British Garden Centres has released its latest accounts, reporting a very solid performance for 2024 despite a challenging trading year marked by difficult weather conditions. Group turnover grew by 3.6%, and profit increased by 48%. These results reflect the company’s strong operational focus and strategic management throughout a demanding year.

The business has remained comfortably profitable, with tight management of wage costs clearly reflected in the numbers but has still maintained the high level of customer service and shopping experience that the company is well known for. The Gross Profit Margin (not including wages) increased from 49% in 2023 to 52% in 2024.

Operating profit for BGC South Ltd for the year 2024 was £3.1 million. Woodthorpe Hall Garden Centres Ltd achieved an operating profit of £7.6 million.

Looking ahead to 2025, the outlook is positive for the largest family-run garden centre group, with further profit and growth expected, building on its strong performance in 2024 and supported by a healthy gross margin.

The company continues to benchmark across its 73 national sites to drive margin improvements and overall profitability.

Growth in turnover and profit remains a key focus for the Stubbs family, with confidence in delivering the necessary efficiencies to remain competitive and successful.

Amy Stubbs, Managing Director at British Garden Centres, said: “We’re very pleased with last year’s results, especially given the tough weather challenges that the country experienced. Our teams have done an excellent job managing costs without compromising the service quality. As we look to the future, we’re optimistic about continuing growth in the business and driving efficiencies forward. A big thank you is extended to all team members whose dedication and hard work have made this performance possible and positioned the business well for the years ahead.”

British Garden Centres (BGC) is the UK’s largest family-owned garden centre group with 73 centres around the country. The group is owned and led by the Stubbs family, who also own and operate Woodthorpe Leisure Park in Lincolnshire.

BGC was launched in 1990 with the opening of Woodthorpe Garden Centre by brothers Charles and Robert Stubbs. Since 2018, it has expanded rapidly with the acquisition of 50 garden centres, allowing it to grow from its heartland to the business it is now, with 73 garden centres spread from Carmarthen to Ramsgate, Wimborne to East Durham.

The group has a team of 3000 colleagues working across the garden centres, restaurants, growing nurseries, distribution centres, Woodthorpe Leisure Park, and Woody’s Restaurant & Bar

The Choice Marketing Conference got off to a flying start yesterday with 425 delegates and a record 135 suppliers in attendance.

Held at the Hinkley Island Hotel the first day’s trade show culminated in a dinner where the Choice Supplier of the Year awards were announced:

• Westland were awarded the 2025 Major Associate Sundry Supplier of the Year

• Tom Chambers won 2025 Associate Sundry Supplier of the Year

• Corby + Fellas were the 2025 Non Retail Services Supplier of the Year

• LeisureGrow won 2025 Furniture & Outdoor Living Supplier of the Year

• Smart Garden picked up the award for 2025 Giftware Supplier of the Year

• And Allensmore once again were announced as the 2025 Plant Supplier of the Year.

There were also Special Commendation Awards given to: Farplants, Bramblecrest, Premier Decorations and Woodlodge.

The evenings raffle and auction raised over £4,000 to be shared between Greenfingers Charity and The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation.

See GTN Xtra’s gallery of photos from the Conference below

The Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) is sprinkling a little extra magic into the season this year with the launch of its first-ever Charity Christmas Lunch, taking place at The Dorchester Hotel, London, on Friday 28 November 2025.

This special new festive tradition will this year raise funds for Greenfingers Charity, whose incredible work creates enchanting gardens for children’s hospices across the UK – giving children with life-limiting conditions and their families a joyful place to relax, play, and make memories together.

Guests will be welcomed into the dazzling Christmas surroundings of The Dorchester for an afternoon of fine dining, festive cheer, and fabulous fundraising. Highlights of the day will include a seasonal three-course feast, Christmas crackers and entertainment, plus a raffle bursting with wonderful prizes and a silent auction offering the opportunity to bid on exclusive treats.

“We are so excited to launch LOFA’s very first Christmas Lunch in aid of Greenfingers. It’s the perfect way to bring our industry together to celebrate the season – while helping to make a real difference for children and families who need it most,” said Gina Hinde, LOFA General Manager

Event Details

• Date: Friday 28 November 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM
• Location: The Dorchester Hotel, London

Tickets: £100 per person (individual or a full table of 12)

With just 12 tables and 81 seats left, early booking is essential – don’t let the sleigh leave without you!

Come and Join Us

• Celebrate the season at LOFA’s inaugural Christmas charity lunch
• Enjoy the sparkle and luxury of The Dorchester in full festive style
• Support Greenfingers Charity and help bring joy to children in hospices
• Take part in a raffle and silent auction packed with seasonal surprises
• Share a magical afternoon of networking, laughter, and Christmas spirit

Book Your Place

Reserve your seat or table via Eventbrite LOFA Christmas Lunch in aid of Greenfingers Charity

RocketGro are delighted to be able to share their new video, aimed at consumers, with a view to delivering key messages about the brand, the products, and the companies background in a clear and succinct manner.

Linked to QR codes on all RocketGro bags, and all POS header boards, this video will not only be pushed across social media channels, YouTube, and their own website, but be easily discovered and viewed by customers walking round garden centres or purchasing a RocketGro product by scanning these QR codes.

Managing Director Toby Thomas commented: “We are excited about our continued investment in clever marketing that gets right to the consumer. Sharing our unbeatable eco story with the customer is all part of our mission to demonstrate our genuine stand out differences when compared to competitor brands. Our values, history, journey and goals, make us unique within the growing media category. The more garden centres embrace our value proposition, the better for peoples gardens and the planet. And let’s not forget the bottom line which benefits from being able to sell our premium products at a goods in price that matches the big boys’’.

Find out more

If you want to learn more about RocketGro or are keen to discuss adding its product portfolio into your 2025/26 offering, please contact Toby Thomas (hello@rocketgro.co.uk /07936 928 981) or Andy Abraham (andy@rocketgro.co.uk / 07446 937902). View the full range and discover more about the RocketGro story at www.rocketgro.co.uk

Hot off the press from the Choice Conference 2025!

We're incredibly proud to announce the latest addition to the growing Corby + Fellas Choice portfolio: Fairweathers has chosen to implement WinRetail!

Fairweather’s is a highly respected, family-run, independent garden centre located in the picturesque village of Beaulieu, Hampshire. Celebrating 60 years of trading, they are renowned for stocking the highest quality garden plants, gifts, and accessories, alongside popular features like the award-winning Steff's Kitchen and Patrick's Patch.

This implementation will see the powerful WinRetail solution streamline operations across their comprehensive retail and hospitality offerings, further strengthening Fairweathers' position as a leading destination garden centre.

Patrick Fairweathers, Managing Director says: "The implementation has gone really well -throughout the planning stage to going live we have been very well supported with good communication and training.

"Our team are already enjoying the benefits of many of the new features including the handheld ordering in the café and kitchen screens..

"Thanks to Matt, Jacob and Jamie for their professional approach to the project!"

Check out their wonderful centre here: https://fairweathers.co.uk/

This exciting collaboration is a testament to the powerful, comprehensive solutions WinRetail brings to the retail sector and strengthens our commitment to serving the Choice membership, now almost 20 businesses in the group!

Stay tuned for more updates on this successful rollout and more to follow in the next few months!

Writer, broadcaster, former MP and Government Whip Gyles Brandreth has been revealed as a keynote speaker at the Garden Centre Association’s Annual Conference at Carden Park Chester next year (January 25-28, 2026).

Gyles, who is now a Chancellor of the University of Chester, is well-known for sporting jolly jumpers, being an expert on royalty and a regular on television and radio shows.

Ben Harrison, GCA Chairman Elect and Operations Director of Haskins Garden Centres, says: “Gyles is a ‘national treasure’ who is a regular guest on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and Radio 4’s ‘Just a Minute’. On stage he has appeared as Malvolio in ‘Twelfth Night’, Lady Bracknell in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ as well as in his own musical revue in London’s West End.

“On TV he has featured in ‘Have I Got News For You’, ‘QI’, ‘Would I Lie to You’, ‘Pointless’, ‘Countdown’ and ‘Celebrity Gogglebox’. His novels include seven Victorian murder mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as his detective and he has published two acclaimed volumes of diaries, an autobiography, ‘Odd Boy Out’, and two best-selling royal biographies.

“He is known for his witty quips and his entertaining repartee, so we’re very much looking forward to welcoming him to the podium on Tuesday, January 27 as our star-turn at our 2026 Conference, which forms part of our 60^th anniversary year celebrations. We’re sure Gyles will bring a real buzz to proceedings with his presentation, which will resonate with us all, as it’s all about happiness, which is central to everyone’s working and home lives.”

His podcasts include ‘Something Rhymes With Purple’, all about words and language, which he presented with Susie Dent of Countdown fame, ‘The Commonwealth Poetry’ podcast with his daughter Aphra, and ‘Rosebud’, in which he talks to famous people about their early memories.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, says: “We’re sure that Gyles will bring a lot of humour, as well as top tips in his presentation entitled ‘The Seven Secrets of Happiness’ and that he will send us away with smiles on our faces as we prepare for the busy spring season ahead.

“To find out more and book tickets, please go to the conference pages on our website members’ section or via https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/. There is also a dedicated email conference@gca.org.ukfor any queries anyone may have. If non-members would like to join us, so they can attend, please email info@gca.org.uk.”  

