regime, utilising the skills DLF possess as a global seed supplier and with the co-operation of our suppliers.”

Guy further praised Johnsons’ employees for their hard work during this busy time and paid a special tribute to the company’s production team. “We extended our hours to pack lawn seed at the equivalent of seven days a week and brought in extra raw materials to help us continue to spring and beyond. It’s been a lot of work and we couldn’t possibly have achieved what we have without our committed team of colleagues. Genuinely, they have been outstanding!”

The heightened demand this winter comes hot on the heels of a five-fold increase in sales of lawn seed in 2020. Last year’s lockdown cultivated an army of new gardeners, as the Great British public took to their outdoor spaces with gusto. This trend, coupled with a particularly dry spring, sent lawn seed sales through the roof and extended the traditional springtime peak in the category well into the summer.

Johnsons earned a host of new customers, due to its ability to maintain a reliable supply of product throughout, where other suppliers struggled. Guy explained: “So far pre-season sales are running at four times the usual levels. This is owing to a combination of larger pre-season orders and an earlier uptake to ensure supply for the spring. The increase is across all of our products and, whilst clearly some of this is just timing, we have definitely gained new customers too; based on our record of successful supply last year.”

Johnsons Lawn Seed, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2020, is committed to supporting its garden centre customers and says its enhanced stock levels and extensive distribution network will help garden centres to drive footfall in lawncare categories this spring and throughout 2021. Meanwhile, Johnsons’ agents are making a concerted effort to work closely with garden centre teams to provide extra support with in-store merchandising and helping to beat the rush with early ordering.

The lawncare expert’s innovation-driven, market-leading portfolio includes Quick Lawn with Accelerator-treated seed, Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance and 100% organic Super Smart Lawn Feed, as well as top-selling lawn seed mixes such as Shady Place, Luxury Lawn, After Moss, Quick Fix and Lawn Thickener Lawn Seed.

Find out more

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

Wyevale Nurseries has revealed it has passed its ISO 14001 Environmental Audit this year with its prime objective for 2021 being further peat reduction and taking it below 50%.

The Hereford-based business has been awarded a certificate for its Environmental Management System, which meets requirements for the production and supply of container-grown stock to garden centres and amenity markets.

Steve Reed, Production Director Container Division at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We’re delighted to announce we’ve just passed our ISO 14001 Environmental Audit for the 10th year running with our prime objective being peat reduction, followed by a continued decrease in the use of water.

“It’s great to have this environmental accreditation in place. We couldn’t have achieved this without the support of the whole nursery, and I’d like to thank every member of the team for their involvement.”

ISO 14001 is an internationally accredited standard that outlines how to put an effective environmental management system in place within organisations.

It is designed to help businesses remain commercially successful without overlooking environmental responsibilities and impacts. It can also help businesses to grow sustainably while reducing the environmental impact of this growth.

Steve added: “With regards peat reduction, last year we installed a commercial trial of peat-free stock. To replace the peat, we are using wood fibre from managed forest plantations. We also continued to reduce the peat in our general stock in 2020. In total the nursery reduced its peat use to 56% of all the compost used.

“The main factors with using alternatives to peat are managing the water and nutritional use, because peat-free media is less spongy, so it does not hold as much water and, thus, more frequent applications of water are needed, but less water is applied each time. Also, we need to make sure plants keep a good healthy colour, and don’t go yellow, and they grow to a standard that is suitable for our garden centre and amenity customers. 

“In 2021, we plan to reduce peat use to below 50%, so less than half of everything we pot at Wyevale Nurseries will contain peat. To achieve this, we will increase our peat-free trial to 30,000 plants this year and grow 200,000 of our young plants in smaller pots, peat-free as well. We will be assisted with regular visits by an ADAS consultant and from Melcourt, who are providing the compost.

“We also have regular targets for recycling water and at present we are at maximum. Our last two years figures are similar, averaging at around 42,602 m³, which is just more than 17 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In order to recycle more water, we need a reservoir and in October we gained planning permission to build one, but when work starts on this in 2021 is currently dependent on Covid demands and restrictions.”

With the GARDENA Soil Moisture Sensor, garden owners can easily ensure optimal watering of their plants whilst saving water. If there’s already sufficient moisture in the soil, excessive irrigation is avoided resulting in healthy plants and a rich harvest.

The new sensor determines the moisture content in the soil thereby enabling economical and needs-based irrigation, for healthy and beautiful plants.

Automatic irrigation is a great help. After all, water is the elixir of life and the be all and end all for a garden with blossoming, healthy plants. But water is also a scarce resource and should therefore be used sparingly, in line with what is needed.

Plants have an individual water requirement. To fulfil this, but also to avoid an over- or undersupply of water, is a balancing act for many garden owners. Just because the soil’s surface is dry, it does not mean that the roots of the plants urgently need water. The new GARDENA Soil Moisture Sensor consistently provides reliable information on the moisture content of the soil where it is most important, in the root area of the plants.

The new design of the soil moisture sensor is particularly flat and protrudes just 20 millimetres from the ground. If it’s used on the lawn, a GARDENA Lawnmower or Robotic Lawnmower can move over it without any problems.

Thanks to its compact size, it can be used virtually anywhere, in vegetable plots or simply in planters. Data transmission for this sensor is performed via a cable. This connects it to one of the GARDENA Water Control systems and the moisture of the soil is taken into account as part of automatic irrigation. If there is already sufficient water in the soil, its irrigation is simply skipped. This makes watering particularly efficient and economical.

The measured soil moisture and the soil moisture setting from which irrigation should not take place are conveniently displayed on the water control system the new soil moisture sensor is connected to.

The sensor is compatible with most GARDENA Water Controls.

