From the beginning of March, Fothergills will be sending out its new Self-Water Growing Kit, which was awarded Best New Product at Glee @ Spring Fair this week. 

Already a tried and tested success in Australia, the kits, which are part of the Oh Sow Simple range, come in a choice of three herbs with everything needed to grow them from seed in a coloured glass jar. 

“Mr Fothergill's is aiming to grow the whole category rather than just grow our section of the category, which is why we have launched the Oh Sow Simple range. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to succeed with seeds, which this new product will do, and it’s a nice little gift too,” said Richard Keegan, Head of Field Sales.

“We've got a limited amount of stock for this season and already had a lot of interest from our key customers who got a sneak preview just before Christmas. But we are taking the next steps and developing the range,” he adds.

Judges praised the product for its appeal to gardeners, non-gardeners and particularly children.

Glee returned to Spring Fair with real energy this week, delivering strong buying momentum, high-quality conversations and a clear sense that the industry had embraced the opportunity for an early-season gathering. From meaningful retail discussions and new partnerships, to celebrating innovation and recognising excellence across the sector, the event reinforced its position as a valuable commercial moment in the garden retail calendar.

Strong buying momentum and quality conversations set the tone

From the opening day, exhibitors reported a positive atmosphere across the show floor, with orders being placed throughout the event and new retail partnerships taking shape. Garden centre buyers made a clear beeline for the Glee area, engaging with brands focused on relationship-building, early-season planning and strategic buying decisions.

The spring format proved particularly valuable for brands looking to connect with buyers in a more focused environment, allowing deeper conversations about ranges, merchandising and long-term growth opportunities. LV Bespoke noted that the event created valuable time to walk buyers through its wider product offering, investing in meaningful discussions rather than rushed transactions, whilst the team at Fern & Forge reported strong interest in its latest product launch, with order books quickly filling as retailers looked to introduce new outdoor cooking innovations to customers.

Brands offering products outside the traditional garden core also found new audiences. Botanica International engaged both garden and gift buyers, using the show to demonstrate how its all-natural herb creams, washes and sprays can sit confidently within a garden retail environment, expanding cross-category opportunities.

The Glee community in action – celebrating innovation and excellence

Beyond commercial activity, Glee @ Spring Fair played an important role in bringing the industry together, with awards moments highlighting both innovation and the achievements of the wider garden retail community.

Innovation remained central to the show’s appeal, with buyers gathering for the New Product Showcase awards ceremony, where products demonstrating strong design, clear retail appeal and commercial potential were recognised.

This year’s overall winner was Mr Fothergill’s with its “Oh So Simple” self-watering grow jars. The judging panel – made up of Trevor Pfeiffer, Roger Crooke, Neil and Nikki Gow, and Boyd Douglas-Davies – commented: “A simple idea that appeals to both gardeners and non-gardeners alike. It’s a great way of getting into growing, even if you don’t have a garden. It appeals to children, is sensibly priced for retailers with good margins, and the Kilner-style jar is visually appealing on shelf.”

Second place was awarded to LV Bespoke for its 3D Glass Orb garden décor, described by judges as a product that “sells itself at retail” and stands out as something genuinely different within the garden category. Third place went to Hunter Stoves for its Hive Outdoor wood burner, recognised for its superb build quality, UK manufacturing and strong engineered design, successfully bringing advanced indoor stove technology into the outdoor living market.

The New Product Showcase win translated quickly into tangible buyer interest on the show floor. A spokesperson for Mr Fothergill’s said the show proved “a great exercise in securing early-season sales and strengthening conversations”, adding that the win helped drive new buyers to the stand, with one retailer commenting that they wanted the product “in every one of their centres”.

Monday also saw the announcement of the Greatest Christmas Awards, organised by Garden Trade News, recognising excellence across festive retail and reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the Glee community. Gold award winners included Allbrighton BGC (Overall UK Gold), Birkacre (Large Garden Centre Christmas Team), Munro’s (Small Garden Centre Christmas Team and Scotland & Northern Ireland), Longacres Bagshot (Home Counties & South and Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team), Sunshine (Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Team), Webbs Wychbold (Winter & Christmas Houseplant Team), Barton Grange Blue Diamond (Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team), Planters Tamworth (Gardening as a Christmas Gift) and Kaemingk (Greatest Christmas Supplier).

The awards drew a packed audience of retailers and suppliers, creating moments of shared celebration while offering inspiration as businesses begin planning for Christmas 2026 and beyond.

Reflecting on the significance of the awards and the wider show momentum, Matthew Mein, Event Director at Glee and Autumn Fair, said: “Glee @ Spring Fair has returned with real energy and a hugely positive response from across the industry. It’s been fantastic to see buyers and exhibitors embracing this additional spring touchpoint, with quality conversations, strong commercial engagement and a genuine buzz across the show floor. The event has been a great showcase of the innovation, creativity and resilience within the garden sector, highlighting what brands are doing to support retailers early in the season. We’re incredibly encouraged by the momentum we’ve seen this week and excited about the potential to continue growing our presence at Spring Fair, creating even more opportunities for the Glee community to connect, collaborate and do business.”

Looking ahead – Europe’s biggest buying moment returns this September

Looking ahead, the next key destination for garden retail buyers will be Glee in September (8^th – 10^th), this year co-located alongside Autumn Fair (6^th – 9^th) to create the biggest and most valuable buying event in the second half of the year. From the garden into the home, September will be the place to source across garden, gifts, home and lifestyle, offering buyers an unrivalled opportunity to plan ranges, discover new brands and maximise commercial potential ahead of peak trading.

To find out more – whether to book exhibition space or stay up to date with the latest developments from Glee 2026 – visit www.gleebirmingham.com or call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.

Allbrighton BGC, Munro’s, Sunshine, Birkacre, Gates Oakham, Caulders Linlithgow and Longacres Bagshot have picked up Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Team golds in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, presented at Spring Fair on Monday. Kaemingk walked away with The Greatest Christmas Supplier gold...

Here are all the winners:

The Greatest Centre Christmas Teams, as voted for by Customers

EAST GOLD AWARD: Fakenham

EAST SILVER AWARD: Summerhill

EAST BRONZE AWARD: Blofield Garden Centre@ Norwich Camping & Leisure, Perrywood Tiptree

Finalists

• Blofield Garden Centre at Norwich Camping & Leisure 
• Fakenham Garden Centre 
• Perrywood Buckhatch 
• Perrywood Sudbury 
• Perrywood Tiptree 
• Summerhill Garden Centre

HOME COUNTIES & SOUTH GOLD AWARD: Longacres Bagshot

HOME COUNTIES & SOUTH SILVER AWARD: Keydell

HOME COUNTIES & SOUTH BRONZE AWARD: Ransoms Jersey

Finalists

• Chessington Garden Centre 
• Conkers Garden Centre 
• Dobbies Ashford 
• Haddenham Garden Centre 
• Henry Street Garden Centre 
• Keydell Nurseries 
• Longacres Bagshot 
• Ransoms Jersey 
• Wolvercroft Garden Centre

MIDLANDS GOLD AWARD: Allbrighton BGC

MIDLANDS SILVER AWARD: Garden King

MIDLANDS BRONZE AWARD: Wolseley Bridge BGC

Finalists

• Albrighton BGC 
• Botany Bay Garden Centre 
• Byrkley Park Klondyke 
• Garden King 
• Newton Regis BGC 
• Planters Tamworth 
• Rowena Leicester 
• Rugby BGC 
• Trowell Garden Centre 
• Wolseley Bridge BGC

NORTH GOLD AWARD: Birkacre

NORTH SILVER AWARD: Bents

NORTH BRONZE AWARD: Woodbank

Finalists

• Arcadia BGC 
• Bents 
• Birkacre 
• Harrogate BGC 
• Langlands BGC 
• Owl Lane Farm Nurseries 
• Woodbank Garden Centre

SCOTLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND GOLD AWARD: Munro’s

SCOTLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND SILVER AWARD: Hillmount Belfast

SCOTLAND & NORTHERN IRELAND BRONZE AWARD: Gouldings, Kirktown

Finalists

• Glendoick Garden Centre 
• Gouldings Valley View 
• Hillmount Bangor 
• Hillmount Belfast 
• Hillmount Carrickfergus 
• Kirktown Garden Centre 
• Mains of Drum 
• Munros

SOUTH WEST GOLD AWARD: Newquay

SOUTH WEST SILVER AWARD: Monkton Elm

SOUTH WEST BRONZE AWARD: Trevena Cross

Finalists

• Bow Garden and Aquatic Centre 
• Chacewater Garden Centre 
• Monkton Elm 
• Newquay Garden Centre 
• Old Well Garden Centre 
• Trevena Cross Nurseries

WALES & WEST GOLD AWARD: Snowdonia

WALES & WEST SILVER AWARD: Trioscape

WALES & WEST BRONZE AWARD: Fron Goch

Finalists

• Brockworth BGC 
• Fron Goch 
• Gloucester BGC 
• Old Railway Line 
• Snowdonia Nurseries 
• Trioscape Garden Centre