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

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

The 2026 GCA Conference takes place at Carden Park Chester from January 25 until 28.

For further information and to book tickets for the 2026 GCA Conference, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Dobbies Garden Centres has announced a new partnership with Pennies, the UK’s leading micro-donation charity, enabling customers to make a 25p charity donation when paying by card or digital wallet at the garden centre till points.

Launched during World Alzheimer’s Month, the introduction of Pennies offers Dobbies customers a simple, affordable way to contribute to Alzheimer’s Research UK every time they shop.

The launch builds on a series of activations over the course of the awareness month including the launch of a charity bulb collection, where £5 is donated from every pack sold; Dobbies colleagues running the Berlin Marathon; as well as donations collected from autumn, Halloween and Christmas event bookings. Dobbies colleagues and customers have raised over £30,000 since the launch of the Alzheimer’s Research UK partnership in March this year. 

David Robinson, CEO of Dobbies and official Pennies ambassador, said: “We know that Alzheimer’s Research UK is a cause that resonates with our customers, and we wanted to make it as easy as possible for those who would like to donate. 

“Pennies has a proven track record in offering a safe, simple and affordable way for customers to donate in store, and we’re excited to see the impact we can have by offering this. Our aim is to contribute to groundbreaking research to find a cure for dementia. If 1,000 of our customers feel able to make a 25p donation, that will fund 28 hours of vital dementia research, which really would make a difference.”

Since its launch in 2010, Pennies has enabled more than 286 million micro-donations across the UK, turning digital pennies into millions of pounds for good causes.

Commenting on the partnership, CEO of Pennies, Alison Hutchinson CBE, added: “Welcoming Dobbies into the Pennies family means more customers will have the chance to give a few digital pennies at the till. By making micro-donations part of the shopping experience, Dobbies is opening up an easy and affordable way for people to support Alzheimer’s Research UK while doing their everyday shopping. It’s small change, but it adds up to a big impact.”

Peter Halewood, Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Dementia is the biggest health challenge we face today. If nothing changes, one in two of us will be directly affected by it – either by developing the condition ourselves, caring for someone with it, or both. Alzheimer’s Research UK exists to change that, but we can’t do it alone.  

“We are incredibly thankful to Dobbies and Pennies for launching this new partnership during World Alzheimer’s Month, a time when we put a spotlight on the need for a cure. This collaboration is helping us to end the heartbreak of dementia by raising vital funds and awareness.”

The Garden Centre Association has secured Evergreen Garden Care as its first headline sponsor for its 60^th anniversary year annual conference taking place in January (January 25-28, 2026).

Evergreen Garden Care has also pledged to sponsor one of the main keynote speakers for the event – retail guru, businesswoman, broadcaster, author and activist Mary Portas OBE.

GCA Chief Executive Peter Burks says: “Evergreen Garden Care is a major and well-respected supplier to many of our member garden centres and is trusted by our industry to deliver products that work for gardeners, so we’re delighted the team has agreed to play such a central role in our event again this year.

“If any other companies from the sector would still like to get involved, please get in touch with me via Peter@gca.org.uk. We have so far had a great take up for sponsorship for our 2026 annual conference, which promises to be an extra special event, as we’re celebrating our 60^th anniversary as an organisation next year too.

“So far, and it is still very early days for bookings, we’ve had more early bird delegates than normal and anticipate seeing more than 400 members, who are key decision makers in their businesses, across the three days.”

The conference also includes the body’s annual award presentations and feedback from its inspectors, as well as a plethora of industry relevant guest speakers.

The 2026 GCA Conference has ‘Growing a Better Future’, with a focus on profitability, sustainability and innovation in the industry, as its main theme.

GCA Chairman Elect and Operations Director of Haskins Garden Centres, Ben Harrison, who is organising the conference with Peter and will take over the Chairman role from Will Blake in 2026, explains: “We’ve some brilliant speakers booked for 2026, which we’ll be revealing this autumn and in up run to Christmas. So far, we’ve unveiled Mary Portas as one of our keynote speakers and are looking forward to hearing her from her with regards retail trends from across the whole retail sector. We’re delighted Evergreen Garden Care has agreed to sponsor her too.

“All of the elements we’re bringing together will help create an excellent event with some great opportunities for everyone to get together to share best practice and to socialise as well.”

The GCA’s  2026 annual conference is at the Carden Park Chester and Mary Portas will take to the stage on Tuesday, January 27 (January 25-28, 2026).

Colin Stephens, Managing Director, Evergreen Garden Care UK says: “Mary Portas is an iconic and visionary voice in how to build sustainable growth with brilliant retail experiences – aligning brilliantly with Evergreen’s 2030 Category Vision to unlock long term growth in garden care. She is a powerful, inspiring speaker not to be missed.

“The GCA’s ambition and commitment to foster growth, progress and set the bar for exceptional retail experiences across garden centres nationwide is both inspiring and impactful.

“Evergreen is delighted to support the Annual Conference where the highest industry standards are set and celebrated, and thought leaders bring thought provoking insight to members. We look forward to what is going to be a brilliant line up across the conference in 2026.”

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

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

Tickets for the 2026 Annual Conference and 60^th anniversary celebration are now on sale via the members’ section on the GCA’s website or via https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/.

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

The Leisure & Outdoor Furniture Association (LOFA) has announced the return of its Sales Academy in 2026, following the success of its inaugural programme in 2025.

Developed in partnership with Metamorphose, the Sales Academy is designed to sharpen sales skills, build confidence, and enhance performance across LOFA’s membership. The programme blends interactive modules with personalised coaching, giving participants hands-on support to embed proven sales techniques into their day-to-day roles.

“Last year’s Sales Academy proved to be hugely successful, with outstanding feedback from participants and member companies alike,” said Gina Hinde, General Manager of LOFA. “Continuing the Academy for a second year was the natural next step and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to equipping members with the skills and expertise they need to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.”

Open to all LOFA members, the Academy highlights LOFA’s dedication to developing future leaders and ensuring businesses remain agile in a rapidly evolving sector.

This year’s academy participants come from a wide range of member companies, including Bramblecrest, Charlie Ovens, Hill Interiors, Tramontina, Beefeater, Rotospa, Tom Chambers, Showpiece Design, Traeger, Extreme Lounging, and Ascalon.

LOFA looks forward to supporting these sales professionals as they progress through the programme and to celebrating their achievements as they grow into the sales leaders of tomorrow.

Join LOFA and be part of the community shaping the future of outdoor living www.lofa.co.uk

August's Garden Centre Association  Barometer of Trade (BoT) is out this week and it reveals nearly all categories performed well – with bulb sales having a strong start.

Eleven of the 13 categories recorded by member garden centres were reported as being positive, when compared to 2024, with gifts leading the way at +10.1%.

GCA CEO, Peter Burks, says: “We’ve a very encouraging set of sales figures for August after a slight lull in the hot summer months. Bulb sales have started very strongly, which has helped to kickstart the autumn gardening season nicely.

“Once again, it’s great to see almost all the categories performing very well, which demonstrates the wide appeal of the modern garden centre offer. Early feedback from September suggests this gardening trend is continuing too. The percentage variance on last year was also very positive at +6.71%.”

Catering sales came second in August, when compared to the same month in 2024, and were up at +9.16%, followed by seeds & bulbs at +9.25%. Clothing at +8.63% came next and then furniture & BBQs at +7.86%.

The food hall/farm shop category recorded an uptick of +7.17%, with houseplants in seventh place at +4.88% and then garden sundries at +4.76%.

Holding its own, in ninth, is the outdoor plants category at +4.63%, followed by Christmas +4.24% and pets & aquatics, also up, by +3.91%.

The two categories from the 13 that recorded negative results were miscellaneous at -4.45% and hard landscaping at -6.39%.

The GCA’s BoT reports covering 13 categories are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT allows members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide.

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

Tickets for the GCA’s 2026 Annual Conference are now on sale via the members’ section on the body’s website or via https://gca.digitickets.co.uk/.

For further information, please go to www.gca.org.uk.

SealStop – the clever automatic shut-off valve for hosepipes  – has been announced as the winner of this year’s prestigious GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund. The team behind SealStop were officially handed the award during the opening day of Glee 2025.

Born out of a simple frustration – forgotten hoses and flooded yards – SealStop is now helping households, gardeners, and smallholders across the UK make every drop count.  The clever device connects to a standard hosepipe using a quick-connect fitting. Simply place the hose into a trough, barrel or container and walk away. SealStop shuts off the flow at the right moment, preventing overflows and wasted water. With no need for timers, electronics or constant supervision, it’s a simple, reusable, British-made solution for smart water use.

Founder Isabelle Richardson said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have won the GIMA Innovators’ Seed Corn Fund, it’s a wonderful acknowledgement of why I created SealStop in the first place. I was tired of wasting water whenever life got in the way, so I developed a solution that gives people time back and encourages smarter water use, especially during dry spells when conservation is vital.

“This support will make a real difference, helping us grow faster, reach more people, and share the benefits of SealStop with the gardening community.”