As 2021 unfolds the team at the Greenfingers Charity is looking ahead to another year of FUNdraising and new garden builds. In a year which sees the charity’s biggest fundraising day, Garden Re-Leaf, turn 10 the next 12 months are set to be a busy year for the charity and its supporters.

There is no question that the current Covid-19 pandemic will throw many challenges at the charity, however it remains optimistic that its supporters will continue to dig deep as they did throughout the last year.

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers said: “It would have been perfectly understandable if people chose to not support us in the same way that had previously as the impact of the ongoing pandemic has placed significant financial pressure on many. However, we have been blessed with such incredibly generous and selfless supporters, with many continuing to go above and beyond to support the charity and the work we do in children’s hospices across the country. We were truly blown away by the generosity of our supporters during the last 12 months; generosity which is enabling us to continue our much-valued work throughout 2021.”

Looking ahead to this year, Greenfingers has ambitious plans as work continues on three incredibly exciting gardens at Haven House in Essex, Ty Hafan in Penarth, Wales, and St. Oswalds in Newcastle, with many more hospices joining the waiting list as the therapeutic benefits of spending time in the garden has come to the fore during the Covid-19 crisis.

Linda added; “Designed by Tom Hoblyn, Victoria Wade and our very own garden project manager, Holly Harrington, these gardens are set to transform the garden spaces of each of these hospices, and we hope will transform the lives of the children, their families and the staff at these. We know from previous projects just how important these garden spaces are, and how much their role has developed during the pandemic.  We want to do everything we can to ensure that life-limited children, their families and their carers continue to enjoy and benefit from these stunning gardens.”

Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021

Since its inception in 2012, Garden Re-Leaf Day has been a key event within the garden retail calendar. Each year hundreds of people from across the industry, including suppliers and retailers, come together to undertake an incredible series of fundraising events. During the last nine years the event has raised in excess of £650,000, all of which has gone towards helping the charity design and create gardens in children’s hospices throughout the country.

This year the event will celebrate its 10th anniversary, with the Greenfingers Charity hoping the garden retail sector will come together once again to help celebrate in style. Like many events, Garden Re-Leaf Day will no doubt look a little different this year and will take on virtual elements to enable more people to get involved from the comfort of their own homes and offices, and to ensure the necessary social distancing can be maintained.

To make things a little easier for individuals and teams working within strict Covid-secure measures, the window of FUNdraising can be extended to the whole of March, with the official date for Garden Re-Leaf Day being 19th March. This extra flexibility provides more opportunity for supporters to enlist the support of friends, family and their local communities, to make the 10th anniversary a great one.

The much-loved Sponsored Walk and Cycle Challenge will be shaped differently this year, with participants invited to walk or cycle from their homes or offices. The normal 10 and 20-miles walk and 100- mile cycle goals will remain, though new ideas are welcomed! Why not go floral or dress up in green to generate some buzz in your local area or commit to walking or cycling further throughout the whole of March to raise even more for Greenfingers?! The possibilities are endless.

Speaking ahead of Garden Re-Leaf Day 2021, Linda Petrons, said: “Whilst it’s very unlikely that we can be together to celebrate Garden Re-Leaf Day’s special birthday, we do hope that our supporters will join us from the comfort of their own homes and offices to get involved in this year’s event. With a whole month of FUNdraising, we are excited to see what activities people will undertake. We’re already hearing of sponsored walks and runs, including virtual relays that are bringing together people from all corners of the country, as well as virtual quizzes, cake sales and some incredible feats of endurance all in the name of Garden Re-Leaf Day. Whatever you do, please know that we are endlessly thankful for the support and cannot wait to cheer you on this March!”

Find out more

To find out more about the wonderful work the Greenfingers Charity undertakes please join in the conversation by joining Greenfingers on social media https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/, @GreenfingersCha on Twitter, and @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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According to the World Health Organization, many of us now spend 90% of our time indoors, disconnected from plants and wildlife and the current UK lockdown has meant that even more of us are now inside home-working and homeschooling. Scientific studies have shown that engaging with plants and nature stimulates our senses, nourishes our minds and has a beneficial effect on both our physical and mental wellbeing. There has never been a better time to look at our home environment and think about ways to bring nature indoors to create a more balanced surrounding.

A firm believer that indoor plants can make “a practical and emotional contribution to our wellbeing”, gardener and TV presenter, David Domoney is the author of My House Plant Changed My Life. In the book, he explains the science behind the positive effect of the humble houseplant on wellness, how best to harness this power, and provides expert tips on how to keep your plants thriving. For example, did you know that as  well as improving the air quality in our homes by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, houseplants can help reduce the build-up of toxins emitted by some household products? 

David then brings together information and growing tips for his top 50 life-enhancing houseplants that are not only the most beneficial to mental and physical wellbeing but also have the greatest air-purifying potency. Feature spreads highlight the top 5 plants to calm and relax, energise and enthuse, and spark creativity. The book also offers suggestions on how to get children involved in growing indoor plants from an early age, plus there is essential guidance on the best positioning of houseplants within the home to get the most from them.

With even a modest collection of houseplants, you can help combat the pollution and stresses of modern life through the power of nature in the comfort of your home.

My House Plant Changed My Life. is available in hardback from February 4, costing £9.99. ISBN: 9780241458518

Leading wildlife product supplier CJ Wildlife has appointed Emma Johnson as its new head of sales for B2B in the UK. 

Emma has joined the company from Suttons Seeds where she was national sales manager for the past two years.  

Emma will be managing a growing team responsible for selling the CJ Wildlife and National Trust Garden Wildlife Ranges to retailers throughout the UK, as well as working with partners in the construction, development and planning sector to create more sustainable habitats for wildlife under CJ’s professional division, Vivara Pro. 

CJ Wildlife launched a licensed range of garden wildlife care products with the National Trust last year. The range consists of 90 high-quality, premium and specialist bird and wildlife foods, feeders, nest boxes, accessories, mammal and insect habitats. 