The Greatest Centre Christmas Teams, as voted for by Customers

OVERALL UK GOLD AWARD: Allbrighton BGC

OVERALL UK SILVER AWARD: Birkacre

OVERALL UK BRONZE AWARD: Fakenham

Finalists

• Snowdonia
• Newquay
• Munro’s
• Birkacre
• Allbrighton BGC
• Longacres Bagshot
• Fakenham

The Greatest Small Garden Centre Christmas Teams (Sponsored by Woodmansterne)

GOLD AWARD: Munro’s

SILVER AWARD: Cooks

BRONZE AWARD: Pengelly, The Garden Society

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Snowdonia

Finalists

• Cooks
• Munros
• Pengelly
• Poundbury
• Snowdonia
• The Garden Society

The Greatest Mid-Sized Garden Centre Christmas Teams (Sponsored by Kaemingk)

GOLD AWARD: Sunshine

SILVER AWARD: Jacksons Boutique

BRONZE AWARD: Brimsmore

Finalists

• Bosworths
• Brimsmore
• Coolings Lifestyle
• Fakenham
• Glendoick
• Haddenham
• Jacksons Boutique
• Kirktown
• Morris of Usk
• Moss & Moor
• Newquay
• Parkers
• Pughs Wenvoe
• Silverbirch
• Southwood
• Sunshine
• Trioscape

The Greatest Large Garden Centre Christmas Teams (Sponsored by Smart Garden Products – Three Kings)

GOLD AWARD: Birkacre

SILVER AWARD: Castle Gardens, Henry Street, Old Railway Line

BRONZE AWARD: Summerhill, Wentworth

Finalists

• Birkacre
• Castle Gardens
• Fron Goch
• Henry  Street
• Old Railway Line
• Perrywood Sudbury
• Poplar Nurseries
• Pughs Radyr
• Raemoir
• St Peters
• Stewarts
• Summerhill
• Wentworth
• Woodbank

The Greatest Giant Garden Centre Christmas Teams (Sponsored by Kaemingk)

GOLD AWARD: Gates Oakham

SILVER AWARD: Bents

BRONZE AWARD: Bronze

Finalists

• Bents
• Garsons Esher
• Gates Oakham
• Perrywood Tiptree
• Simpsons
• Webbs

The Greatest Group Small Garden Centre Christmas Team 

GOLD AWARD: Caulders Linlithgow

SILVER AWARD: Harrogate BGC

BRONZE AWARD: Burford House BGC

Finalists

• Allbrighton BGC
• Burford House BGC
• Caulders Cupar
• Caulders Linlithgow
• Charlecote BGC
• Daleside Klondyke
• Harrogate BGC
• Squires Reigate

The Greatest Group Large Garden Centre Christmas Team (Sponsored by Festive)

GOLD AWARD: Longacres Bagshot

SILVER AWARD: Van Hage Blue Diamond

BRONZE AWARD: Garden King

Finalists

• Barton Grange BD
• Gloucester BGC
• Langlands BGC
• Blackdown BD
• Brigg BGC
• Byrkley Park Klondyke
• Derby BD
• Garden King
• Haskins West End
• Morton Hall Klondyke
• Longacres Bagshot
• Squires Twickenham
• Van Hage BD

The Greatest Winter & Christmas Houseplant Team (Sponsored by Melcourt)

GOLD AWARD: Webbs Wychbold

SILVER AWARD: Hayes BGC

BRONZE AWARD: Gates Oakham, Knights Betchworth

Finalists

• Gloucester BGC
• Hayes BGC
• Langlands BGC
• Brimsmore
• Byrkley Park Klondyke
• Daleside Klondyke
• Deans of York
• Derby BD
• Duchy of Cornwall
• Fron Goch
• Garden King
• Gates Oakham
• Morton Hall Klondyke
• Knights Betchworth
• Notcutts Solihull
• Poplar Nurseries
• Snowdonia
• Sunshine
• Webbs Wychbold

The Greatest Outdoor Plant and Christmas Tree Team (Sponsored by Doff/Pelsis)

GOLD AWARD: Barton Grange Blue Diamond

SILVER AWARD: Bosworths

BRONZE AWARD: Castle Gardens, The Old Well

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Sunshine

Finalists

• Barton Grange BD
• Bosworths
• Botany Bay
• Byrkley Park Klondyke
• Castle Gardens
• Caulders Linlithgow
• Coolings Rushmore hill
• Deans of York
• Fron Goch
• Garden King
• Millbrook Staplehurst
• Munros
• Notcutts Solihull
• Old Railway Line
• Old Well
• Pengelly
• Perrywood Tiptree
• Polmont
• Pughs Wenvoe
• Ruxley
• St Peters
• Sunshine

The Greatest Gardening as a Christmas Gift Sales Team

GOLD AWARD: Planters Tamworth

SILVER AWARD: Gates Oakham

BRONZE AWARD: Castle Gardens

Finalists

• Castle Gardens
• Fakenham
• Gates Oakham
• Old Railway Line
• Planters Tamworth
• Wentworth

The Greatest Christmas Gifts Team (Sponsored by Museums and Galleries)

GOLD AWARD: Birkacre

SILVER AWARD: Gordale

BRONZE AWARD: Duchy of Cornwall, Gates Oakham

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Haddenham

Finalists

• Birkacre
• Duchy of Cornwall
• Fron Goch
• Gates Oakham
• Glendoick
• Gordale
• Haddenham
• Holt
• Old Railway Line
• Raemoir
• Notcutts Rivendell
• Squires Twickenham
• Trentham BD
• Wentworth

The Greatest Christmas BBQ & Outdoor Leisure Team – The SOLEX Sizzle (Sponsored by SOLEX)

GOLD AWARD: Polhill

SILVER AWARD: Knights Betchworth

BRONZE AWARD: Trioscape

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Gordale

Finalists

• Blofield Garden Centre @ Norwich Camping & Leisure
• Cambridge Home & Garden
• Fakenham
• Fron Goch
• Gordale
• Knights Betchworth
• Polhill
• Trioscape

The Greatest Christmas Food & Drink Pop up (Sponsored by Food @ Glee 2026)

GOLD AWARD: Bents

SILVER AWARD: Gates Oakham

BRONZE AWARD: Ruxley Manor

Finalists

• Bents
• Birkacre
• Codsall & Wergs
• Gates Oakham
• Gates Stapleton
• Henry  Street
• Ruxley

The Greatest Festive Retail Food Team (Sponsored by Pleydell Smithyman)

GOLD AWARD: Poplar Nurseries

SILVER AWARD: Gates Oakham

BRONZE AWARD: Morris of Usk

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Barton Grange Blue Diamond, Ruxley Manor

Finalists

• Barton Grange BD
• Bents
• Derby BD
• Gates Oakham
• Longacres
• Morris of Usk
• Notcutts Solihull
• Poplar Nurseries
• Pughs Radyr
• Raemoir
• Ruxley
• Stewarts
• Wentworth

The Greatest Christmas Wild Bird Care & Pet Team

GOLD AWARD: Haddenham

SILVER AWARD: Fairways Ashbourne

BRONZE AWARD: Fakenham

Finalists

• Barton Grange BD
• Castle Gardens
• Fairways Ashborne
• Fakenham
• Haddenham
• Howden Klondyke
• Munros
• Notcutts Solihull
• Old Railway Line
• Ruxley
• St Peters
• Webbs

The Greatest Garden Centre Grotto Team

GOLD AWARD: Gouldings

SILVER AWARD: Chessington

BRONZE AWARD: Hayes BGC, Ruxley Manor

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Coolings Lifestyle, Keydell

Finalists

• Barton Grange BD
• Baytree
• Hayes BGC
• Burford House BGC
• Chessington
• Coolings Lifestyle
• Dobbies Chesterfield
• Garden King
• Gordale
• Gouldings
• Keydell
• Planters Tamworth
• Rosebank
• Ruxley
• Wentworth

The Greatest Garden Centre Christmas Promotion

GOLD AWARD: Henry Street

SILVER AWARD: Trioscape

BRONZE AWARD: Botany Bay

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Glendoick

Finalists

• Allbrighton BGC
• Langlands BGC
• Botany Bay
• Bow Aquatics
• Glendoick
• Gordale
• Henry  Street
• Morton Hall Klondyke
• Monkton Elm
• Pughs Radyr
• The Garden Society
• Trioscape

The Greatest Christmas Supplier

GOLD AWARD: Kaemingk

SILVER AWARD: Gisela Graham, Smart Garden – Three Kings

BRONZE AWARD: Festive

Finalists

• Festive
• Gisela Graham
• Heaven Sent
• Kaemingk
• Premier
• Smart Garden

Watch out for The Greatest Christmas Awards photo tours of the centres in future issues of GTN Xtra and in the next issue of GTN magazine.