Originally launched in the equestrian market, SealStop is now finding fans in gardens across the UK. Proudly manufactured just 45 minutes from York, it’s also the first in a growing range, with rainwater harvesting tools currently in development.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, commented: “It was a tough judging day as all the shortlisted entries had great merit and real commercial potential. It took us all day to decide on our eventual winner. SealStop stood out as a product that not only solves a problem that haunts gardeners and smallholders but also brings genuine environmental benefits. We are excited to support Isabelle and her team as they bring this innovation to a wider market.”

As the tenth recipient of the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund, SealStop will receive an extensive prize package designed to help fast-track its growth. This includes free exhibition space at Glee, the UK’s leading garden retail trade show, alongside up to £4,000 of tailored support covering design, development, consultancy, manufacturing or marketing. The prize also offers a free half-page advert in the GIMA New Product Digest publication, twelve months of free GIMA membership, one year’s ACID (Anti Copying in Design) membership, and ongoing PR support.

The runners up for 2025 were Rootup Limited and SmartyPlants AI – both highly commended for their forward-thinking approaches to gardening innovation.  SmartyPlants is a discreet sensor that tracks your plant’s vital stats, translating them into simple care tips via a user-friendly app. With real-time alerts, it’s like your plant texting you when it needs attention. Rootup Limited develops innovative solutions for hydroponic growers and plant enthusiasts, combining practical engineering with sustainable design to improve efficiency, plant health, and yields.

Find out more

For more information about SealStop and the GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund, visit the GIMA Buyer Lounge in Hall 9 at Glee 2025, or visit www.gima.org.uk and www.sealstop.co.uk. 

Head Gardener Paul Walton with the newly finished section of the stumpery at Biddulph Grange Garden – National Trust – Image by Claire Humphreys.

Blue Diamond Garden Centres has announced that its collaboration with the National Trust has reached a landmark achievement, with over £1 million now having been given to the Trust to support vital conservation work across the UK. 

Over the course of the collaboration, funds given by Blue Diamond Garden Centres have supported a wide range of National Trust projects – from restoring historic gardens and conserving rare habitats to strengthening biodiversity and responding to the challenges of climate change.

This funding has enabled vital projects to be carried out which will help safeguard the nation’s horticultural heritage. 

Now, as the collaboration comes to a close, Blue Diamond Garden Centres and the National Trust are reflecting on the lasting impact of their work together. Over the course of their collaboration, the £1 million has supported a wide range of important conservation projects, helping the Trust to protect and enhance the nation’s special places.

Examples of the projects made possible include:

• Enhancing historic gardens – including creating a new flower garden at Berrington Hall in Herefordshire, renewing the kitchen garden at Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton,  supporting research ahead of the creation of an 18^th-century inspired Apothecary Garden at Nostell in West Yorkshire, renovating the historic stumpery at Biddulph Grange Garden in Staffordshire, and protecting the famous apple tree said to have inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity, with a new fence at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire. In time, £300,000 given by Blue Diamond will enable 18^th-century paths to be repaired and restored at famous landscape garden Stourhead in Wiltshire,improving access and enabling the paths to withstand extreme weather. A planning application has been submitted with work expected to be phased over several years.
• Protection of fragile habitats – such as the ancient woodlands at Croft Castle and Parkland in Herefordshire, by using funding from Blue Diamond Garden Centres to plant 200 new oak trees, so safeguarding biodiversity and encouraging the return of native species there.
• Conservation of heritage buildings and landscapes – maintaining structures and grounds of national importance for the enjoyment of visitors and local communities, such as the rebuilding of the glasshouse at Benthall Hall in Shropshire.
• Climate resilience initiatives – supporting the Trust’s work to adapt sites to the challenges of climate change, by incorporating sustainable planting schemes. One such project was to reinstate wildflower meadows at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, the former home of Sir Isaac Newton.

Ancient Trees at Croft Castle, Herefordshire- National Trust- Image by Julian Hight.

Together, these achievements represent a significant and lasting legacy of the collaboration, ensuring that the natural and cultural heritage cared for by the National Trust can continue to inspire future generations.

The National Trust’s Head of Gardens and Parks, Sheila Das, said: "We are very grateful for Blue Diamond Garden Centres' support, which has seen vital projects accomplished across a breadth of garden features. This funding has enabled us to make real progress in caring for the places people love, enabling many to enjoy them now and into the future."

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, said: “We are immensely proud to have reached the milestone of £1 million in support for the National Trust. This achievement reflects the passion and commitment of our customers and colleagues, who share our belief in protecting the nation’s natural and cultural heritage. While our formal collaboration is now concluding, our admiration for the Trust’s work remains steadfast.”

Garden centres maintained steady sales in August 2025, with overall turnover up 3% on August 2024 and 12% on August 2023, according to the Horticultural Trades Association September Market Update. 

Following a strong spring, summer sales growth has moderated slightly, but the retail side of the sector continues to maintain a healthy year-to-date lead.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said: “August’s results show that garden centres are still holding strong despite challenging conditions. Overall sales were up 3% compared to last year, with gardening sales matching this growth and rising 13% from 2023. Bulbs performed exceptionally well, growing +15%, and garden furniture sales increased +13%.

“Much of the overall sales growth is inflation-driven. Total transactions were level with those in August last year, and consumer purchasing volumes remained broadly stable. However, the average spend rose by +4% in stores and +3% in cafés, reflecting higher prices rather than larger baskets.

“The month’s weather illustrated the extremes our sector faces. England experienced a heatwave followed by storms, resulting in almost 1°C hotter temperatures and half the average rainfall compared to August 2024. Scotland, by contrast, was the wettest region of the UK and saw much lower average temperatures, having been most heavily affected by Storm Floris at the start of the month. Groundwater levels and reservoirs remain worryingly low, and although no new temporary use bans have been introduced, Yorkshire Water is seeking further drought permits. This highlights why water resilience remains a top priority for our sector.

“UK consumer confidence recovered by +2 points to -17 in August, its highest level this year, following the Bank of England’s cut to interest rates. Confidence, however, remains historically low amid global trade uncertainty and anticipation of Autumn Budget tax changes. The HTA will submit its budget asks to the Chancellor ahead of 26 November. Against a backdrop of rising business costs, we’ll be calling on the Chancellor not to announce any further tax rises on employers, asking her to take action on business rates that support HTA members, and asking to pause and consult on the proposed changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief, which is adding more cost and uncertainty for businesses at present.

“You may have noticed that last month’s update introduced a new Consumer Spending section, providing a broader benchmark for garden centre performance against other retail sectors. Data for August indicates that consumer card spend on household retail (including gardening) was up 1.2% from August 2024, with garden centre spend specifically only rising 0.6%. However, it is important to note that these figures exclude cash transactions and therefore differ from HTA’s overall sales reporting.”

Additional insights:

• Indoor living was the strongest performing department, up +13% year-on-year; wild bird care saw its first annual growth since March (+5%).
• BBQs and outdoor heating fell -13% year-on-year, though remain ahead of 2023 levels.
• Café and restaurant transactions rose +2%, with catering’s share of turnover reaching 16%.

Members can find the HTA’s latest water management guidance and updates at hta.org.uk/water.

HTA members can access further insights in this month’s Market Update on our website.

The 2025 UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisur list has been launched by Great Place To Work® UK, and recognises Bents Garden & Home among the organisations in the ‘Large & Super Large’ category. 

This fantastic recognition follows the recent news that the family owned and run destination centre was Certified™ as a Great Place to Work for the second consecutive year; an achievement which is the result of outstanding feedback from Bents’ colleagues and gathered through the Great Place to Work’s independent and confidential Trust Index™ survey.

The survey asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.

Great Place To Work® UK administered their research-backed Trust Index© employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based retail, hospitality and leisure employees to determine the Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™ list.  

Analysis of the sector employee survey responses found: 75% of employees at the UK’s Best Workplaces for Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™ say “I want to work here for a long time” compared to 56% at a typical company in this sector.

Said Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents Garden & Home: “To be listed as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure is an incredible recognition and one that we are extremely proud of. It’s a true reflection of the positive culture we have built together at Bents and, most importantly, the dedication and enthusiasm of our colleagues. Their feedback has been invaluable in shaping our workplace, and this latest achievement really belongs to them.”

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK said:  “In retail, hospitality, and leisure, where work is fast-paced and teams are often dispersed, staying connected can be tough. The top-performing organisations in this sector stand out by fostering regular, meaningful communication from leadership. Employees have told us they feel supported, heard, and want to stay at their employer as a result of working for a truly great workplace. Congratulations to Bents for earning recognition as a UK’s Best Workplace in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure™.” 

Bents’ inclusion on the 2025 list highlights its ongoing commitment to building a workplace where people feel supported, valued and able to thrive — a culture that continues to underpin the company’s success as one of the UK’s leading garden and home destination centres.

Matthew adds: “Being included in the UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure list is not only a celebration of where we are today, but also a motivator for where we want to go. We will continue to listen, evolve and invest in our people so that Bents remains a great place to work for years to come.”

The Greenfingers Charity has officially opened its latest magical garden, this time at Chestnut Tree House Hospice in Arundel, with the new Kitchen Garden which was unveiled on Wednesday 24th September 2025.

Designed by award-winning garden designers Fisher Tomlin & Bowyer and built by Baylis Landscapes, the new space brings together ornamental planting, growing beds, and pollinator-friendly features to create a haven for children, families, and staff.