 “I am delighted to be joining CJ Wildlife and excited to add structure to the UK sales team. My biggest passion is supplying garden centres and independent retailers with quality UK manufactured products together with providing an excellent customer service.”

Plant sales did increase by 30% during the second week of January, and so were at the second lowest weekly sales level we’ve ever reported in GTN Bestsellers.  That is of course apart from the seven weeks last year when garden centres were closed during lockdown #1.

• Primula sales jumped by 75% week on week as those who did venture out bought some instant sporing colour.
• Asparagus plants were the highest re-entry to the GTN Top 50 at No 21.
• Chlorophytum, Spider Plants, were a big moving houseplant, climbing 21 places up the chart to No 17.

See the full GTN Top 50 Plants chart every week with a subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter.  Subscribe here.

For the second consecutive year, Rolawn is celebrating the success of its environmental strategy, having retained Green Achiever’s coveted Gold Award with Diamond Banner accreditation. 

The award, which follows an annual independent audit by The Green Achiever Scheme, recognises Rolawn’s continuing improvement on the environmental front.  

Paul Dawson, Rolawn’s Managing Director, commented: “Green Achiever is a voluntary scheme in which Rolawn participates so that customers have evidence that the company’s environmental policy is actively practiced. Environmental responsibility is integral to Rolawn’s operations. The business works closely with experts in the field not just to ensure compliance with the latest regulations but also to lead the industry in this hugely significant area.” 

Achieving the Gold Award with Diamond Banner is a result of Rolawn demonstrating: 

• how their Environment Policy has worked and that it is still up to date with their business activities;
• that they are still conforming to relevant (including new) environmental legislation;
• that improvements have been made in their environmental performance over the last 12 months;
• maintenance of good environmental practices previously recognised.

The Diamond Banner is awarded in recognition of the fact that Rolawn has made year-on-year improvements for at least the past 5 years, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to enhancing environmental performance.   

Members of the Garden Centre Association will still be able to get together for their regional meetings in a virtual capacity this year.

The meetings will kick off for the South Thames area on Wednesday, January 27, followed by a joint meeting for the Midlands and Wales & West areas on Thursday, January 28.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “We’re thrilled to announce our area meetings will still go ahead this year online. All our members are welcome to participate. They may be slightly different in style to our normal face-to-face meetings and may cover different topics, given the times we’re currently living in, but most importantly, they offer members the chance to air their views and discuss them with peers in the industry.

“Just some of the topics on the agenda to discuss include current trading, plans for 2021, issues surrounding import challenges, Brexit and Phytosanitary legislation and environmental matters, including the peat debate.”

The area meeting for the North Thames will take place on Thursday, February 4. The meetings for the North West and North East areas are yet to be confirmed, but members will be informed shortly.

Iain added: “We held our first online meeting in November 2020, for our Scotland and Northern Ireland areas and more meetings will take place later in the year. Previously, it’s been hard for members in these areas to meet due to distance but now we’re all meeting online, it’s become easier for members to get together again.

“Anyone wishing to attend their local area meeting, should email their Area Chairman or the GCA office on info@gca.org.uk.

“Many GCA members have said that the meetings are one of the biggest benefits of membership. They are a fantastic motivational and management tool and really keep staff on their toes, making sure they are always doing their absolute best.”

Growing from seed appears to be a popular activity during Lockdown#3.  Four seed tray lines feature in the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Garden Product Charts with a Gro-zone growing house also featuring in the Top 10.

Garden lighting lines and patio cleaners also feature in this weeks chart as gardeners staying at home look to brighten their outdoor spaces during the wintry weather.

• Stewart Standard Seed Tray 38cm is the No1 Bestselling garden product of the week.
• Woodlodge No.5 Mayfair Fibreclay pot is the highest chart new entry at No 8.
• Algon Organic Algae Remover Patio Cleaner moves furthest up the chart, climbing 32 places to No 16.

See the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 garden Products chart every week with a subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter.  Subscribe here

A new online wellbeing studio has been launched to provide a resource dedicated to people, plants and positive wellbeing.

Launched on Blue Monday (18 January), the day claimed to be the most depressing of the year, the studio offers a wealth of resources to help beat the blues, not just in January, but throughout the year.

The studio has a variety of categories, from gardening, food, crafts, books and home, to studio sessions, always with plants and wellbeing at the core. Visitors to the virtual studio will find inspirational stories on a range of topics including gardening for wellbeing, how to better appreciate nature walks and how to use herbs and plants for good health, all contributed by passionate experts in the field. There is also a ‘products’ section, where people can meet the sellers of exceptional, hand-picked items and receive exclusive discounts.

The studio has been created by Ellen Mary, an expert in wellbeing and in particular how nature and gardening can improve both physical and mental health. Ellen has been recognised as one of the Top 5 Women Influencers in Horticulture, and has previously given talks on wellbeing at events such as RHS Chelsea, RHS Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace Flower Show, Vegfest UK, and The Handmade Festival as well as talks in garden centres, local garden groups and for individual companies such as Peter Beale’s Roses and has also filmed for the Royal Horticultural Society and been featured in The Times, BBC News and appeared on US TV. Ellen has studied RHS level 2 principles of horticulture, social and therapeutic horticulture, cognitive behaviour therapy and is also studying wellness coaching, so is able to provide holistic wellbeing guidance with plants and nature at the core and is a true expert on the subject.

Ellen decided to create the online resource following the success of a series of webinars she launched in summer 2020 which explored how and why we are connected to the natural world, tackling subjects such as “Plants & Nature for Wellbeing”, “Plants for Women's Wellbeing” and “Growing your own for a Plant Based Diet”.