Winter is the ultimate test for any outdoor structure. Freezing temperatures, moisture, snow, rain and wind quickly reveal which products are truly built to last. At Jagram, endurance is one of the foundations of our design philosophy.

Two long-standing bestsellers from our standard offer, the Double Slatted Mjosa Fence and the Privacy Diamond Trellis, are proof that quality garden architecture can withstand even the harshest weather conditions.

Both products are manufactured from durable pine and spruce softwood, pressure impregnated to ensure long-term protection. Thanks to this treatment, they can remain outside all year long, maintaining their strength, stability, and visual appeal even through the unpredictable winter weather. For customers, this means a low-maintenance and long-lasting investment that performs season after season. 

The Double Slatted Mjosa Fence is a modern enclosed wooden fence designed for contemporary landscaping. Its timeless horizontal layout fits perfectly into various garden styles. Thanks to the versatility and solid construction, it will enhance your outdoor space.

The Privacy Diamond Trellis, inspired by classic English lattice style, combines charm with stability. Its densely woven diagonal slats provides privacy throughout the year, while in warmer months it becomes the perfect support for climbing plants. Delicate in appearance yet robust in construction, it’s a guarantee of an reliable performance.

With Jagram fences and trellises, your garden doesn’t go into hibernation when winter arrives. Choosing our products is not a choice for a single season, but for years to come. Built to endure frost, moisture, and winter winds, they emerge from the cold ready for what’s next –  strong, reliable, and unchanged by the passing of seasons. 

It is a perfect moment for the wholesalers to place an order with Jagram as we have a special occasion for a full container load in a very attractive price. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more details!

Contact info: 
Jagram S.A.  
Call: +48 575750037 
Mail: contact@jagram.com 
www.jagram.co.uk 

Melcourt, the UK’s peat-free pioneers, today announced that their SylvaGrow range has this year, been recognised four times by Which? Best Buy:

• SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose Compost – Patio Pots
• SylvaGrow Seed Compost – Young Plants
• SylvaGrow Tub & Basket Compost – Patio Pots
• SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose Compost – Young Plants

This means that the SylvaGrow range has received this independent recognition a total of 27 times since 2015, reaffirming the company’s commitment to responsibly-sourced, peat-free horticulture and consistent, highest-grade results.

Why recognition matters

Which? is the UK’s consumer champion, a not-for-profit organisation that tests thousands of products each year to help consumers make informed decisions. A Which? Best Buy is only awarded to products that meet high standards of quality and performance following rigorous testing.

“This new seed compost uses the same basic ingredients as its wood fibre, bark and coir composts, but has a finer texture. Our tests show it’s a great choice for both seeds and young plants. Young plants were better than those grown in a professional peat-based compost, with larger tomato plants and better-flowering snapdragons."

Recognition from Which? gives gardeners clear and independent reassurance that the product they’re choosing will perform to the high standards they expect. Products in the tests were compared with professional peat-based controls.

Nikki Burton, Managing Director at Melcourt said: "We’re so proud to be recognised again in this way. These endorsements further reinforce our science-led approach, and our commitment to providing customers with products that deliver superb results time after time."

Where to find SylvaGrow

SylvaGrow is available from garden centres and stockists across the UK. Gardeners should look out for the Which? Best Buy stickers on SylvaGrow point of sale displays.

Another week, another new customer joins the ever expanding, Corby + Fellas portfolio – Smiths Nurseries in Uxbridge.

Kim Corby-Hill, Sales & Relationship Manager, said: "Smiths has established itself as west London’s premier destination for quality shrubs and plants, and we are delighted to be awarded the business to implement our acclaimed Epos, stock control and our unrivalled reporting and loyalty systems.

"This is the second of 18 implementations over the next few months – if you’d like to join us, we would be delighted to hear from you to see how we can turbocharge your technology within your business."

01493 658800
kim@corbyfellas.com
www.corbyfellas.com

Griffon Corporation, the owners of AMES UK, have announced a set of “strategic actions to streamline the company’s portfolio and enhance shareholder value.”

Griffon will concentrate on North American building products and their AMES United States and Canada businesses will form part of a new Joint venture with ONCAP’s Venapri Tools, owners of Burgon & Ball.

At the same time Griffon has announced that it has initiated a review of strategic alternatives for AMES UK operations.

GTN Xtra has asked AMES UK and Burgon & Ball for comment.

The full Griffon announcement is here:

Griffon Corporation Taking Strategic Actions to Maximize Shareholder Value

February 5, 2026

Griffon’s AMES North America and ONCAP’s Venanpri Tools to form professional and consumer products joint venture, providing immediate financial benefits

Company announces strategic alternatives process for AMES Australia and UK

Hunter Fan to be combined with Home and Building Products segment

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2026-- Griffon Corporation (NYSE: GFF) (the “Company” or “Griffon”) today announced a set of strategic actions to streamline the company’s portfolio and enhance shareholder value. When these actions are completed, Griffon will be a pure-play, residential and commercial, North American building products company with leading positions in residential garage doors, commercial sectional doors, rolling steel doors and grille products, and residential and commercial ceiling fans.

In a joint release issued earlier today, Griffon and ONCAP, a subsidiary of Onex Corporation (TSX:ONEX), announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to form a joint venture creating a leading global provider of hand tools, home organization solutions, and lawn and garden products for professionals and consumers. The joint venture will include Griffon’s AMES Companies (“AMES”) United States and Canada businesses, which are currently part of Griffon’s Consumer and Professional Products (“CPP”) segment, and ONCAP’s Venanpri Tools, a global professional and consumer tool provider including the Bellota, Corona, and Burgon & Ball businesses.

Under the terms of a master transaction agreement, the joint venture will purchase the AMES U.S. and Canada businesses from Griffon, and the Bellota, Corona, and Burgon & Ball businesses from ONCAP. The joint venture will be managed as a subsidiary of a portfolio company of ONCAP which, together with other affiliates, will hold a 57% equity interest. Griffon will receive $100 million in cash proceeds as well as $161 million in second lien debt from the joint venture, and will hold a 43% equity interest.

“We are confident the combination of Venanpri Tools and AMES will create substantial value as a global platform with the strength and diversity to thrive in the evolving global landscape,” said Ronald J. Kramer, Chairman and CEO of Griffon. “We are looking forward to working with our partners at ONCAP to make this joint venture a success.”

Also today, Griffon announced the initiation of a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives for CPP’s AMES Australia operations.

“AMES Australia has grown from a small business acquired as part of AMES in 2010 into a category leader in Australia and New Zealand,” said Mr. Kramer. “We will identify opportunities for our exceptional team in Australia to take the business to the next level while creating value for our shareholders.”

AMES Australia is expected to generate approximately $40 million of adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2026.

Griffon has also initiated a review of strategic alternatives for CPP’s AMES United Kingdom operations.

Today, Griffon also announced the Hunter Fan Company (“Hunter”), currently within the CPP segment, will be combined with the Home and Building Products segment.

“Our strategic actions, taken together, will result in a fundamental refocusing of our businesses into a pure-play building products company,” added Mr. Kramer. “In North America, we are the largest provider of residential garage doors and commercial sectional doors, rolling steel doors, and grille products, as well as a leading brand of residential and commercial ceiling fans. Our brands maintain exceptional leadership positions and are led by strong, collaborative teams. We will continue to focus on growing our businesses organically, while prioritizing returning value to our shareholders.”

As a result of these actions, beginning with Griffon’s second quarter 2026 reporting, AMES U.S., Canada, Australia, and UK will be reported as discontinued operations.

https://ir.griffon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/griffon-corporation-taking-strategic-actions-maximize

Responding to this week's publication of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report, ‘UK-EU trade: Towards an SPS agreement’, Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Horticultural Trades Association, said:

“The Horticultural Trades Association welcomes the EFRA Committee’s report, which reinforces the urgent need for a pragmatic and growth-focused SPS agreement. For our members, the status quo is a significant barrier to growth; half of the £1.2bn plants and trees sold annually in the UK are imported from the EU, and current border frictions add immense cost and complexity to these vital supply chains.

“The Committee’s recognition that this complex is absolutely right, and we support the calls for a ‘carve out’ for Precision Breeding and caution over regulatory alignment on Plant Protection Products (PPPs) as examples. The UK is a leader in this field, and it is vital that our innovative horticultural sector is not held back by slower regulatory alignment. We echo the call for a managed implementation period for any changes to PPP availability to ensure our members have what they need to maintain crop health and business viability.

“However, where the Committee suggests a need for an implementation period for the deal as a whole, we must be clear that, for plant health, action can and should be taken now. We restate our clear asks for immediate easements to remove unnecessary burdens and barriers that continue to hamper our sector. Furthermore, we make a new and urgent call on the Government to support environmental horticulture businesses, particularly those who have made significant, costly investments in infrastructure and systems to manage the current border model. By securing a pragmatic approach to future regulations, the Government can unlock the full potential of a sector that is vital to the UK’s economy and its environmental goals.”