The Kitchen Garden has been designed to encourage hands-on engagement with nature, supporting sustainability, exploration, education and wellbeing. Children will have the opportunity to learn more about the journey from ‘Garden to Plate’, while produce grown will also be used in the hospice kitchen while the ‘Dads Club’ will be encouraged to get actively involved in tending the garden.

Boyd Douglas-Davies, Chairman of the Greenfingers Charity, reflected on the milestone: “Reaching our 70th garden is a moment of immense pride. Hospices are under enormous pressure to fund the essential care provided within their walls and that’s where Greenfingers steps in. We’re the only charity dedicated to creating therapeutic outdoor spaces for children’s hospices and with the support of our partners and the public, we can continue to make a difference. This Kitchen Garden is a shining example of what can be achieved when compassion and creativity come together.”

Stuart Palma, CEO of Southern Hospice Group, which includes Chestnut Tree House Hospice, added: “It’s a very exciting time for our hospice, and this beautiful new garden is a testament to the power of partnership. Having seen first-hand the essential work hospices do for children and families, I’m thrilled to be part of a community that shares a passion for exceptional care. This garden will offer a peaceful, engaging space for connection, healing, and learning, whilst also providing produce we can use in our kitchens and improve our sustainability. But it’s important to remember that Chestnut Tree House receives only around 7% of its income from central government and with running costs of £6 million a year, we must raise £5 million annually through fundraising and partnerships to keep providing our vital services. That’s why projects like this mean so much and we’re incredibly grateful to Greenfingers and all those who made it possible.”

Greenfingers Charity is hugely grateful to Honorary Member, Roger Head, whose incredible generosity made the garden possible, and to all those who kindly gave funds or gifts in kind to help create The Kitchen Garden at Chestnut Tree House.  Special thanks go to the Chapman Trust, The Hedley Foundation, Alexander Rose Ltd, Arbour Landscapes, Greenwood Plants, Rolawn,Veg Trug and others whose support has helped to bring this very special space to life.

Find out more

For more information about Greenfingers Charity visit: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk or email linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to discuss ways to support the charity at this or future events.

In the meantime, you can also follow all the latest updates from Greenfingers on social media - @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn, https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/ and @GreenfingersCha on Twitter.

The Greenfingers Charity has announced that the Gathering Heart Garden at Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry will officially open on Tuesday 30th September 2025 (10.30am to 12.30pm).

Created by the talented teams at CW Studio and Landstruction, the garden has been thoughtfully designed as a place of movement, interaction, and sensory engagement. With inclusive play equipment, shaded seating areas, and quiet spaces for reflection, the Gathering Heart Garden will provide life-enhancing moments for children, families, and staff, evolving beautifully with the seasons.

Boyd Douglas Davies, Chairman of Greenfingers Charity, said: “We are thrilled to see the Gathering Heart Garden at Hope House come to life. It is a truly magical space that will provide precious moments of joy, connection, and comfort for children, siblings, parents, and carers for many years to come. We are immensely grateful to everyone whose generosity and hard work has made this possible.”

Andy Goldsmith, CEO of Hope House Children’s Hospice, commented: “Every day we see the difference that outdoor space makes to the children and families who come to Hope House. The Gathering Heart Garden is far more than a garden – it is a sanctuary of play, laughter, and peace where families can create lasting memories together, even in the most difficult of times. We are deeply grateful to the Greenfingers Charity and everyone involved for gifting us such a remarkable space.”

Finally, Sarah Daniels, Activity Lead at Hope House children's hospice, added: “The Gathering Heart Garden encourages meaningful play for the children. When they are out in the playground and gardens, they are part of that world, learning about their own bodies and experiencing a real sense of enjoyment. As the children grow and change, they will take different benefits and pleasures from it, so it really will be a big part of their experience at Hope House. Thank you so much to the Greenfingers Charity for completing this project and to all those who have helped make it a reality."

The Greenfingers Charity also extends heartfelt thanks to all those who have contributed to the creation of the Gathering Heart Garden, including LOFA, NPT Transatlantic, Abel Sim, Creative Health for planting and seating, the National Lottery, The Hobson Trust, the Bernard Sunley Trust and the Solar Centre. Their generosity – along with the dedication of designers, landscapers, volunteers and many other supporters of Greenfingers - has helped make this very special project a reality.

Find out more

For more information about Greenfingers Charity visit: www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk or email linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to discuss ways to support the charity at this or future events.

In the meantime, you can also follow all the latest updates from Greenfingers on social media - @Greenfingerscharity on Instagram and LinkedIn, https://www.facebook.com/Greenfingerscharity/ and @GreenfingersCha on Twitter.

Melcourt celebrated Floral Thursday at Glee with the presentation of a £2,830 donation to Greenfingers Charity.

Throughout the year, Melcourt’s technical and sales teams have been travelling the country giving talks to garden clubs and horticultural groups. While these have traditionally been offered free of charge, in 2025 the company invited groups to consider making a donation to Greenfingers, with a suggested contribution to help guide support.

Thanks to the generosity of garden clubs, £1,415 was raised. Melcourt then matched the total, bringing the overall donation to £2,830.

The presentation took place on Floral Thursday at GLEE, with Greenfingers’ Director of Fundraising & Communications, Linda Petrons, joining the celebration.

Nikki Burton, Melcourt, said: “We’ve been delighted with the amount raised through the generosity of garden clubs, who really enjoy and value the talks we give about our work at Melcourt. It’s always rewarding to share knowledge and guidance on peat-free growing, and even more so knowing that the support this year is going directly to Greenfingers. We’re so pleased to dedicate our fundraising to them and to help their wonderful work continue.”

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, added: “We are so grateful to Melcourt and to the many garden clubs who contributed so generously. Their support will help us continue to create magical gardens in children’s hospices - special spaces where children and families can play, grow, learn, care and remember. It was truly heartwarming to see the passion and commitment of the Melcourt team in supporting our work, we really cannot thank them enough.”

Born and bred on the Lake District fells in 2020, Fell Dog has quickly established itself as a brand creating stylish, durable, and adventure-ready products for dogs.

The brand is the creation of designer Carolyn Harker, who brings over 20 years of product design expertise from the outdoor industry. Having worked with leading names such as Rab and Berghaus, Carolyn brings a wealth of technical knowledge and a deep understanding of materials and performance design.

Fell Dog has recently opened its Headquarters on the edge of the Lake District - a dedicated design and innovation centre where new ideas are tested, developed, and brought to life.

The latest launch, the Drench Waterproof Jacket, is a perfect example of Fell Dog’s ethos. Combining elegant styling with serious outdoor performance, the jacket boasts an 8,000mm hydrostatic head, 5,000 breathability rating, and fully taped seams - delivering rugged protection for adventurous dogs. Alongside it, the new Drench Collars & Lead are fully waterproof, odour-resistant, and feature a lockable buckle strength-tested to 70kg.

“Technical design has always been at the heart of Fell Dog,” says Carolyn Harker, founder and designer. “With my background in product design, I wanted to create pieces that are both stylish and rugged - products that look good but also deliver tried-and-tested performance.”

Since launching, Fell Dog has attracted a loyal community of dog owners who share its ethos: embrace the outdoors, celebrate every adventure, and find joy in the little things, even a rainy-day walk. Its ambassadors include fell runners and mountain rescue search-and-rescue dogs, true outdoor enthusiasts who embody the Fell Dog spirit and inspire others to explore life with their four-legged companions.

Fell Dog is exhibiting at PATS on stand B38.

For more information, visit: https://felldog.com/

Sales: bark@felldog.com

The team at Otley Garden Centre celebrated the reopening of its popular restaurant by hosting Otley Town Mayor, Cllr Paul Carter, for afternoon tea recently.

Cllr Carter, along with his wife and consort Denise, was invited to Blooms, the refurbished and renamed 200-seater table service restaurant, by Otley Garden Centre’s catering manager, Marina Jannetta.

Yorkshire Garden Centres, owner of Otley Garden Centre, has invested over £150,000 in the refurbishment, which includes a new menu, new décor and crockery, to bring Blooms in line with the other restaurants in the group. They have also introduced a new table service, which has proved popular at other sites, and a new look and feel inspired by the local area, including limited edition prints from celebrated Yorkshire artist Jane Gales.

“We’re proud of the results of our significant investment in Blooms at Otley Garden Centre and were delighted to host Cllr Carter and his wife Denise as he is a long-standing customer and has been very supportive of us since we acquired the garden centre,” said Mrs Jannetta.

Cllr Carter said: “We were delighted to visit the new and improved Blooms for an excellent afternoon tea. The restaurant at Otley Garden Centre has long been a family favourite and a go-to destination for a hearty breakfast. The team has done a great job of retaining the family-run feel of the business while investing significantly to improve facilities throughout the centre. The afternoon tea was beautifully presented and delicious, and I know my mother would love to experience it next time she visits.”

Yorkshire Garden Centres’ MD, Mark Farnsworth added: “Otley Garden Centre was established by Stephen H. Smith in 1966. It was the first of the group’s acquisitions in 2022, and we hope that we have built on Stephen’s legacy with sympathetic improvements undertaken by local tradesmen, and with our support of community initiatives like Wildlife Friendly Otley and Otley Food Bank.