“The past year has been tough for everyone, and the isolation that many people have faced as a result of Coronavirus has had a huge effect on mental health and wellbeing. I know first-hand the positive effects of connecting to nature and I want to help others regain and develop this connection,” commented Ellen.

She continued: “I was delighted by the success of my webinars last year, and it really highlighted to me how much people are longing to get out and enjoy gardening, nature and growing their own food, and to reap the wellbeing benefits of it. I want to help facilitate this reconnection with the natural world to make it easier for everyone, no matter their situation, to benefit from developing a positive relationship with nature, and hope that the launch of the studio will provide an accessible way to do this.”

Access to the studio and all the materials on it is entirely free.

To access the Wellbeing Studio, visit https://www.ellenmarygardening.co.uk/wellbeing-studio

The Burpee Europe breeders have done it again and produced a variety of beautiful, abundant, deliciousness for the nation's gardens and dinner tables!

'Bellrouge' is the lively and vigorous Bell of the Gardening Ball!  She produces a heavy crop of delicious sweet bell peppers which ripen from green to a bright red. Her thick fleshy fruit is just as much at home in sliced in salads as roasted in the oven or stuffed with cheese or mushrooms. Her flavour is unusual as it has a sweet slightly citrus aroma on the tongue. 

Each fruit weighs approximately 80–120 g and is 7–8 cm in length with 3–4 lobes.  No time to waste as 'Bellrouge' seeds are best sown indoors in February, March or April and can be harvested July to early October.

Seeds are available from Marshalls and Simpsons Seeds

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The organisers of spoga+gafa have issued a statement on this year's event due to take place in late May and early June...

The months ahead will be suspenseful and challenging, but also promising. It’s not easy for some of you to believe in the opportunities of an event that will be held in a little over four months from now, especially when other trade fair projects are currently being cancelled. We take your uncertainty seriously. However, we, the team of spoga+gafa, believe we have an opportunity. We are confident that a specialist trade show such as spoga+gafa can, should and will be held a little over four months from now. However, we still need some time before we can better and more reliably assess how the situation will be like in early summer. And we will take this time together. As we have discussed with many of you, whether the committees, your associations, the individual visitor groups and many exhibitors, we want to at least see together how things develop in Europe and intercontinentally in February before we make a final decision. 

We will then, two and a half to three months to go before spoga+gafa 2021 commences (30 May –  1 June 2021), be able to better assess the possibilities and willingness of our business visitors to travel to Cologne. Our decisions always take into account the fact that three quarters of our guests have come from Europe in recent years. We remain optimistic that these people, at least, will once again be able to attend the world’s largest garden lifestyle event this year. Until then, we and our partners, who represent your interests, have agreed to keep calm and to take a wait-and-see approach. We should therefore not let ourselves be influenced too much by the current situation — we are headed in the right direction. We’ve agreed to keep calm and to trust in the opportunity that time will give us. 

New visitor congresses at spoga+gafa 2021 

How does spoga+gafa currently stand after the permanently earlier date was announced? We are delighted to tell you that your garden lifestyle fair is in excellent shape. This is particularly demonstrated by the large number of reservations that we’ve received for all of the segments in all of the 14 halls.  

Although we are delighted about the stable number of exhibitors, we are also very happy about new visitor-related developments that will further boost the event’s value added. The influx of new big-name exhibitors and the wishes for larger stands on the part of our well-established exhibitors have encouraged us to conduct talks with various national and international visitor associations in recent weeks. This was done with the aim of inviting them to hold their annual general meetings at or close to spoga+gafa.  

All of these talks were favourable and promising for you, the partners of spoga+gafa. As of today, we will welcome the following visitor meetings, some of which are new, to this year’s spoga+gafa and its environs (examples, more to follow): 

The ‘Garden Summit 2021’ of the BHB (Federal Association of the German DIY, Building and Garden Specialist Stores) on the grounds of spoga+gafa on the afternoon of 1 June 2021. 

The BHB is a specialist association that represents the interests of the trading firms for  do-it-yourselfers, builders and gardeners from Germany, Austria and Switzerland 
(the “D-A-CH” region) and of other companies from the DIY sector, from industry, and  from the services sector. As an association with an international focus, the BHB is active in Germany, and, through its membership of the European DIY Retail Association (EDRA), throughout all of Europe. The annual garden meeting of the BHB and its members will be held at spoga+gafa 2021.  

VDG Winter Conference. The annual general meeting of the German garden centres will take place at spoga+gafa 2021.  

The Verband Deutscher Garten-Center (Association of German Garden Centres) represents the interests of privately owned and managed garden centres. These garden centres are the leaders in their region. A garden centre’s size isn’t as decisive as its expertise. The VDG’s Winter Conference, the main annual convention of the German garden centres, will be held at spoga+gafa 2021. 

Motoristen-Kongress, 30 May 2021 at spoga+gafa 

The annual meeting of the specialist power tool dealers will be held at spoga+gafa for the first time. The aim of this congress is to bring the various players of the power tool sector together and to promote the exchange of ideas concerning the latest trends and topics. 

Although the path we have to take to get to this year’s trade fair won’t be easy, rest assured that by pulling together we will be able to make spoga+gafa  a success for everyone involved. The trade fair will certainly look different this time: Although it might be smaller and less intercontinental, it certainly won’t offer fewer opportunities for all of  you to be successful. ‘Form follows function’ is our in-house action and planning motto for 
spoga+gafa 2021. It shows that our one and only goal this year is to offer you the opportunity to bring supply and demand together on the spoga+gafa platform, whether at the physical event or the digital trade fair that will be held in parallel. It’s a matter of what we need to do, rather than what would be nice to see. And it can work if everyone keeps their distance so that the event will be a success. 

Scotch Corner Designer Village has announced that it has just signed a lease for a 160,000 sq ft home and garden centre with Blue Diamond, which will be the largest in the UK.