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced a collaboration with garden structures specialist Agriframes for a range of RHS-licensed zinc planters. 

The Agriframes range is a design collaboration with the RHS for a zinc planter in three sizes for the UK market. It will complement and enhance the existing range of Agriframes zinc planters. The company’s solid metal weather-resistant zinc planters are noted for a design that combines quality and affordability and are among its best-selling products.

Robust and fully galvanised, these planters are perfect for floral displays, shrubs or trees creating an eye-catching centre piece on a patio or deck or at the side of a path.

The iconic RHS tree and half shield will be displayed on the zinc planters, which are available for consumers to pre-order from the 2nd of February when they launch exclusively on the Agriframes website. Full product availability is expected in April.

Agriframes has been creating stylish, high-quality garden structures for over 50 years and is the first choice for garden designers throughout the world. With products featured in RHS and other prestigious gardens across the UK, Agriframes stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is always a highlight for visitors.

Andrew Downey, Agriframes MD, says: “With over 50 years’ experience in designing and manufacturing for the garden sector, Agriframes has developed a strong understanding of how to create outstanding products. This exciting collaboration with the RHS allows us to bring our renowned expertise to a partnership that will enhance both brands and benefit customers across the UK.”

Cathy Snow, RHS Licensing Manager, adds: “Agriframes has been synonymous with stylish and high-quality garden structures for many decades and enjoys great loyalty from its customers. It boasts an ideal pedigree for an RHS licensee in this important category.”

A series of smart investments by Bulrush Horticulture stands the business in good stead for the coming season, as the substrate specialist is ahead of schedule and on track to almost double production capacity on its big bale products for the peak season.

Hot on the heels of the announcement that a brand-new coir processing plant is now fully commissioned at its site in Northern Ireland, Bulrush reveals that an increased workforce and greater efficiencies across the business has significantly increased its capability.

The leading producer of high-quality substrates for commercial growers and amateur gardeners has employed additional colleagues at its manufacturing plant to enable another full shift, helping the business to meet increasing demand across the UK and the rest of Europe.

The newly-expanded workforce, combined with investments in technology and new machinery, saw October 2025 emerge as one of the biggest production months Bulrush has ever recorded, and means the supplier is now working ahead of schedule for the coming season.

In line with a commitment to strengthen its workforce, Bulrush has also bolstered its regional sales team with the recent appointment of Darren Selvey as Sales Manager for the Midlands. With stock on the ground, ready to go, Bulrush can reliably provide growers with a secure supply of top-quality substrates that consistently outperform competitor products in trials.

Bulrush’s Sales Director, Alex Julien commented: “The changes we have made, including the installation of a second coir processing plant, and the welcome addition of a larger workforce at our production site, means Bulrush is in an extremely strong position going into 2026. We are on track to almost double our peak season professional product, meaning we can arm our customers with what they need for the coming season and meet the surge in demand for substrate.

“We are now working between six and 12 months in advance in terms of planning raw materials, which means we can produce more during the quieter periods and free up capacity during the peak season. Everything Bulrush does is to better serve its customers and maintain the next-level service we pride ourselves on as a business. We’re excited to see what 2026 holds and how the investments we’ve made can help provide an even greater number of growers with the right solutions for their business.”

Find out more

Now is the time to plan order schedules for all substrates. Connect with Bulrush today to learn more about our innovative product portfolio and discover how we can support your journey next season and beyond.

 To find out more, contact your local area manager, call 028 7938 6555 or please visit bulrush.co.uk

A new industry-wide collaboration, "Our Green Planet: Roots for the future, skills for today," has been announced to showcase the breadth of horticulture via an interactive exhibit at New Scientist Live 2026.

The public engagement initiative aims to reach outside of the sector, challenging perceptions and rebranding horticulture as a high-tech STEM career to an audience of over 26,000 visitors, including 6,000+ students.

The project has already secured early backing from the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) and is now seeking further leading brands as partners and sponsors.

"It’s time to bridge the gap between our £38 billion economic contribution and our visibility to the wider public and in particular the STEM sector," says Christina Walker who is spearheading the project. "We have all the elements to inspire —world class education and award-winning businesses managing laboratories and glasshouses, garden centres to urban spaces, sports pitches to forests. By bringing together the amazing range of expertise across our industry we can work together to impact its future. I’m calling for industry partners to help demonstrate that careers in horticulture and landscape architecture mean working at the cutting edge of science, technology and climate solutions.”

“The support for this initiative has been overwhelmingly positive even before being officially launched! There’s been a lot of talk about the skills gap over the last decade, and great work has been done by many individuals and organisations, but we’re now facing a crisis and it’s time to do something big - together. New Scientist Live 2026 is the perfect focal point at a crucial time, providing a platform to reach a large, curious audience across a wide age range. It’s a fantastic platform for the sector as a whole and for individual brands. I hope this will be the start of a collaboration that creates a lasting legacy."

Nat Boynton of the YPHA said “As soon as Christina spoke, I knew this was something we needed to be part of. Horticulture sits at the centre of some of the biggest challenges we face, from climate and biodiversity to food security and wellbeing. Working in this industry is not a niche choice, it is a way to make a real, measurable difference.”

“If horticulture is barely visible beyond primary school, we cannot keep being surprised that fewer young people choose it later. We have to start signposting its relevance, impact and opportunity much earlier.”

A focus group will be held for those serious about participation and support, after which the exhibit's core pillars and collaborative structure will be finalised. Space needs to be booked by late March for the project to go ahead at the 2026 event which will take place at London’s Excel centre, 10-12 October.

Industry Focus Group Details:

• Date: Thursday, 26th February 2026
• Time: 11:30 AM
• Location: High Street Kensington, London (and Virtual)

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A Bradford garden centre is hosting a rose pruning masterclass with one of the country’s leading names in roses later this month.

On Tuesday, 24th February, an expert from the long-established, family-owned rose breeder David Austin Roses will be in The Mezzanine at Tong Garden Centre at 10 am and 2 pm for hands-on rose pruning and expert rose care advice sessions.

“February is the perfect time to prune roses, and this session will equip you with all the skills you need to tackle your pruning with confidence,” said Yorkshire Garden Centres’ Commercial Plant Manager, Marc Salama.

“Due to demand for the morning session, we have decided to host an afternoon session too. The audience will enjoy a two and a half hour Q&A session and practical masterclass plus delicious refreshments.”

Tickets cost £65 and include the masterclass, a Q&A session, a David Austin rose for the practical session, and refreshments. There will also be the opportunity to win a Sir David Beckham rose, which launches to the public at RHS Chelsea in May.

Tong Garden Centre occupies a 19-acre site in Tong village. It is part of the Yorkshire Garden Centres (YGC) family which also owns Tingley, Otley, Bingley, York, Scarborough and Pennine Garden Centres.

Using Napoleon’s new Apollo Charcoal Water Smokers isn’t rocket science but the science behind them is.

Innovatively designed to satisfy all true BBQ lovers, these new Charcoal Water Smokers not only Smoke to precise perfection but they also Roast and Grill all in one! 

This unique cooking method allows for the low-and-slow smoking of meats, making it perfect for juicy, tender brisket, ribs, fish, poultry, and even vegetables, locking in new levels of flavour in every tier. Featuring an insulated lid handle, ACCU-PROBE temperature gauge, and adjustable smoke control, it ensures perfect results every time. 

Featuring a durable stainless steel rotisserie ring with additional hanging bar for fish and sausages, versatility is this BBQ’s middle name. Also, the silicone sealed probe port and its large insulated door handles offer safety and precision alongside incredible ease of use. The 304 stainless steel cooking grids, adjustable vents, and locking caster wheels ensure that the Apollo delivers seamless cooking and effortless transport.

Offered in both 18 and 22 inch sizes, The APOLLO SMOKER RANGE range is set to fit any budget and any outside space. This three-tiered tower of smoky delight is set to propel BBQers across the UK to new heights and new skill levels. Great for beginners and pros alike, this affordable and versatile BBQ is the ideal essential or the indispensable added extra along with its 10 Year Guarantee to certify its quality and longevity.

Napoleon products and ranges are stocked in specialist BBQ retailers and garden centres across the UK and Ireland and Northern Ireland and a list of where to shop can be found here. For all product details please visit:https://www.napoleon.com/en/uk/barbecues/product-search.

STIGA is launching nine new autonomous robot mowers featuring STIGA Vista Technology. The innovative AI-driven camera and new Antenna-FREE feature make these mowers smarter, faster, and easier to use than ever — delivering a perfectly healthy lawn with zero effort.