Since acquisition, Otley Garden Centre has benefited from £750,000 worth of investment in improvements to the site and in renewable energy. Its plans to appeal to families have been given the green light by local planners, who have granted permission for a Grass Hoppers indoor and outdoor play area. Work is expected to begin in January 2026.

The Yorkshire Garden Centres group comprises Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley and Pennine Garden Centres, plus Dean’s York and Scarborough.

Christmas has come early as Dobbies Garden Centres kicks off the season in style at its Christmas Launch Weekend which takes place from Thursday 9 to Monday 13 October in stores across the country.

Dobbies launches its Christmas shop on Thursday 9 October, with a special evening event from 5pm-7pm giving customers the chance to get a head start on their shopping as the garden centre unveils its highly anticipated festive trends, with something to suit every budget and every style. From indoor and outdoor lighting, trees, beautiful baubles and homewares, to houseplants, great value gifts for everyone on your list, you can experience Christmas in every sense at Dobbies.

Special offers launch on the evening of Thursday 9 October, and will then be available in-store across the event weekend. If customers sign up to attend the evening event at dobbies.com, they will receive a £5 off £25 and £10 off £50 voucher to use on Thursday 9 October, alongside the chance of winning £1,000 worth of Christmas items for a shopping spree in store.

The offers include 30% off Christmas decorations, including pack baubles and 30% off 5-7ft Oslo trees, buy one get one half price on Amaryllis Christmas Star bulbs and 20% off cushions, throws and rugs, alongside 20% off ARRAN Sense of Scotland home and body products, perfect for adorning the home for the festive season or gifting.

Local community groups and schools have been invited to perform on the evening of Thursday 9 October, to help bring the Christmas spirit to life, and customers can also enjoy product tastings from the foodhall and in-store Bakery to Go, where available.

Five stores will be hosting pop up experiences with IND!E on the launch evening of Thursday 9 October, giving customers the chance to shop artisanal products from the local area. J Dobie Photography and Seilich will be in the Edinburgh store, Louisa’s Honey will pop up in Royston, The Conscious Way in Tewkesbury, The Spinning Webb at Antrim and Kadine at the Ponteland store.

Customers can also support Dobbies’ National Charity Partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK throughout the weekend with fundraising activities, including raffles and donation buckets.

If customers would like to further their support Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dobbies has a limited-edition Sensory Garden 15 bulbs collection which contains a selection of colourful and fragrant bulbs, designed to create a captivating sensory garden, priced at £15. Five pounds from each pack sold will be donated to the charity. Selected stores will have demonstration stations on Thursday night at 5pm and 6:15pm where customers can learn about this new charity bulb, get tips on how to plant them and take care of them from bulb to bloom.

Throughout the weekend, customers can enjoy the new seasonal menu for autumn and winter in restaurants, which will be open until 6.30pm on Thursday 9 October. With hearty dishes, classic light lunches and scrumptious specials, sweet drinks and warming hot drinks, there is plenty to enjoy across the Christmas Launch Weekend.

Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “Christmas is such a special part of the Dobbies’ calendar, and we pride ourselves in creating a magical experience for everyone who visits.

“Christmas Launch Weekend marks the official launch of the season in our stores and is a fantastic opportunity to get a head start and stock up on some savings, whilst soaking up the atmosphere and getting into the festive spirit.”

The Christmas Launch Weekend kicks off on Thursday 9 October, from 5-7pm, with free tickets available to book at www.dobbies.com

The launch weekend continues until Monday 13 October, at all stores, during normal trading hours.

Primeur’s newest planter launches – exclusively unveiled at Glee last week – are already drawing a phenomenal response as retailers embrace fresh concepts and extended ranges designed to combine style, sustainability and sales impact.

Garden Central grows again

After making waves when first launched at Glee 2024, the Garden Central essential planter collection is back and bigger than ever. Retailers have already embraced the range for its blend of style and affordability, and the new designs confirm Garden Central as one of the must-stock planter lines for the coming season.

Tierra Verde evolves with Melody and Harmony

The multi-award-winning Tierra Verde self-watering planters are also attracting significant attention with the introduction of the new Melody and Harmony ranges. Renowned for combining eco-credentials with innovation, Tierra Verde is evolving with textured exteriors and a refined colour palette that includes blue, black and balsam – shades that reflect the growing demand for contemporary muted tones.

These designs retain all the trusted Tierra Verde features that retailers and consumers love, including a bung and self-watering system, recycled rubber construction, frost resistance, UV stability and durability that makes them virtually unbreakable.

Retailers also have access to new pallet deals featuring the Savannah and Avondale designs, enabling them to easily drop product into high-footfall areas and maximise sales opportunities.

Flatpack reimagined for modern gardens

Perhaps the most talked-about launch is Primeur’s entirely new planter concept. By reimagining flatpack for the garden, Primeur has created flexible solutions for homes, gardens and allotments that are particularly appealing to generation rent and those with limited space.

The range includes boxed planters, troughs and raised beds in khaki and black, with smaller designs featuring feet and self-watering functionality. The ability to disassemble, pack and store the planters makes them not only convenient for consumers but also a dream for retailers, who can stock more units on the shelf while showcasing a sample product in store.

Wider garden portfolio

Alongside these new launches, Primeur continues to present its wider garden portfolio, including borders, stepping stones and decking solutions. Now rationalised to focus on proven bestsellers, these ranges continue to provide retailers with reliable, year-round sales opportunities.

Get in touch

To find out more about Primeur please get in touch with the team at 01274 518800 or visit www.primeur.co.uk

With Floral Fantasia in full bloom, Miracle-Gro is pleased to share an update on how the garden at RHS Hyde Hall continues to flourish; with Miracle-Gro’s sponsorship of the 2025-2026 season thriving throughout what has been a particularly harsh and hot summer. 

Throughout the summer, gardening enthusiasts and visitors to RHS Hyde Hall have been able to enjoy the Floral Fantasia Garden, praising its varied floral displays of traditional and exciting new plant varieties, with many grown using Miracle-Gro’s peat-free compost. 

Karen Wilkinson, Marketing Director at Evergreen Garden Care said: “After a particularly challenging summer, with four heatwaves and nationwide drought warnings, we’re more pleased than ever that our peat-free range of compost and plant food show how Miracle-Gro products bring gardens to life.  

We’ve received countless comments from visitors to the garden, exclaiming how the gardens are looking more vibrant than ever, and we hope this will inspire confidence in gardeners that they can achieve similar results in their own garden. At Evergreen Garden Care, we’re fundamentally aligned to the work at the Floral Fantasia garden, celebrating innovation with a pioneering spirit, helping the industry to grow and evolve” 

The only independent UK trial grounds for bedding plants and perennials has garnered specific acclaim, for its Begonia Trial, which has become one of the highlights of this season in particular. With more than 400 plants taking centre stage in a dazzling summer display, the containers in the trial are grown in 100% Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost, with Miracle-Gro compost dug into the beds at the time of planting and the plants regularly fed using the appropriate feed from the Miracle-Gro range. 

Running from early June through to September, the showcase brings together 105 cultivars in two distinct formats: 51 varieties thriving in raised beds within the trial garden, and 54 container-grown entries arranged around the perimeter. With 162 begonias in pots and 255 in-ground specimens, the trial offers visitors a comprehensive look at the versatility and vibrancy of this much-loved seasonal plant.  

The trial has impressed judges and visitors alike states Michael Smith, Chairperson of the Floral Fantasia Working Group. Speaking on the partnership, Michael commented: “It’s been such a relief that we can move forward with the garden thanks to Miracle-Gro to make the garden the centre of excellence with seasonal planting. One of the exciting things about Floral Fantasia this year is showing the public that you can grow in Peat-free compost, and that’s where we want to keep going. 

This year, the Begonias are performing really strong and look fantastic in both the beds and the containers, so we’re all really proud of what we’ve achieved and looking forward to what phase two of the garden holds.” 

Spanning a breath-taking spectrum of colours, from soft creams and delicate apricots to fiery scarlets, deep pinks, and rich cherry reds, the trial represents some of the most notable and diverse begonia collections in horticulture, including the Nonstop, Illumination, Bossa Nova, and Funky series. 

Elaine Gotts, R&D Scientist and LRS Coordinator at Evergreen Garden Care, stated “This season at Floral Fantasia has been an invaluable opportunity to continue learning about how plants respond to growing in peat-free composts under testing conditions such as exposed sites, clay soil, and prolonged drought.  

By  adapting the  feeding regimes and trialling different approaches, the Trials team have been able to demonstrate that even in a hot, dry summer, vibrant and resilient displays are possible. It’s been rewarding to see how Miracle-Gro’s peat-free solutions can support both experienced gardeners and those new to peat-free growing, giving them confidence that success is achievable whatever the season brings.” 

Meanwhile Ian Le Gros, Curator and Head of Site at RHS Hyde Hall commented: “With all the plans for the site, and the Floral Fantasia garden in particular, we couldn’t do it without support of our partners including Miracle-Gro.  

We’re now able to plan and do more in one season, including reforming the garden, and putting in new structures, to carry the garden forward for the next five years which is a fantastic result for us.” 