This large space will showcase the company’s superb range of plants, all seasons, indoor and outdoor as well as homeware, garden furniture and fashion and will be an integral part of Scotch Corner Designer Village. The store will not only surprise and delight first-time visitors, but it will also serve as a regular pit-stop for the local community. Visitors will also be able to entertain their children in the soft-play area, enjoy some lunch or a drink in the Gin Bar.

With an increased emphasis on making one’s home a haven and creating inspirational outdoor spaces, this announcement comes at an opportune moment and demonstrates Scotch Corner Designer Village’s commitment to creating the leading outlet shopping and leisure destination in the North of England.

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond, said: “I am delighted to have signed this partnership with Scotch Corner Designer Village. As attention to detail is fundamental to both companies, I am truly excited at the prospect of working together to create a stylish destination for tourists and the local community alike. The plants, product and food that we curate will all serve to create a memorable experience for all.”

The Blue Diamond Home and Garden Centre will extend Scotch Corner Designer Village’s luxury environment designed in the Yorkshire architectural style.

Simon Waterfield, developer and co-owner of Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, said: “Blue Diamond will be a huge asset to Scotch Corner Designer Village. It will prove to be a great resource for the local community as well as a stylish inspiration for our visitors. It will also provide a wonderful spot to relax and entertain the family.”

Scotch Corner Richmond LLP  submitted plans for the Blue Diamond Garden Centre to be built next to the Designer Outlet Village that already has planning consent, adjacent to the A1(M) and the A606 near Richmond last week.

The garden centre plans, which have a similar look and feel to the East Bridgford Blue Diamond Garden centre, allow for 10,761 square metres of new internal floorspace, bigger than East Bridgford, and 624 car parking spaces. 

Alan Roper told GTN Xtra, We are planning to be open autumn next year.  The build starts autumn this year."

Scotch Corner Designer Village is set to be the leading outlet and leisure destination in the North of England. Phase One will cover 50 acres, comprising of 80 luxury boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

Located on the major A1(M)/A66 Scotch Corner junction, the scheme will benefit from 44 million people in 27.5 million vehicles travelling through the area every year and being one of the most accessible retail and leisure opportunities in the UK. The site will be a great location for a day-out, as well as an enjoyable break in a road journey between England and Scotland.

The scheme will also benefit from an immediate catchment of 4.5 million residents within a 60-minute off-peak drivetime, with more than double that (9.8 million) within a 90-minute off-peak drivetime. The site is expected to attract annual footfall of 4.0m visitors in Phase One and will rank 4^th in the UK for estimated sales density when complete.

Located on a wider 100-acre site, also owned by Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, the developer has ambitions for further leisure and sporting facilities, a hotel, drive-thru food offer, petrol filling station and employment units. This will create a unique destination, offering a wholly different experience to other outlet centres in the North of England.

Developed by Scotch Corner Richmond LLP, the scheme is the creation of property developer Simon Waterfield and his long-standing colleague Peter Mullen, who has a wealth of retail experience having founded Thomas Pink and made Hunter the brand it is today.

Sales in the first week of the year were 68.5% down on the same week last year as Lockdown #3 took effect, according to the weekly garden centre EPOS data analysed by GTN Bestsellers.

The only sector, as recorded by GTN Bestsellers, that showed any year on year improvement was Veg 2 Gro where seed sales exceeded last year's levels by 11%.  Could this be the first indicator of a bumper year for grow you own activity?

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 1

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 63%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 29%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 11%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 52%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 1

• All Plants with Barcode index – down 72%
• All Items with Barcode index – down 68%

The weather was also a contributory factor to the decline in gardening sales with Wild Bird care product sales volumes outselling Growing Media for the first time in over a year.

Next week we'll be back to normal with GTN Bestsellers week on week analysis, so to make sure you are ahead of the game in knowing which products and plants are selling fastest take out a subscription to the GTN Bestsellers newsletter today.

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

Who could have foreseen another lockdown post-Christmas. The stark reality is that lockdowns or not, social distancing is here to stay with us this year so it is important that any design changes you make now in your garden/farm centre reflect that, but also that those changes can be easily adaptable for a post-Covid trading world.

Garden centres hold important places in our community, and now more so than ever. With that, comes the  responsibility of keeping customers and staff safe. 

Catering Design Group (CDG) continues to advise and work with clients within the garden/farm centre market, providing a full design service, from concept to completion, based on their experience and knowledge of this market. They share some insight here on how to make the most of your current spend to future proof your business while keeping your staff and customers safe.  

A balanced approach

• With garden centres and farm centres remaining open during lockdown, there is a heightened awareness of this market now. This has the potential to broaden the customer demographic/base as people seek out destination retail/eating experiences at this time, such as young families and mums with new babies.  Garden/farm centres are fortunate to be open during lockdown but that comes with a responsibility to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
• The customer experience is still key but social distancing and the use of masks is making this challenging. With talk of social distancing possibly carrying on into next winter, the way garden/farm centre restaurants and cafes operate will need careful consideration. 
• As designers, it is our responsibility to create visually engaging yet safe environments so that any designs or food offers implemented reflect that potential changing demographic, capture the same sense of excitement and experience as pre-Covid times and support customer safety.
• As humans, we are wired to connect, and there is no doubt that we all miss the interactions we took for granted in a pre-Covid world. As we move out of lockdown, people will be keen to get out and about and will expect/want the experience to be the same, whilst feeling safe to do so. This is where good design experience is essential. It takes a professional, creative and thoughtful design approach to balance these two important elements.