Intelligent, Fully Autonomous Mowing

At the heart of the range is STIGA Vista Technology, a new AI-driven on-board camera that allows the robots to see and understand their surroundings. The system distinguishes grass in all shapes and colours from non-grass surfaces and navigates safely around fixed or moving obstacles, ensuring continuous mowing with minimal interruptions. Equipped with HDR global shutter technology, robust aluminium housing, and Gorilla Glass protection, the camera guarantees accuracy and durability, while a front LED light enhances visibility when needed. STIGA’s Active Guidance System (AGS) analyses satellite signal quality in real time, optimising mowing sessions even under unstable conditions. Now powered by a quad-band RTK-GNSS engine that provides stronger GPS reception, the robot offers extreme navigation accuracy and smoother operation, even in challenging environments such as under trees or near buildings, ensuring reliable and precise performance. The new Antenna-FREE featureremoves the need for cables or reference stations, allowing flexible placement of the charging base and faster, simpler setup — maximising the device’s productivity with minimal effort.

Precision Cutting for Healthier Lawns

STIGA robot mowers combine advanced cutting systems with gentle daily mulching, promoting a softer, healthier, and more resilient lawn. Their organised and systematic patterns allow for stripes, grids, or seamless coverage, adapting automatically to different garden layouts. Smart sensors make the robots weather-aware, avoiding mowing in wet conditions or unnecessary passes. The result is a perfectly even, meticulously maintained lawn that requires no extra effort from the user.

Built to last, designed to perform

Every model in the new range is built to last. High-quality components, a floating protective shell, and lightweight yet durable construction ensure resilience against impacts, weather, and UV exposure. The minimalist, compact design blends seamlessly into any outdoor space, delivering a discreet, elegant presence. 

Powered by STIGA’s ePower battery, the robots operate quietly and efficiently, combining long-lasting performance with lower energy consumption — making lawn care both sustainable and stress-free.

Simple App Control and Effortless Maintenance

All robots are fully controllable through the award-winning STIGA.GO App (Red Dot Design Award 2025), which offers intuitive setup, monitoring, and customisation. Users can start, pause, schedule, or adjust mowing sessions from anywhere, receiving real-time notifications and guidance. Maintenance is straightforward: accessible components, easy cleaning, and the support of STIGA’s expert dealer network ensure quick servicing and optional upgrades, including accessories like the Climb & Mud Kitfor enhanced traction on challenging terrain.

Models for Every Garden

The new range covers all types of outdoor spaces, from 600 m² up to 14,000 m², and includes the following models: A 6v, A 8v, A 10v, A 15v, A 25v, A 50v, A 100v, and A 140v. With the launch of this next-generation range, STIGA sets a new benchmark in smart lawn care, offering autonomous mowing that is not only efficient and precise but effortless and enjoyable for both residential and professional users and for any garden size. 

The new mowers are available for purchase via the STIGA website and authorised dealers, with prices ranging from RRP £1,199 for the A6v to RRP £6,499 for the A 140v. To learn more about the range at www.stiga.com/uk/robot-lawn-mower-ai-camera-technology

The Spring Fair of PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt took place on 3 and 4 February. Despite persistent cold weather across much of Europe, the atmosphere on the trade fair floor was one of great confidence. With visitor numbers matching the previous record year and stable sales at the sample fair, the organisation looks back with satisfaction on the kick-off of the new garden plant season.  

Board member Hans Cok confirms the positive market signals: “We see that demand for outdoor plants remains as strong as ever. Turnover at the GROEN-Direkt sample fair was practically equal to last year, and webshop orders are currently still pouring in. This indicates significant confidence among buyers who – despite the cold – are fully ready to provide consumers with greenery in the coming weeks.”

The combination of approximately 175 exhibitors at PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt and the GROEN-Direkt sample fair proved once again to be a powerful draw. Visitors praised the opportunity to physically compare products and purchase directly—an aspect increasingly valued by the trade in an ever-more digital world.   

Inspiration for the Retail Sector

The fair attracted a diverse audience from across Europe. A highlights was the visit of 70 garden centre employees at the invitation of Tuinbranche Nederland. They participated in a special programme of informative and inspiring sessions focused on current themes and product innovations, underscoring the fair’s role as the premier platform for knowledge sharing within garden plant retail.

Helleborus ‘Frostkiss Rhythm Pink’ Wins Green Retail Award 

A major highlight was the announcement of the Visitor’s Favourite. This year, trade visitors chose the Helleborus Frostkiss Rhythm Pink (Winter Angels) from Kwekerij Verboom BV. The plant was praised for its deep pink flowers and strikingly marbled foliage, which offers high ornamental value even outside the blooming period. The victory of this hardy novelty highlights the trend of consumers increasingly seeking colour and structure in the early spring garden.

New Exhibitors and International Focus

The fair continues to grow in diversity with new exhibitors using PLANTARIUM|GROEN-Direkt to expand their market reach. Alongside established names, the presence of young entrepreneurs and new growers with fresh product groups provided a dynamic energy. Interest from international markets, including Central and Eastern Europe, remained consistently high, reinforcing the event's position as the leading European trade fair for garden plants.

The 2030 Assortment

In the Green Future Hub, the spotlight was on ‘The 2030 Assortment’. This session explored which plants and products are essential ot he future, considering changing climatic conditions and sustainability requirements. Visitors discovered how growers and breeders are already responding ot he challenges of the near future to ensure a relevant and resilient range. Visitors also shared their own ideas, looking not only at climate and sustainability but also at the evolving consumer.

Autumn Edition on 26 and 27 August

Following this successful Spring Fair, the organisation is preparing for the Autumn Edition, which will take place on 26 and 27 August 2026. While the spring fair focuses on direct trade for the upcoming season, the August edition traditionally places more emphasis on forward trading and strengthening relationships. This edition will again be combined with an extensive GROEN-Direkt sample fair. In the meantime, exhibitors and visitors can already register for the upcoming fairs. For garden plant buyers, GROEN-Direkt offers a weekly refreshed range of garden plants throughout the season via its sample fairs and webshop.

BHETA is to host a webinar with Walmart – the world’s largest retailer on 26th February at 10.30 am. The event follows Walmart’s opening of a new office in London in the autumn to support the growing numbers of British businesses expanding to the US market via Walmart.com – Walmart’s online marketplace.  

The key speaker will be Rufus Bazley, Senior Manager, Partnerships (EMEA), who has over 18 years of experience at leading companies like easyJet Holidays, BusinessesForSale.com, eBay, and UNiDAYS.

Rufus will offer a unique perspective on how partnerships underpin marketplaces and drive scalable growth for sellers. Based in London, he specialises in helping sellers expand their sales through strategic collaboration. In this webinar, Rufus will share insights into how Walmart Marketplace can serve as a powerful channel for reaching U.S. customers and unlocking new market opportunities.  

The agenda will include:

• Details of Walmart’s localised support model and long-term investment in European sellers
• Walmart’s latest marketplace innovations
• Market intelligence on growth opportunities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Chile
• Advice on how to get started on the marketplace.

BHETA’s Housewares Sector Manager, Seema Grantham commented, “The chance to speak directly to Walmart is obviously a great opportunity and we are expecting an excellent turn-out.”

To register for the event  or for more information contact the BHETA Member Services team on 0121 237 1130 or follow the BHETA website link at Webinar with Walmart Marketplace. More details of BHETA events which include webinars, Meet The Buyer events and networking forums with leading retailers can also be found on the BHETA website. 

The Horticultural Trades Association has launched its Welsh Environmental Horticulture Manifesto, setting out clear priorities for a future Welsh Government to better support gardens, green spaces and the businesses that help communities across Wales grow and thrive.

Environmental horticulture is a vital but often overlooked part of the Welsh economy. The sector contributes £1.8 billion to Wales's GDP and supports around 37,000 jobs, with the potential to grow further by 2030. From garden centres and nurseries to landscaping, plant production and garden tourism, the sector underpins wellbeing, biodiversity and climate resilience in communities across the nation.

The manifesto calls for a more joined-up, cross-government approach, recognising that gardens and green spaces contribute directly to Welsh Government priorities on health, education, the environment and the economy, in line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.

Key asks:

• Recognise the value of gardens and green spaces by developing a Horticulture Strategy.
• Establish an Environmental Horticulture and Green Spaces Group to enhance cross-departmental working.
• Ringfence funds for green spaces to protect against shortfalls or budget cuts in project delivery.
• Improve police response times in rural locations and simplify the reporting processes for businesses.
• Raise the threshold for the higher business rates multiplier and apply it to sites with a Rateable Value of over £500,000.
• Implement consistent kerbside collections across Wales and include recyclable non-black plastic plant pots.
• Improve financial support for environmental horticulture businesses.
• Unlock barriers and deliver consistency in planning applications for environmental horticulture businesses.
• Develop an action plan for ornamental and productive plant and tree production to support UK-based plant production. 
• Introduce a Statutory Requirement to ‘Grow Plants’ into the Curriculum for Wales.
• Build on the UK Government’s Jobs Guarantee Scheme and go further with employment support for Welsh businesses.