Bringing Floral Fantasia to life  

Sponsoring Floral Fantasia aligns perfectly with Miracle-Gro’s campaign, Bringing Gardens to Life. More than just growing vibrant blooms, lush lawns, and bountiful produce, the campaign champions the broader benefits of spending time in the garden—whether through planting, playing, or simply relaxing outdoors. By supporting Floral Fantasia, Miracle-Gro is helping to create an inspiring, accessible space that encourages people of all ages and abilities to reconnect with nature and discover the wellbeing boost that gardening brings, at same time as showcasing the great performance of Miracle Gro peat-free compost. 

This partnership offers a living embodiment of the campaign’s message: that gardens are not only spaces for growth, but also for joy, creativity, and connection. From the immersive plant trials to the colourful displays designed to spark imagination, Floral Fantasia provides the ideal backdrop to demonstrate how Miracle-Gro sustainable, peat free compost mixes help transform everyday gardens into vibrant, life-enhancing spaces. 

The transition to peat-free gardening is one that the Miracle-Gro brand has helped drive since going completely peat-free in 2023. Miracle-Gro's years of research and investment in R&D and manufacturing to deliver exceptional quality and growing performance of peat-free compost ensures that gardeners can be confident that they will get great growing results in their own garden, whatever they are growing. 

Nemasys, the UK’s biggest manufacturer of beneficial nematodes, has partnered with Rudding Park Resort, the hotel, spa and golf resort in Harrogate, to create a series of new videos aimed at demystifying nematodes for gardeners.

This educational content, part of Nemasys’ refreshed campaign to boost awareness and drive education around nematode use in domestic markets, was filmed on location at Rudding Park’s kitchen garden and wider estate, including formal beds and turf areas. Covering key products such as Nemaslug 2.0 and Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer, it demonstrates application techniques, correct storage, and addresses frequently asked questions from home gardeners.

The video series is presented by Dr Sarah Owen-Hughes, Head Gardener at Rudding Park and PhD specialist in nematode optimisation, whose research focused on using nematodes for sustainable pest control in glasshouse crops, giving her a rare combination of scientific insight and hands-on horticultural experience.

“Sarah was the ideal person to bring this content to life,” said Annette Matthies, European Portfolio Manager at Nemasys. “She bridges the gap between academic rigour and real-world application, exactly what our trade and domestic audiences need. Rudding Park also gave us a unique filming location that reflects both professional and domestic settings.”

Filmed by East Midlands based videographer Forecast Designs,  the series reinforces how simple and effective biological pest control can be. The content also addresses common questions about nematode use, helping to remove barriers for both professional users and home gardeners.

As sustainable and chemical-free gardening practices continuing to gain momentum, Nemasys is committed to making biological pest control more accessible, trusted and widely used across horticulture, landscaping, and groundskeeping, as well as among everyday domestic gardeners.

Dr Sarah Owen-Hughes added: “I'm delighted to be working with Nemasys to demystify the use of nematodes in garden pest control. They are really easy to use, environmentally friendly and a great insurance policy to protect plants, especially vegetables and salads.

“We have seen great results in slug and gooseberry sawfly control this year and are excited to introduce the Nemasys Fruit and Veg Protection in our glasshouse on sciarid and aphid."

The full video is available to view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqkUAF3IY3Y

For more information about Nemasys and its range of biological control products, visit: https://www.nemasysinfo.co.uk/en/Products/Overview/

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On 1st October, the world marks the International Day of Older Persons. At STIGA, we know just how valuable the wisdom passed down through the generations can be, especially when it comes to the art (and joy) of gardening. This year, we’re celebrating by turning to the u3a movement, a vibrant UK-wide community of retired and semi-retired people who share skills, passions, and experiences with one another.

With over 1,000 local groups and around 400,000 members, u3a is a hub of knowledge. And when it comes to gardening, their Southport u3a has something extra special to offer: their Gardening Group members created an AI Show Garden, which went on to win a Gold Medal and a Silver Cup for Best Charity and Community Garden at the Southport Flower Show this year.

As STIGA continues to innovate with AI-driven robotic mowers, helping gardeners of all generations save time while keeping their lawns immaculate, it has been a joy to learn from Southport u3a Gardening Group members, who combine traditional know-how with cutting-edge techniques to create a sustainable garden for the future.

Here are some of their award-winning tips that anyone can try at home:

Hydroponics gravel: Grow plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water delivered through precise irrigation. This method saves water, increases yields, and uses less space.

Renewable energy: Power your garden with the sun and wind. Solar panels and wind turbines provide clean, sustainable energy for year-round growth.

Carbon capture with sphagnum moss and trees: Nature’s own sequestrants. Moss locks carbon in peat, while trees store carbon in their trunks and branches, helping fight climate change.

Robotic horticultural management: Smart gardening tech monitors, prunes, and waters with precision. 

Recycled sustainable materials: Build your garden using reclaimed bricks, bark, timber, and plants loaned from the community. It’s eco-friendly, beautiful, and gives old materials a new life.

This International Day of Older Persons, STIGA is proud to shine a spotlight on the creativity, experience, and forward-thinking ideas of older generations. Their knowledge continues to inspire new ways of connecting with nature, proving that gardening wisdom, like gardens themselves, only grows richer with time.

You can find many lightweight and handy tools and mowers on the STIGA website, including battery pruning shears and cordless multi-tools.  You can also read more about STIGA's wide range of robot mowers, too, AI at its best!  www.stiga.com/uk/

If you are interested in joining the u3a, you can read more and find your local u3a at www.u3a.org.uk

Photo: Christine Howorth holding the cup, Honora Ormesher, Alison Ryan, and Carolyn Saunders at the back.

Photo by Phil Knight - also a u3a member.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced a new licensing agreement with Pet Brands Ltd, a leading pet accessories company, for the first-ever range of RHS-branded accessories for dogs and cats. It’s called Pets in the Garden.

Pets in the Garden is a range of stylish, functional and environmentally conscious products, allowing pet owners to enjoy their gardens alongside their pet companions. The initial launch includes leads, collars, beds, toys, treats and bowls, all designed to be durable, useful and appealing to both dogs and cats. Further additions are planned, including coats, shampoos and other accessories.

There’s also a strong sustainability element; products across the range use recycled materials and are built to last, ensuring longer replacement times. Wherever possible, Pet Brands has incorporated responsibly sourced materials such as BCI cotton, FSC wood, and recycled filling fibres.

This commitment not only reduces environmental impact but also supports a more conscious approach to pet ownership, aligning with the RHS ethos of protecting and nurturing the natural world. 

This innovative range, produced by Pet Brands alongside the nation’s most respected gardening charity, is not just a delight for pets; its aim is to celebrate the bond between people, their pets and their outdoor spaces. With this in mind, the collection will be brought to life with illustrations, on both the products and packaging, inspired by horticultural and botanical imagery from the RHS Lindley Collections, within which the RHS holds the world’s finest collection of botanical art, containing more than 30,000 superb artworks.

The Pets in the Garden range will arrive at major retailers and online in Q2 2026. It will be previewed at the major pet trade event, the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show, at the NEC, Birmingham from the 28th to the 30^th of September 2025.

Headquartered in West Yorkshire, Pet Brands is an industry leader and innovator in the design and distribution of food, accessories and treats for pets and wild birds. As well as producing its own brands and managing licensed brands, Pet Brands exports to 58 countries around the world. The company has long-standing partnerships with major retailers and is responsible for producing market-leading bespoke and innovative own-label ranges as well as product and brand consultancy services for brands and retailers.

Amy Spratt, Group Head of Marketing, Pet Brands, says: “It was a great privilege for us to work with the RHS bringing all that is good about nature and the great outdoors to a range celebrating the bond between people, their pets and their outdoor spaces. Working with the UK’s favourite gardening charity on a range designed to celebrate people’s love for gardens and pets has been a real delight and will, we believe, receive a very positive response from dog and cat lovers all over the UK.”

Cathy Snow, Licensing Manager, RHS, adds: “This range aims to combine usefulness with style and a love of pets and the outdoor life, and, thanks to Pet Brands’ years of experience in premium pet products and our own gardening expertise and design assets, it achieves exactly that. It also brings the RHS name to an important market which has a strong appeal both for our supporters and for gardening lovers in general.”

phs Greenleaf has appointed two new business development managers as the interior and exterior planting business continues to grow across the UK.

Siobhan King joins the team as the new senior business development manager, alongside Debby Pickering who is the new business development manager and biophilic interior designer for phs Greenleaf.

phs Greenleaf has been providing expert planting and grounds maintenance services to businesses for over 25 years, including indoor and outdoor plants, artificial and live planting, living walls, hanging baskets, grounds maintenance and Christmas trees and decorations.

Siobhan has been in the landscaping business for 26 years and specialises in vertical greenery and living walls and pictures.

Debby is a qualified interior designer and ran her own office design business in South Africa for eight years before moving to the UK.

Speaking about phs Greenleaf, Siobhan said: “The commercial landscaping market can feel crowded but phs Greenleaf stands out. We take a vibrant and modern approach and have a reputation for our continuity of service and cost-effective solutions. We have the best talent in the market, and we have the power and robustness of the phs Group and Bidvest behind us.

“I’m looking forward to working with more businesses, particularly FMs, to help transform their commercial spaces with innovative and creative planting solutions that really work for them.”

Debby said: “The scope of work at Greenleaf is a really exciting opportunity. We work with the hospitality sector, retail, public buildings, leisure venues, commercial premises and more, and each design reflects that business’ needs.