Designing in flexibility

• Regardless of your budget, whatever you spend now has to be adaptable to this changing commercial reality. For example, if you are investing in new furniture, make sure that it can be easily moved, and ideally, transformed from booths/pods with divider screens into a long, fixed seating in the future.
• Keep in mind the potential changing demographic of your customer-base. Lockdowns have created a whole new generation of young gardeners and a growing interest in home-based and garden activities, from growing your own vegetables to using gardens as essential and much-loved outdoor social spaces. Think about introducing contrasting styles of furniture to suit all ages ranges.
• Consider introducing flexible counters and ambient tables that can be used for collections. Plug & play interchangeable table top equipment such as K-Pots and roll-in theatre stations have full flexibility built in for future use and can add a sense of drama and entertainment to enhance the customer experience.

Making the most of technology

• Think about new ways of operating such as ‘call order’ or Apps to minimise physical contact and the risk to your customers and staff.
• Many existing Apps can be easily tailored to reflect your branding and food offer, and will allow customers to order from their table, whilst browsing the garden centre or even when they are on route.
• Consider the use of food collection cubes or lockers for customers to pre-order and collect their meals to minimise physical contact while adding a novelty factor. Again, with the right design expertise, these can be customised to suit your brand.

At one with nature

We call it biophilic design. This is about creating designs that provide a visual connection with nature, such as natural forms, patterns and textures. These design elements can be introduced into materials, the use of colour such as earthy tones or vibrant, nature-inspired hues, natural finishes and organic shapes to evoke a welcoming and restful environment for your customers. It’s all about the customer experience and anything that can provide a momentary respite from reality is welcome at this time. This doesn’t have to cost the earth but could reap benefits in terms of footfall and reputation. Designing planting in creates an added retail element to enhance the overall design and maximise retail sales.

A taste of what this might look like

The design team at CDG has put together some concepts of how all of these elements might work together.

Catering Design Group (CDG) is one of UK’s leading restaurant and commercial kitchen design companies, offering a full design service to clients throughout the retail, leisure, hospitality and education sectors. http://www.cateringdesign.co.uk 

If you would like to know more about how CDG can support your vision, contact Steve Hutchings, director of CDG on 07736 479342 or email steve.hutchings@cateringdesign.co.uk

The last year has without doubt left the majority of us feeling an air of uncertainty regarding our business and social lives alike; and the gift industry has been no exception.

Harrogate Christmas & Gift was fortunate enough to be one of the few UK trade shows able to experience ‘business as usual’ in 2020, celebrating another bumper event in January – just weeks before the news of COVID and subsequent social restrictions hit the national news.

However, in 2021 we have not been as fortunate and the restrictions and logistics for staging such a huge trade event have, as expected, been numerous and unprecedented. Simon Anslow, Harrogate Christmas & Gift show organiser explains: “After the first lockdown in spring 2020, our January show seemed a long way off and believing that the COVID situation would be under control by then, we carried on with plans as usual. By the autumn, it became blaringly apparent that this was becoming less likely and with the Prime Minister stating that it could be a further six months before exhibitions could re-open, we started to look at Plan B.

“The usual home for Harrogate Christmas & Gift – the Harrogate Convention Centre – is currently being used as a nightingale hospital, so our first challenge was to find an alternative venue. Fortunately, The Yorkshire Event Centre (YEC) situated on the edge of Harrogate ticked all of the boxes with excellent modern facilities, great accessibility and close to the town and amenities. We pencilled in a new show date of 28th February 2021 and were delighted to have the support of some of our bigger exhibitors such as Premier Decorations, Festive Productions and Gisela Graham, who were all impressed with the proposed new venue. The YEC team is already very COVID aware, with special measures in place to ensure the safety of those using the facilities. We had also planned to extend the period of the show to dilute the concentration of visitors over a longer period.

“On Friday 18th December, just a week before Christmas, we received information from the local authority that multi-day exhibitions would be allowed providing correct COVID measures were put into place. Our elation at this news was quickly deflated the following day on the 19th December with the announcement of a new variant of COVID and the rapid spread throughout London and the South East. This situation saw much of the country plunged back into Tier 4 lockdown and the Prime Minister’s announcement of a countrywide lockdown on the 4th January meant there is no chance of the show going ahead as planned in February.”

Simon continues, “Ultimately the most important thing is the safety of everyone involved in the show and the majority of the exhibitors signed up are keen to participate in Harrogate Christmas & Gift as and when it is able to happen. The festive and gift industry is quite unique – unlike industries where items are mostly branded and familiar to consumers – with these types of products, buyers really need to see and feel them to get the vibe of whether they will suit their store and customer requirements.

“We are delighted to confirm that we have now secured new dates for the show from Sunday 9th May to Tuesday 11th May 2021 at the Harrogate Convention Centre and will keep everything crossed that the Covid situation is under control and we are able to continue with plans by this time.”

Harrogate Christmas & Gift is one of the UK’s favourite trade shows not only for festive goods, but novelties and gifts for all occasions. Buyers attend from numerous sectors including garden centres, department stores, independent retailers and gift shops, tourist attractions and heritage centres and even cathedrals and places of worship seeking souvenirs and gifts and decorations for special occasions.

Simon concludes: “This has been such a difficult year and we hope that everyone has managed to stay safe and enjoy some semblance of celebrations over the Christmas period. We thank all of our exhibitors and visitors for their patience and understanding of the predicament facing not just Harrogate Christmas & Gift, but everyone involved in the exhibition industry and retail sector – and we look forward to welcoming you all back sometime in 2021, when hopefully we can return to our businesses as normal.”

Visit the website at www.harrogatefair.com for the latest information and updates.

After the first full week of operating during lockdown 3, several garden centre owners and directors have shared their views about being allowed to be open for business.

Adam Wigglesworth at Aylett Nurseries said: “Three times the government has taken the specific decision to open garden centres. In May ahead of mainstream retail, in November and now last week. With the classification as “Essential” I believe they are looking at the science and evidence of the mental and physical benefits that gardening brings. As soon as the weather improves many people will be keen to get in their gardens and by being open we are facilitating that.