Katie Neenan, HTA Senior Public Affairs and Policy Executive, said: “Environmental horticulture already delivers against many of the Welsh Government’s priorities, from public health and education to sustainability and economic growth. This manifesto sets out practical, achievable actions to help the sector do even more while supporting communities across Wales. We’re looking forward to discussing these proposals with Members of the Senedd in the months ahead.”

HTA members across Wales report rising costs and regulatory pressures that are limiting their ability to invest and grow, particularly among SMEs, which make up the vast majority of the sector in Wales. The manifesto highlights practical actions the Welsh Government could take to create the right conditions for sustainable growth while delivering environmental and social outcomes.

The manifesto builds on the HTA’s Welsh Growth Strategy and engagement with the Welsh Government and stakeholders across the sector. It provides a constructive blueprint for how environmental horticulture can help Wales meet its ambitions on wellbeing, sustainability and economic growth.

Katie Eckley, Operations Director at Old Railway Line Garden Centre and an HTA member in the Wye Valley, said:

“A strong focus on the positive story around horticulture, particularly its impact on wellbeing, the climate and biodiversity, would be really welcome. There are powerful messages here, and it feels like the right time to share them and present some relatively easy wins for the Welsh Government to champion.

A Welsh-language version of the Welsh Environmental Horticulture Manifesto is also available. The HTA will formally present the manifesto to Members of the Senedd at a dedicated Senedd event hosted by Mark Isherwood MS next month, allowing MSs to hear directly from businesses and organisations working across Wales.

The Welsh Environmental Horticulture Manifesto is available at: hta.org.uk/policy/wales

Following a successful inaugural event in 2024, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is pleased to announce the return of FutureGrow Expo later this year, which is now open for bookings.

FutureGrow Expo 2026: Nursery of the Future will take place on 6 October 2026 at NAEC Stoneleigh. This event focuses on strategic investment in mechanisation, automation and technologies that are essential for businesses aiming to remain competitive in the coming years.

Environmental horticulture crop production in the UK, including supply to forestry, is worth £1.7 billion per year. In 2024, FutureGrow Expo was attended by UK growers and plant producers who account for around a quarter of the value (£400m) of UK tree and plant production.

FutureGrow Expo 2026: Nursery of the Future will showcase innovative technologies and products, and feature demonstrations to help transform business productivity and sustainability. The event also promises to be a rich source of knowledge and inspiration, with engaging presentations bringing together senior business leaders and purchasing decision-makers from production management and technical disciplines. There will also be plenty of time and space for networking.

Wayne Brough, Technical Horticulture Manager at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said:

"Following the positive feedback we received at our 2024 FutureGrow Expo, I am delighted that we are able to return this year with the latest innovations relevant to the environmental horticultural industry, showcasing new and emerging mechanisation, automation and technologies that can significantly enhance sustainable production for businesses.

“This event offers UK growers and manufacturers an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders and explore or present cutting-edge technologies and solutions that will elevate businesses and create nurseries of the future.”

Exhibitor and visitor registration is now open. To find out more, visit: hta.org.uk/futuregrow

Owners and managers of thousands of historic parks and gardens, from Chatsworth to Kew, are being encouraged to take part in a new survey into how climate change is affecting them.

Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund are commissioning new UK-wide research into how climate change is impacting historic landscapes, parks and gardens. We’re keen to hear from people managing historic gardens like Chatsworth, Sissinghurst, Powis Castle, Hillsborough Castle, Princes Street Gardens and Kew Gardens. Historic gardens employ over 32,000 people and contribute £2.9bn annually to the UK economy from international visitors alone. But these jewels of garden history are on the front line of climate change, with several already impacted by more abundant droughts, floods, high temperatures, new pests, new diseases and more frequent and violent storms.

The UK has over 2,700 historic landscapes, parks and gardens officially registered, but there is little guidance available for their owners and managers on how to adapt and prepare for escalating climate events. The new research will explore how these landscapes are being maintained and managed in response to the current threats and will develop a plan for what guidance and resources managers and owners need to plan and deal with them.

Drew Bennellick, Head of Land, Sea and Nature Policy at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: ‘The UK is the home of gardening and our historic landscapes, parks and gardens are world-renowned. We know some larger organisations are actively engaged in mitigation and adaptation for the future, but we want to find out if owners and managers are responding in a planned and managed way and if not, what help and support they might need.’

In January’s Storm Goretti, the historic garden at St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall lost 80% of its trees and Trewithen Gardens lost 25% of its mature trees, some of which were thought to be around 250 years old.  They join an increasing list of historic gardens which have suffered severe damage including The Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh, Mount Stewart in County Down, Cragside in Northumberland and Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire.   

The survey will help to provide an understanding of the current picture, drive the creation of new guidance and inform the Heritage Fund’s future approach to supporting historic landscapes, parks and gardens. Since 1994 the Heritage Fund has awarded over £2.2billion of National Lottery and other funding to 5,100 land, sea and nature projects across the UK. 

Gemma Woodfall from Historic England said: ‘While many historic buildings across the country are starting to prepare for the effects of climate change, we don’t know how many landscape and garden managers are preparing positively for the arguably more severe changes on their historic landscapes, parks and gardens. Our research will help to understand what gaps in support and guidance we need to fill.’

The survey can be found here: Tell us: is your historic park or garden prepared for the climate crisis? | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers Limited incorporating Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA will no longer be trading with immediate effect. Post pandemic it became increasingly clear that it was an uphill struggle to get the Federation on a firm financial footing to continue to offer a value service to members.  

The Federation team have worked tirelessly to improve the situation and to continue to provide export advice and services to British businesses. However, the perfect storm of Brexit, the pandemic and President Trump’s market disruptions have made that task extremely difficult. The Federation has lost all semblance of financial support from the government over the years which has had a detrimental effect on many British businesses in our sector who want to explore exporting options. 

Certain industry leading lights stepped up to join as Patron members paying more than their share to try to assist. Their support was invaluable over the last 6 months. 

Exhibition bookings made through PetQuip for Interzoo 2026 will now be handled directly by the Interzoo show organiser and any company deposits and payments have been passed to Interzoo. Bookings are safe and exhibitors will be contacted by the show organiser in due course. They will receive a separate email shortly with contact details and further information. 

For the future, Prairie Limited will be working closely with Interzoo in order to offer the UK pet sector overseas exhibition services going forwards. They will also be taking over the operation and delivery of the Annual PetQuip Awards which will be renamed The Pet Excellence Awards. 
 
GIMA will be offering a new export member service, providing exporting support to their members. Gardenex members will be contacted shortly so that the remaining term of their membership will be transferred to GIMA. 

This is a very sad day for the industry. Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA have been stalwarts of their relative sectors helping hundreds (if not thousands) of businesses to generate millions in export income for the UK over the years.  
 
The Federation Team wish all the members every success in their businesses.  

Toro U.K. Limited, home of the iconic British lawnmower brand Hayter, appeared on BBC’s Inside the Factory on Tuesday 3 February 2026, at 8.00 pm. In Season 10 on BBC One, presenters Paddy McGuinness and Cherry Healey go behind the scenes at the Hertfordshire factory to discover how the famous Hayter Harrier mower is made.

Filmed over three days, Paddy follows the full build journey—from raw materials to assembly of the finished rear-roller mower—and even tests his craftsmanship by mowing his own lawn stripe.

Founded in 1946 by Douglas Hayter, the brand celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. What began in a small workshop in Spellbrook with a handmade rotary mower has grown into a British engineering success story. Toro U.K.’s Spellbrook factory which produces thousands of mowers each year for both homeowners and professional users worldwide. Hayter received its first Royal Warrant in 1960, a seal of approval it continues to hold today, now granted by His Majesty King Charles III.

The Harrier, first launched by Douglas Hayter in 1970 and still going strong 55 years later, takes centre stage in the episode, showcasing the craftsmanship that has sustained its popularity for over half a century. Viewers will follow Paddy through each stage of its build as components are laser‑cut, welded, painted and assembled on the production line, before the finished mowers are dispatched across the UK and Ireland—from Inverness to Penzance.

Craig Hoare, Sales & Marketing Manager, Toro U.K. said: “We’re extremely proud to feature on BBC’s Inside the Factory. The Harrier is a much‑loved mower with fans across the country, and it was a pleasure to welcome Paddy, Cherry and the film crew to show how it’s made.”

About Toro U.K. Limited

Toro U.K. Limited (UK subsidiary of The Toro Company), is the UK manufacturer of the Hayter & Toro brands. It has been designing and producing premium quality lawn care products at its headquarters in Hertfordshire since 1946 and celebrates its 80th year in business in 2026. Toro U.K. Limited products are used by homeowners and professional contractors across the UK. With a choice of electric and petrol products in a range of sizes, there is a mower suitable for most gardens. 

Toro U.K. Limited is proud to be part of the Made in Britain campaign and for the Hayter brand to have continuously held the Royal Warrant for the supply of horticultural equipment, now officially awarded by His Majesty the King, since 1960.

STV has acquired the intellectual property and assets of Wildlife World, including both the consumer and commercial supply divisions. 

Wildlife World was founded in 1998 and grew to be the UK’s foremost designer and manufacturer of sustainable wildlife products.

The consumer range includes habitats and feeders for insects, birds and mammals and more recently the business has expanded into educational and commercial designs which are installed in hotels, schools and hospitals and housing developments.

STV will relocate the business, including UK manufacturing, to their site in Norfolk.

Edwin Allingham said: “I’ve known the founder, Norman Sellers, for many years and have admired his innovative designs, manufacturing quality, ethical sourcing, and customer service excellence.

"These values fit well with those of STV, and I am looking forward to adding our established and successful operations, sales, customer service and marketing teams to the already well known and respected Wildlife World brand.”

Lows, your dedicated and trusted ISO 9001 registered wholesale importers, unveil over 600 brand-new products at Spring Fair 2026. Alongside an exciting new stand layout, their latest collections promise a fresh and inspiring showcase across all of their brands.

Visitors can expect a wide and diverse range of new designs from Plazzo Planters, Glenweave, Artisan Weave, Buri Art, Classic Lanterns, Seasons Deco, and The Vintage Reindeer Company-all thoughtfully developed to meet current trends and customer demand.

Lows look forward to welcoming their valued long-standing customers and new visitors to their stand at Spring Fair, where innovation, quality, and inspiration come together.

www.lows.co.uk

Sipcam Home & Garden is delighted to begin 2026 with two significant developments that reflect the company’s strong momentum and continued growth in the UK home and garden care market.

The business has officially moved into a new office within Derwent Business Centre, but with a considerably larger footprint. The expanded space provides the capacity needed to support a growing team, improve collaboration, and create a more efficient working environment. In addition, the new office includes a showroom that shows off the full Sipcam Home & Garden product and point of sale offering, ideal for hosting customers. This move marks an important step forward as the company continues to scale its operations and strengthen its service to retailers nationwide.

Alongside the office expansion, Sipcam Home & Garden is pleased to welcome Coralia Maingene as Supply Chain Assistant. With the company’s customer base increasing year on year, additional resource within the buying department has become essential. Coralia’s appointment will support the team in managing procurement, maintaining stock flow, and ensuring the business continues to deliver the high level of service its partners expect.

Outside of work, Coralia is most often seen out and about with her family, enjoying walks, exploring the outdoors, or heading to the cinema. Speaking about her new role, she said:“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Sipcam Home & Garden, and I am looking forward to getting to know the team, working together to supply the best service to our customers.”

Sipcam Home & Garden continues to build a strong presence in the market through a diverse and innovative brand portfolio. The company owns and distributes a range of trusted names across garden care, pet deterrents and household solutions. Their portfolio includes ecofective®, a leading child and pet safe gardening range; Fito®, specialists in houseplant care, and GET OFF® a well‑established pet training and deterrent brand. Sipcam Home & Garden are also the UK retail distributor for Block Blitz®, who offer the ultimate patio care range which includes weedkillers and outdoor cleaning technology. Together, these brands give retailers a compelling mix of sustainability, performance, and consumer appeal.

With a new office, new talent, and a powerful brand line‑up, Sipcam Home & Garden is entering 2026 with ambition and welcome the trade to see their full brand portfolio at their new facility. Please contact the team at enquiries@sipcamhg.co.uk to book in a meeting today.

Retailers attending Spring Fair this year are reporting a renewed sense of energy, scale and confidence across the show floor, with many highlighting the buzz, atmosphere and overall experience as clear signs of positive change.

As Spring Fair draws to a close, the message from those on the show floor is consistent. From the moment doors opened, retailers have spoken about the experience, the look and feel of the show, and the sense that Spring Fair has regained its momentum.

Jackson Szabo, Portfolio Director Spring Fair said, “The buzz at Spring Fair this year has been incredible. Welcoming 40,000 visitors from 124 countries, the feedback on the refreshed look and feel, new destinations and immersive experiences has been overwhelmingly positive. With 86% of visitors holding purchasing power and 81% of buyers placing or planning to place orders, it’s clear that Spring Fair is where retail comes to do business, spark creativity and shape what’s next. Providing the ideas, partnerships and momentum retailers need to move their businesses forward with confidence, the show brought together a global retail community. If you weren’t here, you really missed something special.”

Collectively, the sentiment across Spring Fair 2026 reflects a show that feels energised, busy and firmly forward-looking, with retailers repeatedly referencing the transformation they are seeing and experiencing across the event. This year, Spring Fair welcomed thousands of buyers from leading retailers including B&M Retail, Hamleys, Associated Independent Stores, Baldwins, British Garden Centres, Frasers Group, Deichmann UK, Dobbies Garden Centres, Hoopers, Costco, Currys, Morrisons, HMV, B&Q, Sainsbury, Argos, Habitat, Fenwick, Englih Heritage, F Hinds, WHSmith, ALDI, Jarrolds, DeGruchys, Kew Gardens, Meaghers Pharmacy Group, TJX Europe, Anthropologie, Blue Diamond, Hillier, Card Factory, DFS, Tesco, Waterstones, Peacocks, NEXT, Hobbycraft, Scribbler, Robert Dyas, TK Maxx, The National Trust, World Duty Free, Haskins Garden Centre, and more, alongside thousands of independent retailers, interior designers, architects and garden centres, as well as buying groups from across Europe.

The scale and momentum of the show were reinforced by a 30% growth in new brands, a 8% rise in new exhibitors, 20% more international brands and a 10% increase in small businesses taking part. With over 1 million products on display – 38% of them exclusive to the show – and more than 100 expert speakers delivering insight and inspiration, Spring Fair 2026 has firmly positioned itself as the definitive retail destination for discovery, connection and growth.

These figures support the positive response that has been reflected on the floor throughout the show, that Spring Fair feels bigger, busier and more vibrant, with strong engagement across categories. The story of Spring Fair this year is best told by the retailers themselves, those who have spent time buying, discovering new brands and reconnecting with the industry in person.

Ray Clacher, Chief Executive, Morleys Department Stores spoke at The Hidden Forum and said, “It's been a few years since I've been to Spring Fair, and it's been far too long. Just walking through the show, it’s everything retail is about. The show is curated and there’s something for everybody which is unbelievably good. I encourage anybody who wants to be entrepreneurial to come. The jewellery brands here are fantastic. It's all here, come and have a look yourself - if you don’t you are missing out because there’s beautiful products. Our buying teams are here, we’re seeing some great things across the Halls, and we’re excited to order here at the show and afterwards.”

Andrew Xeni, Founder and CEO / Founder and Chairman, Fabacus, Nobody’s Child and Soreto spoke on a variety of subjects including sustainability, diversification, data, digital passports and licensing. “It was a pleasure to support Spring Fair again this year and the energy at the show was fantastic. As both a technology vendor and retailer, it’s a great opportunity to see the emerging trends across so many categories from such an incredibly diverse group of innovative suppliers, and a way to stay close to the community, to better understand their challenges.”

For Samantha Gibbons of Nest, Spring Fair 2026 was about sourcing new products, making connections, learning and supporting the wider retail community. Reflecting on her time at the show, Samantha described the experience as “a real joy and a privilege”, particularly through her involvement in the mentoring programme alongside Steven Spencer & Associates. “The response was incredible, we were fully booked, with people leaving inspired, energised and ready to take action,” she said. Many of the conversations she had were with new and early-stage businesses, often feeling overwhelmed by the realities of building a brand.

This highlights the evolving role of Spring Fair beyond traditional buying. “Spring Fair is not just about buying; it plays an important role in education, confidence-building and helping businesses, new and established, find clarity and direction. The breadth of businesses here is staggering, and the way Spring Fair brings knowledge, experience and community together genuinely supports the future of retail.” Alongside mentoring, buying remains a core part of Samantha’s show experience. “Buying at Spring Fair is absolutely fundamental to how I plan and grow my business,” she explained. “You never see everything, even after years of attending, but the value is in spending the time, looking closely, talking to people and uncovering the stories behind the products.” The impact of the show is clear: “Trade shows like this are far more than inspirational; they’re essential. They bring people, products and ideas together in a way that simply isn’t possible digitally.”

For Michael Apter, Managing Director of Edinburgh-based retailer Paper Tiger, Spring Fair remains the most important buying event in the calendar, and a critical moment for shaping the year ahead. Trading for 45 years with four physical stores and a growing online business, Paper Tiger uses Spring Fair as its main platform for sourcing across cards, stationery and gifts. “Spring Fair is probably our biggest show of the year in terms of buying,” Michael explained. This year alone, Michael spent four days at the show alongside a dedicated buyer for three days, investing a full week into sourcing and relationship-building. “It’s a significant amount of time, money and effort for a small business to put into this fair, but we feel it’s worth it because we see so many of the people that we work with. It’s setting the agenda for the rest of the year.”