“Garden centres have been exemplars of safe retailing and we are encouraging customers to “shop and go”. Centres have packed away areas, such as their Christmas sales, to discourage browsing and because January is traditionally a quiet month customer numbers are low, allowing customers and staff even more space.  Helping to keep people busy at home, thinking and planning for lighter, brighter spring days is surely one of the things that our industry can help with.

“Our team are on site preparing for spring, as we would normally be, and it is vital that we are supporting our growers and suppliers by being here to receive deliveries and also to prepare to have the full range and stock that customers will need when spring and summer is here . There will not be capacity in the supply chain if goods cannot be delivered early in the year. We will be here to receive those goods and the team that are on site recognise this important issue . Organised retail areas leads to less customer queries, interactions and problems, reducing time spent in store and resulting in safer efficient shopping for all.

“We are offering online purchases for delivery and click and collect, but one size does not fit all. There are many customers who cannot order this way, or experience problems finding a delivery or click and collect slot from other retailers – they are pleased to be able to come in and frequently thank us for being open . Every centre will make their own decisions based on their risk assessments and circumstances – situations are changing all the time.

“However, we should also never take lightly the importance of the Governments view that we are “ essential retail “ and the responsibility this brings.”

Chris Francis at Hillier told GTN Xtra: “I fully respect any individual’s decision to do what they feel is right for their business.  I have read a number of comments recently from Mathew Bent, Adam Wigglesworth and Martin Stewart, amongst others who all make excellent comment and clearly well-judged reason as essential retailers for remaining open. The HTA have shown great leadership throughout this situation and have also made a very balanced statement.

“At Hillier, as a designated essential retailer,  we feel it is right to be available for our customers essential purchases. Fuel and Gas is currently our top selling product category (after food probably one of the most essential products at this time of year) closely followed by seed potatoes, seeds and propagation. Although the weather may not be conducive to spending too much time outdoors there are still the more dedicated hardy of our customers out in their gardens. Many gardeners are sowing, working in their greenhouses and generally getting ready for the moment the weather improves enough for them to spend more time outdoors.  We have received many appreciative comments from our customers that we have remained open for them and thanking us for, in their words not mine “being responsible in regards to their safety and our staff safety” with the measures we have put in place.

“Even in this cold weather you only have to spend an hour or two outside to know how much better it makes you feel, I am pleased we are able to assist our customers in getting outdoors and hopefully improving their mental wellbeing at such a difficult time.”

Gerald Ingram at Planters agreed with Derek Bunkers thoughts: "One of the things constantly at the back of my head is how hard the HTA have worked to keep us open and it’s a bit of a slap in the face for them if we close.   And as Derek suggests some have furloughed their workers simply to reduce losses in a month we would normally lose money anyway.   I also think it weakens the case for getting Welsh and Scottish centres open when English ones have volunteered to close.

“I appreciate Covid and how we react is a very individual response and some centres will have been touched with it more than others.   Some centres have been slow to reopen or kept their restaurants closed and it’s those same centres that have chosen to close in January and February.

“However its ironic that centres were heaving before Christmas with the potential hazards and now we are empty some choose to close.

“The teams at all three of our centres have been very supportive of staying open and inventive in ways of keeping safe at the same time delivering a first rate service.  We have been getting a lot of support on Social media for our measures etc, as well as some “how are you essential?” remarks.

“Interestingly one of the reasons we launched our call and collect service last March was because a lot of reptile owners are dependant on us for live and frozen food.   We are essential but not necessarily for the reasons most people think!  However, I do think seeds, plants, fruit bushes and trees, compost are all essential to the hardened gardener and those looking for an activity at home.

“Also, if we close we are sacrificing our trade to The Range, B&M, B&Q, Home Bargains etc, not to mention online retailers. 

“Fortunately, we have not had crowds descend on us just to spend an hour out of the house, however this is the first weekend so it may test that.

“We have split our team at Tamworth and to a degree at Bretby into two so that also helps reduce numbers in store.”

Charlie Grove, Groves of Bridport, who's "We Are Here for You" message to his customers has been used widely by other centres gave us his view on the situation: “Personally, I feel that garden centres should be staying open where they can. The HTA and GCA worked hard to get us open in the spring and like it or not we have been classed as an essential retailer, so we have a duty to do our best to remain open in a safe way.  We don’t have a food hall at Groves, but we do offer a large ranges of items that I would deem as truly essential such as pet food, farm supplies and household fuel as well as a traditional range of grow your own and these are all things that our customers rely on us for. I felt more uneasy about staying open during the November lockdown when our focus was Christmas.

“Having said that, garden centre offerings vary a lot and we all rely on different footfall drivers such as catering that are not there right now.  If you are in a particularly high COVID case area I completely understand the risk to staff verses the reward of opening just might just be too high. It’s a fine balance and we all have to be able to sleep at night.

“To be honest I am constantly reviewing the local situation and if I felt that the cases in our town were rising rapidly or things were becoming tense and unmanageably busy, like it was just before the first lockdown, then I would be prepared to close for the sake of our team but as things stand we have had nothing but positive feedback about staying open.  Customers are coming in for the right reasons in slow but steady numbers (I don’t have much heating in the shop, so they aren’t hanging around!) and it honestly does feel safe and under control in our centre at the moment.”

Sam Bosworth, who owns two garden centres in Northamptonshire also echoed Derek Bunkers comments.  “I understand we all have our own reasons for doing things, but HTA and GCA have worked so hard to get this status, it is a shame it is not being supported wholeheartedly, even if this means supported very quietly.  Some areas have bigger Covid problems than others, and our businesses are very different - plant nurseries to virtual department stores - so different approaches are understandable.

“It would be a desperate shame to be open now, and then get shut down when we desperately need to be open because we are not considered essential.  In reality, February through to June is when we really are essential to mental health due to our Gardening offering, a few weeks of keeping our heads down now may be essential to keeping us open in Gardening season.

“We all need to be stocktaking, putting Christmas stock away and getting gardening out, so it is not too difficult to serve the few customers that are venturing out, and as long as we are not actively seen to be promoting footfall at present, we should be OK.  There is no way anyone can afford to not have staff on site, so even though we may furlough some people, keeping a till open is good for everybody's sanity.”

Martin Stewart, Stewarts Garden Centres, adds: "It is impossible to lock the doors of a Garden Centre, walk away and turn off the lights.

"Plants need watering, heating needs to be on, deliveries need to be accepted in preparation for the busy spring months ahead, seasonal lines need to be packed away, admin including payroll and bill paying needs to happen. The 31st Jan is our, and many others, end of year so stock takes have to take place.

"Suppliers need to continue to move stock from their greenhouses and warehouse.  It cannot be simply ‘put on hold’ until later. Chaos would ensue. We have to be there to accept them. This of all years, with the disruption to the supply chain, is not the year to delay deliveries.

"None of the above is any different from operating an online operation except we don’t have people packing in the warehouse! People seem to forget that. Why online is deemed safer I don’t really know.

"By putting a till operator on we are able to serve the very few customers who are coming in. We are quiet and will remain so. What a sensible time to get those gardening essentials. Far better now than when we are busier after lockdown.

"Any staff that do not wish to be in are willingly furloughed, many others are keen to be in, but we don’t need many. We have so much space to socially distance and those few customers who are coming in for garden supplies are very grateful.

"We have so much to offer, we should not have to remind ourselves of the significant benefit of being able to enjoy working outside in your garden preparing for spring.

"Clearly it is for each business to decide what is best for them, their staff and customers. But for us, and we are constantly reviewing how we feel about the situation, we are remaining open."

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

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

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

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

Full details are here.

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

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

Charles Stubbs, Lewis Fox and Nemanja Tintor, along with the rest of the BGC team, were proud as punch yesterday as their 58th centre at Thatcham in Berkshire opened.

The centre had been handed back to the landlords during the Wyevale Garden Centres sale of the century in and closed in September 2019 as the owners looked for a new leaseholder.  British Garden Centres took on the site in September 2020 and since then have refreshed the centre, enclosing a walkway at the Restaurant end to allow for extra covers, extending the covered sales area out into the planteria and hard surfacing the overflow car parking area which was previously a field.

See GTN Xtra's exclusive photo tour of the new centre below:

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill, Crawley, has opened its doors to customers following a 12-month refurbishment costing £15m.

The new centre boasts a retail space of 11,813 sq.m., including an outdoor plant area and 440-seat restaurant complete with a newly installed pizza oven. Additional space has also been created to accommodate 170 restaurant guests on an outdoor patio.

Up to 70 new jobs have been created to accommodate the centre's expansion. Car parking has increased to 346 spaces.  See GTN Xtra's photo tour of the new centre below.

Chief executive Julian Winfield said the Snowhill team worked tirelessly to ensure the centre was able to remain open for the majority of the project, with minimal disruption.

“We can't wait to receive our customers' feedback on our new and improved facilities,” he added. “Over the years, we have built a loyal customer following and we are proud to be able to give back to them in this way with our new expanded centre.”

Haskins acquired the Snowhill site in 2003, inheriting a number of ageing buildings.

Haskins also has centres in Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone in West Sussex. The family business recently acquired Forest Lodge Garden Centre, Bird World and Garden Style in Farnham.

Pictured (left to right): Julian Winfield, Jamie Haskins, Ally Haskins (married to Jamie) and Warren Haskins, the group's chairman. 

The opening event was attended by the current GCA Chairman Mike Burks and three past Chairs; Warren Haskins, Sue Allen and Julian Winfield.

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

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.

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

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

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

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

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird & Wildlife Bestsellers chart for last week are here

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

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.

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

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

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

A new doggy day care centre is set to open at Dobbies Garden Centre in Woodcote Green, Surrey.

Bruce’s is said to offer ‘doggy day care with a difference’, featuring agility obstacles to unlock the doggy senses, a sensory zone and open spaces to run and play with canine companions, and an area for smaller breeds to mix with confidence.

The business was founded in 2008 by Bruce Casalis, who sits on the board of directors for the Pet Industry Federation and has acted as an advisor for DEFRA, the Dogs Trust and RSPCA. 

Woodcote Green will be Bruce’s sixth centre, adding to the likes of Cobham, Oxshott and Tunbridge Wells, and is their first in Greater London.

According to Bruce’s, their day care “isn’t just about care for your dog while you work, it’s about providing them with stimulating and social play.”

A one-day package at Bruce’s costs from £18, ‘sleepovers’ from £22 and getting the luxury Bruce’s bus to fetch (and carry) a dog is extra.

“The Bruce’s ethos is to unleash happiness and enrich the lives of dogs in our care. There has been great demand for doggy day care services since lockdown, when many families brought home new dogs and it’s heartening that new owners are committed to their pets’ wellbeing,” said Bruce Casalis.

Laughing Dog has added two new products – Chewy Boosts and Teeth and Gums – to its healthy treats range.

The Chewy Boosts treat is made with naturally soothing ingredients, including ginger and seaweed, all to enhance digestive health and boost immunity. The treat is naturally wheat free and ideal for maintaining healthy joints.

The paw-shaped Teeth and Gums treat helps keep breath minty fresh and reduce plaque build-up, making it the perfect snack between meals or a tasty training treat. It contains no added sugar and is naturally grain and gluten free.

Each product comes in a 125g packet with a £1.99 RRP.

All Laughing Dog treats use the brand’s own naturally sourced ingredients and are packaged in 100% recyclable ready material.