For Paper Tiger, Spring Fair is also where Christmas begins. “On the final day of the show, it’s Christmas at Paper Tiger. We spend two or three days doing research and placing some orders. It’s a real opportunity for us to set our stall out for what we want Christmas to look like and what the important final quarter of the year might look like.” Reflecting on Spring Fair 2026, Michael described the mood as overwhelmingly positive. “The show this year has been really engaging. The feedback has been universally positive; virtually all of the exhibitors I’ve spoken to have had a good fair.” He also noted a renewed confidence across the industry. “It feels really buoyant. You can feel it in the buzz and the noise levels in the hall. People are engaged in doing business. There’s a real quality of exhibitor here, and quality in the buyers too.”

For Michael, trade shows remain essential in a competitive and mature retail market. “There is a lot of choice, so it’s important for exhibitors to be here so that we can make those choices. If you’re not prepared to show at a show, you ought to be questioning why – because that’s where buyers are to see product.” While new brands are always welcome, he believes Spring Fair is where true differentiation happens. “You’ve got to come to a fair like Spring Fair to find the differences. Sometimes that’s new people, but the well-established suppliers with knowledge and experience are really knocking it out of the park.” And for those who didn’t attend? Michael’s message was simple: “I hope that you’ve got FOMO, because if you weren’t here, you have missed out.”

Philippa Cass, Head of Merchandising UK, Tesco Stores attended and delivered a talk on Tuesday 3rd on Tesco’s fashion success story, said, “Participating in the Style Atelier at the Spring Fair has been a fabulous experience. The enthusiasm and energy of the visitors was inspiring and it was a privilege to witness such a dynamic community come together to celebrate innovation and creativity within the retail industry. Meeting esteemed professionals like Caryn Franklin and Lauretta Roberts was a standout moment, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share insights and connect with fellow industry leaders.”

Holly Walford, Assistant Buyer, Anthropologie said, “The team recommended Spring Fair and they were right, it's a great show. It's a good size with a good variety. I see familiar faces and brands, but I also discover new ones. I feel there's a lot more going on at Spring Fair than people realise. I would absolutely recommend it."

Kate Aslangul, Founder, Oakley Moore, an interior designer who visited for the first time for the new Design sector and joined a panel talk on the Design Studio said, “I was genuinely impressed by the scale and variety of what’s on offer at Spring Fair. Even from a quick walk through Hall 6, there’s a real depth of design-led brands and ideas. As a designer, staying curious and discovering new suppliers is essential, and this is exactly the kind of environment that sparks ideas you can take straight back into practice.”

Samantha Buck, Senior Buyer at Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire said, “Spring Fair is so important for us to attend to source new products for our retail outlets, and it's been fantastic as it covers all exhibitors from gift, interiors, fashion, jewellery and accessories. It is always lovely to connect and build upon existing relationships at the show, as well as network and find new suppliers, to help enhance our business. We always find something new and interesting at Spring Fair. It is a key trade show where we do the majority of our gift buying as well as our orders for Christmas.”

Louise from 23 Living, Marlow said, “I absolutely love Spring Fair, it’s so important to be able to see our suppliers year after year, season after season, but also to discover new brands. Trade shows are vital for that – you need to see the products in person, connect with the people behind the brand, and really feel it. It’s so different from buying online. We’ve had a great time and even signed up with a brand we’ve been following for a while, as well as discovering some exciting new ones.”

Exhibitors Highlight the Opportunity & Energy

Exhibitors have similarly highlighted the quality of conversations, types and breadth of buyers, and the overall energy on the floor expressing how vital Spring Fair is to the success of their businesses.

David Byk of Ling Design

“Spring Fair has been absolutely amazing for us. Sunday was a record-breaking day and we exceeded our targets, finishing 11% up on last year. Footfall has been strong, customers are engaged and happy, and we couldn’t be more pleased with how the show is performing. We rebooked before we got here for next year, but even if we hadn’t, the strength of the show would have made it an easy decision.”

Claudia Bovingdon, Director of Coach House                           

“Spring Fair has been incredibly busy for us – at points we’ve barely been able to move on the stand, which is a great position to be in. We’re very pro-fair and pro-exhibition, and Spring Fair is something we work towards all year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see so many customers in one place, reconnect with people we may only see once a year, and strengthen existing partnerships while forming new ones. With some customers unable to travel to our Northwest showroom, Spring Fair is a vital chance to catch up and talk through pre-orders face to face.”

Stephen Illingworth, Widdop & Co

“The show has been excellent, there’s a real buzz and a much more positive feeling about where the market is heading compared to last year. We’ve met the majority of the people we wanted to see. The new Widdop Village concept has made a huge difference for us; it’s shifted the perception of what Widdop & Co is about, which is exactly what I wanted to achieve. It’s felt really buoyant and I’m genuinely excited for the year ahead.”

Charlotte Broadbent, International Marketing and Partnerships Director, Faire

“Spring Fair 2026 has been a standout experience for Faire, and we are so proud to be growing our partnership with Hyve bigger than ever for our customers. This year, we connected with more customers face to face than ever before, and as a digital business those in-person conversations are incredibly meaningful. The energy at the show has been really positive about the year ahead in retail, and we have learned a huge amount by listening closely to customers. We are here to answer questions, share our latest Faire forecast and trend insights, and help buyers discover new products, whether they have been ordering on Faire for years or are discovering us for the very first time.”

Emma Lawrence, Director, Emma Lawrence Designs Ltd        

“I'm usually here as a visitor, seeing my different licensee that exhibit at the show, but when they came up the idea to have a licensing area,  I thought it's a chance to showcase all my designs. The show has been fantastic for me, I’m completely overwhelmed by the response that I've had, not just in the licensing, but in the retail side of things has been really beneficial. There has been a lot of discussions about working together or doing things collaboratively, which is really important and Spring Fair has given me those opportunities.”

For those attending, the experience speaks for itself. But for anyone who chose not to come the message from the show floor is clear: Spring Fair has rediscovered its buzz, and this year’s event has delivered an experience that many say they wouldn’t want to miss.

Looking to The Future

Fay Tranter, Event Director of Spring Fair looks ahead to 2027, “Spring Fair 2026 has been an incredible milestone for us. The energy across the halls, the quality of buyers and brands, and the feedback from the industry have all reinforced that Spring Fair is not just a trade show, it’s an experience. We’ve seen real momentum in how people want to engage, connect and discover, and that transformation is something we’re fully committed to building on. Looking ahead to 2027, our strategy is focused on deepening that experience even further, with more immersive content, stronger communities, and even more opportunities for meaningful connections that genuinely support retail growth.”

Voice of Retail – Shining a Light on the Future of Retail

This week Spring Fair and Faire launched Voice of Retail - a landmark initiative designed to put retailers at the centre of the conversation about the future of UK retail and give them the microphone to express their needs.

Built on insight from thousands of retailers across the UK, Voices of Retail will shine a light on how businesses are navigating change, collaborating, and finding new ways to drive growth, moving beyond the tired narrative of decline to focus on innovation, resilience, and community. The result will be a first-of-its-kind report setting the agenda for UK retail in 2026 and beyond, grounded in real experience from the retailers shaping the industry every day.

You can still have your say. Visit Take part now: [Link] The questionnaire closes on 2 March 2026.

Finalists in the Gift of the Year competition were on display at Spring Fair this week, and in the Garden & Outdoor category, several new products caught our eye.

The Cardboard Vase Sleeve by IF is a novel way of giving plastic bottles a second life as a vase. Slipping a bottle, from a small 250ml up to 2 litre into the decorative sleeve completely hides it and there is a choice of six designs. Made from recycled card, they have an RRP of £4.99 so are an affordable option and perfect gift idea for sending in the post.

The same company also entered Flower Bookmarks in 12 bright designs. Made from faux leather and with a hand painted look, they are decorated on both sides and retail at £5.99.

In the Festive & Occasions, Heaven Sends entered its UK and Ireland Glass Hanging Books. Each decoration looked like a small book of folklore or fairy tales, with a subtle glitter finish and velvet ribbon for hanging. RRP £7.99.

The Meg Hawkins Indulgence Collection of hand wash, lotion, soap and creams, is wrapped in packages beautifully decorated by illustrations by Meg. Sitting perfectly in any garden centre display, the range includes the ever-popular highland cow, fungi and birds. RRP’s start at £4.99

GTN January 2026 - Christmas Awards Finalists & Sustainability Directory. In this Issue: Gardening for Good - Interview with Dr Richard Claxton, GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards – The Finalists and Customer Vote Top 50 by Regions, Adapt or Die, a new, exclusive series from international experts including John Stanley, Spring Fair Preview – Christmas exclusives, GTN’s Sustainability Directory for 2026, GIMA’s sustainability champions  , Spotlight on sustainability from the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair, Get ready for Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 20th 2026, Gold Medal Standards – GTN Planteria , Picture your Future - HTA Viewpoint.