“My passion is biophilia – bringing that innate connection to nature to life in a commercial space. People now understand the importance and the benefits that plants bring to our health and well-being and are embracing the concept of biophilia in their designs.

“With many businesses focused on getting more employees back to the office, creating a positive, healthy and uplifting working environment is key.”

Part of the phs Group, phs Greenleaf supplies over 8,000 customers right across the UK with full, high quality horticultural services.

Its 2025 range of pre-decorated and lit Christmas trees and accessories for businesses are available to view on its website now. phs Greenleaf also offers bespoke Christmas tree designs.

www.phsgreenleaf.co.uk

A team of determined Bents’ colleagues laced their trainers and pulled on their waterproofs to take part in a 12-hour ultra-endurance charity running event, in aid of Warrington Youth Zone, Bents 2025 charity of the year. 

Whilst the weather was not on their side and with gazebos abandoned, the team stayed focused on the challenge in hand and completed a total of 81 miles.  Running from sunrise to sunset the team of six ran lap after lap in a relay style, starting at 8am and finishing 12 hours later at 8pm.

Bents’ incredible team consisted of Zack Sargent, Ethan Bent, Melanie Sykes, Katherine Bent, Steven Burgess and a special mention for David Blott, who at 71 years old only started running at age 55.  

Each team member completed 12 laps of the one-mile course at Cheshire Polo Club in Tarporley and with guest appearances from Oliver Downton-Bent and Matthew Bent, the total number of laps completed the day totalled 81 miles.    

Said Katherine Bent, Head of Culture at Bents Garden & Home: “A massive thank you and congratulations to all our colleagues who took part in this event.  It really was an incredible challenge not made any easier by the conditions on the day!  I think the weather made the times when we weren’t running even more challenging than the actual race itself!

“And I really must give a special mention to David who has been a part of our family business since 2010 as a Customer Service Assistant and is a very a well-known face around the centre.  We were amazed to find out he only started running at the age of 55, having never been interested in it before. He was an integral part of the team on the day and was back at work bright and early the following morning!”

The event really was a team effort with Ron and Wendy Bent arriving with cake deliveries and Rachel Bent providing snacks and shelter on the day!  Over £500 has already been raised and there’s still time to donate and support Warrington Youth Zone at wyz.enthuse.com/pf/bents-garden-home-1448d

One More Lap is just one example of the many fundraising events colleagues and customers at Bents get involved with.  The Charity of the Year initiative dates back to 2006 when Bents supported Francis House Children’s Hospice and since then it has gone on to raise over £316,000 for charities, in addition to supporting many local schools and causes.  

The Notcutts Group Limited Board. (L-R) Bridget McIntyre, Chairman; Julian Herbert, Non-Executive Director; Mark Haddock, Chief Financial Officer; Caroline Notcutt, Vice Chairman; and Nick Burrows, CEO. [Credit/Copyright: Nick Ilott]

Notcutts has seen growth in like-for-like sales and profit during 2024/25. Annual turnover at £80.5m was up £1.9m (+2.4%) on the previous year. Comparable operating profit, taking into account exceptional items, saw an increase from £0.2m in 2023/24 to £1.1m in 2024/25. Carbon emissions reduced in the year to bring Notcutts annual intensity ratio down to 29.69tCO2e per £m of revenue. NPS (Net Promoter Score) improved to 71 in the year.

Commenting on these results, Nick Burrows CEO said “The continuing backdrop of geopolitical instability, high interest rates, consumer spending restraint and supply cost pressures meant for another year of challenging trading conditions. Despite these challenges the business once again achieved growth in both sales and comparable profit measures in the year. We also saw a continued improvement in our customer satisfaction measure with our best ever NPS score of 71. Similarly encouraging is the reduction in our carbon emissions for another year.”

Burrows added, “Whilst not material in the year itself, we are now faced with additional employer cost pressures that have arisen from the government's 2024 Autumn Budget changes. These have had the effect of adding £1.5m to the annual running costs of the business from April 2025. As a consequence, we needed to re-evaluate our cost base and this led to a restructure programme in parts of the business which both mitigated against these new costs and sought added efficiencies from our newly introduced stock management system.”

Notcutts Woodbridge: Final Redevelopment Phase.

Burrows also commented “The new financial year has started strongly as we, like others in our sector, have enjoyed the most favourable conditions for gardening for some years. We are determined to continue providing a strong garden centre and restaurant proposition that our customers rate highly and we will continue to invest to improve our customer experience. Last year saw us extend a number of our restaurants and reconfigure retail areas to accommodate expanding clothes, food and gifts departments. Work is currently underway at our Woodbridge garden centre to improve and extend our retail areas – a project that will represent the final phase of a total redevelopment of Notcutts’ first garden centre which originally opened in 1958. Two further solar installations are planned later this year in Oxford and Ditchling (Garden Pride) as we continue initiatives to bring our carbon footprint down further.”

Caroline Notcutt, Vice Chairman stressed the importance that Notcutts places on creating the right atmosphere and culture in which colleagues can succeed and enjoy their roles. “Engagement with colleagues, at all levels within the business, is so important and we achieve this through a variety of means. These include surveys, listening groups, meetings and conferences, newsletters and regular visits by senior leaders to garden centres. Colleague groups have also participated in strategy development sessions and join monthly Executive Team meetings to contribute ideas and suggestions on subjects such as customer experience excellence, development projects, health and safety and initiatives related to ESG. Our programme of monthly and annual awards allows us to recognise and celebrate the achievements of colleagues, and these are featured in our regular team newsletters. We have also forged strong partnerships with a number of partner organisations to ensure a range of wellbeing services are in place for colleagues who may need to draw on such support.”

Bridget McIntyre, Chairman added “I continue to be delighted that our well-established approach to succession planning is bearing fruit with further key senior operational leadership roles having been filled by our own internal candidates. We offer a range of leadership training, coaching and personal development support to colleagues at all levels in Notcutts and it’s terrific that this can lead to real career openings and progression for people within our organisation.”

Bridget McIntyre, also commented that “All Notcutts garden centres and our Support Office maintain close relationships within our local communities supporting multiple charities and schools. This is a key part of our ESG commitment. We are into the fourth year of our charitable partnership with The Green Light Trust, whose aim is to ensure everyone has equitable access to the power of nature. Working with people of all ages, often more disadvantaged members of our communities, through organised outdoor activities in woodlands and green spaces, The Green Light Trust’s mission is perfectly aligned with that of Notcutts.”

The Harker family are sad to announce the passing of Ron Harker on Wednesday 10th September 2025. Ron was widely respected in the gardening industry, most notably as founder and former owner of Tong Garden Centre near Bradford.

Ron pictured with late wife Nita and sons Antony and Stuart.

Ron was an extremely hard-working man, whose career started as a milkman. Ron and late wife Nita then embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, starting a poultry processing business which they ran as a family business.

Ron and Nita had dreams to build a garden centre which ultimately happened in 1984.  From the humble beginnings of a strawberry field in Tong Village, Tong Garden Centre was founded and was one of few garden centres in existence at that time.

By the mid 1990’s Ron and family had developed Tong Garden Centre into one of the leading garden centres in the UK. Ron’s work ethic and dedication was also passed down to his two sons Antony & Stuart, who were involved from a young age in running the poultry business and the garden centre.

Ron’s resilience was then tested severely in 1999 with the death of wife and mum Nita, which came weeks after a fire that destroyed Tong Garden Centre. 

The Harker family rallied and re-built the business, reaffirming its importance in the local area and in the industry. In 2015 Ron sold Tong Garden Centre, a business that was built from his foresight to develop a strawberry field into a major garden centre. 

In the last few weeks of his life Ron returned to Tong Garden Centre for the first time since the sale, his parting remark being how magnificent it had become.

Ron was an uncompromising character known to many in the trade, he leaves his two sons Antony and Stuart, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and partner of 25 years, Gwen. They are all immensely proud of what he achieved in his life.

Floral Thursday once again lit up Glee this year as exhibitors, visitors and supporters embraced the day in a sea of colour to raise funds for Greenfingers Charity. The annual fundraiser sees the horticultural industry come together to don their brightest floral attire, all in support of children and families who spend time in hospices.

It was great to see so many people in floral attire with a new record being set for the number of people in floral's for the Floral Thursday at Glee photo call.  The record now stands at 173, there were 171 people in the photo plus Paul Webb who took the photo and Peter Walker who was holding the ladder!

Download the high resolution Floral Thursday New World Record photo here

Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Greenfingers Charity, said: “Floral Thursday is always such a special day at Glee for Greenfingers Charity. Seeing the horticultural industry come together in their best florals, all in support of children and families who spend time in hospices, is both moving and inspiring. We are so grateful to the wonderful Glee organisers for giving us the opportunity to make this celebration part of their show, and to Trevor Pfeiffer, whose vision and inspiration first brought this fundraiser to life. A huge thank you also goes to the exhibitors and visitors who embraced the best floral attire, to everyone who donated prizes, bought raffle tickets, and to those who volunteered their time to help us on the day. Together, you helped us to raise vital funds for magical hospice gardens.”

Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, this year’s Floral Thursday raised an incredible £4,200. These funds will go directly towards creating and maintaining Greenfingers Charity’s much-loved gardens in children’s hospices across the UK. These outdoor spaces provide opportunities to play, learn, care, grow and create precious memories for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Trevor Pfeiffer, the inspiration behind Floral Thursday, added: “It was wonderful to see so many people throw themselves into the spirit of Floral Thursday once again this year. Huge congratulations go to Evergreen Garden Care – the Miracle Gro-ers – who were crowned Best Dressed! Their enthusiasm and creativity once again really captured the fun of the day, it’s fantastic to see so much support for Greenfingers Charity.”

Greenfingers Charity extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the initiative. The continued efforts of so many are helping to bring the gift of a garden to more life-limited children and families who need it most.

The Greatest Floral Team Award #1 - Johnsons Lawn Seed who donated floral bucket hats to raise more funds this year 

The Greatest Floral Team Award #2 - Sipcam, buzzing with fundraising energy

The Greatest Floral Team Award #3 - Durstons with their new branding perfectly aligned with Floral Thursday

The Greatest Floral Team Award #4 - Meadow View Stone with matching floral headgear for all.

The Greatest Floral Team Award #5 - Evergreen Garden Care, winners every year since 2018, they can now keep the trophy!

See our gallery of floral pictures below...

Broadcaster David Domoney and Blue Diamond managing director Alan Roper have joined together to produce a new television programme to be exclusively available on YouTube. 

Titled “Step-by-Step Gardening with David Domoney at Blue Diamond’s Bridgemere Show Gardens,” each episode explains all aspects of garden activities in an easy-to-follow format, with the goal to engage and empower viewers to tackle and enjoy the pursuit of gardening.

The hugely successful pilot of three episodes combined has already topped an eye-opening million views. It’s YouTube's most viewed gardening programme series in 2025.

Ofcom’s latest report confirms YouTube is now the UK’s second most-watched TV service. UK viewers spend over 39 minutes a day on YouTube, including over 16 minutes watching on the living-room TV and growing . The shift spans all ages: children 4–15 most often start their TV session on YouTube, 16–34s have grown YouTube-on-TV time to over 21 mins per day, and 55+ have almost doubled their time on YouTube. That’s why we’re prioritising YouTube to reach families and gardeners at scale.

Alan Roper says, “TV gardening has become too abstract, focusing on wistful camera shots and dubbed in bird song, missing the practical advice which is very much needed. Historically, TV gardeners like Thrower, Hamilton and Seabrook captured this essence with practical advice. David Domoney has that same touch, whilst being an engaging personality, with a down-to-earth approach, plus with knowledge and a passion for horticulture. He is the perfect broadcaster to reinvent the step-by-step format to gardening for both new and experienced gardeners.”

The programme will be co-owned by Domoney Ltd and Blue Diamond Ltd and made by Domoney’s Production company, shot at Blue Diamond Garden Centres’ Bridgemere Show Gardens. David Domoney has over 300,000 YouTube subscribers, which has turbocharged the success of the viewing and is set to rise. 17 new episodes are planned over the next year, one a month, then fortnightly in March, April, May and June. 

David Domoney says, “For years the industry has yearned for a television gardening show to educate and inspire, and just as importantly, a TV show to coincide with when customers are actively shopping for monthly specific garden plants and products. It makes perfect sense for television and garden retail to team up and deliver this. I am delighted to work with Alan Roper and his team to pioneer a new garden show, which is real gardening for real people and dovetails its inspiration to the garden industry’s calendar. The education and motivation from this step-by-step series will benefit all garden retailers, manufacturers, importers and growers.”

The new October episode of Step-by-step is transmitting Friday 26th September on YouTube at 5pm.

To see the trailer of the show please click here.

Since Corby & Fellas announced their successful implementation of the restaurant system at The Plant Place's new café, The Garden Room, last week, the team's winning streak continued. At the Glee trade show, Alan and Kim were delighted to receive an award on behalf of Corby + Fellas for GTN Greatest Food and Drink Support Team 2025.

The award was the perfect end to an already great day at Glee, where the team enjoyed catching up with friends, colleagues, and customers, old and new.

It was a befitting recognition that capped off an impressive season for our team.

The Plant Place Garden Centre has opened a new restaurant called The Garden Room to great success and thanked Corby + Fellas for its ‘invaluable support.

Business manager Peter Evans said: "We’ve just opened our new café, The Garden Room at The Plant Place, and the Corby & Fellas restaurant system has been invaluable from the start. 

“The T650 handheld ordering devices allowed our team to serve over 4,000 customers during opening week, keeping service smooth even at high volume. The EPOS is both user friendly and powerful, making quicker, easier sales possible while giving us access to detailed reporting. 

“We’re looking forward to unlocking more of the system as we go along, using its insights to help refine and optimise our highly seasonal menu. It’s already made a huge difference for both our team and our customers>”

A spokesperson for Corby + Fellas said: “Congratulations to Peter and the team on the opening of their fantastic restaurant The Garden Room.”

The Horticultural Trades Association Chief Executive Fran Barnes delivered a keynote speech at the HTA Annual Conference calling for urgent government action to support environmental horticulture, protect Britain’s 22 million gardens, and remove barriers to growth.

Addressing a packed auditorium of HTA members, industry leaders, and parliamentarians, Fran said:

“We’re meeting today at the Barbican. A place rebuilt from the devastation of the Blitz, now alive with greenery. It shows what vision, perseverance and passion can achieve. It shows what horticulture can do, to bring life where it matters most. And that’s exactly what you do every single day.”

Highlighting the sector’s frontline role in tackling climate change, Fran continued:

“The weather we’ve all been dealing with this year, extreme heat and drought, demonstrates clearly that our industry is on the front line of dealing with the effects of climate change… but crucially, we have the solutions too. Cities may overheat — but our trees are cooling them. Floods may come — but our green spaces can act as a sponge. Droughts may bite — but our members can be supported to build reservoirs. Nature may falter — but our gardens are bringing it back.”

Fran also used the platform to launch the HTA’s new Value of Gardens report, the first to put a figure on the economic and environmental benefits of domestic gardens:

“Britain’s 22 million gardens are a critical part of a green infrastructure. Combined, they make up an area one-fifth the size of Wales. Our modelling shows that the difference to the economy from including 200 square metre-sized gardens in new homes, compared with no gardens at all, would be an extra £64 billion in consumer spending in the next 100 years.”

She called for minimum garden density requirements for new housing developments and urged the government to create a Government Office for Green Spaces:

“I was told a few months ago that here in London, it is easier to get planning permission for six new car parking spaces than planning permission to plant six new trees. Have we got our priorities right? We need to prioritise and invest in green infrastructure. Recent green landscaping projects just a couple of miles away in the City of London show us what’s possible. This is why we need a Government Office for Green Spaces to be created, to co-ordinate and champion green infrastructure across all government departments.”

Turning to economic pressures, Fran challenged the government to address last year’s Autumn Budget measures:

“(This) is a prime example of how to undermine an entire sector. National Insurance rises, an increase in the National Living Wage and inheritance tax changes, all combined at once, have a disproportionate effect on environmental horticulture. We know the changes to employment costs alone have already taken hundreds of thousands of pounds, and in some cases millions of pounds, directly out of your businesses.

“Inheritance tax changes in our family businesses will target the older generation while saddling the next with unplanned for, and potentially unaffordable, debt. We know that you are cutting costs. Perversely, that may mean a smaller workforce, with ultimately a smaller tax take for HMRC. It doesn’t make sense. That budget is hitting working people — you and your teams — hard.”

She confirmed that the HTA has submitted a formal pre-Budget request to the Treasury, calling for no further tax rises on employers, action on business rates, and a pause for consultation on changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief. Additionally, it requests a future employment bill to support business growth, rather than hinder it.

“Government’s role is to give certainty. Government’s role is to deliver confidence. Last Autumn, Government did neither. I’ve explained this to the Treasury. We’ve had MPs and ministers out to your businesses — retailers, growers, manufacturers and landscapers — and you’ve told them directly the impact this is having.  I hope the Chancellor’s budget in just two months’ time addresses the blockers they have put in the way of your growth.”

However, Fran did also acknowledge and thank the government for including plant health in a future SPS (UK-EU Trade) agreement, something which the HTA has long lobbied for:

“One of our members told me the commitment we secured from the government to include our sector in an SPS agreement has saved his business. So, a thank you to the government. We just need it to happen quickly, and we need to start feeling easements at the border today.”

The address was also an opportunity to pay tribute to outgoing HTA Chairman James Barnes:

“James, your leadership and support has been invaluable. Your work at the HTA through Covid was a lifeline for the industry, and your ambitions to grow the HTA and the representation of this sector are being realised now.”

Fran closed with a message of optimism:

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting hundreds of members across the UK this year. We are not just another sector; we are quite literally growing the future of our country. Together we are stronger. Together, we’re growing.”

See GTN Xtra's photos from the conference below and read more in the next issue of GTN magazine

The winners of the Horticultural Trades Association Grower of the Year Awards 2025 were announced at a celebration dinner following Horticulture, the Conference, held in the Garden Room of the Barbican Centre in London on 25 September. The awards celebrate the UK’s ornamental growers and recognise excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievements in the environmental horticultural industry.

Twelve awards were presented across six categories. The top winners of the night were Hillier Nurseries Ltd, which took home the Blooming Marvellous Employer, Life Beyond Peat and Plant Producer awards; and Greenwood Plants, which won the Inspirational Business award.

Individuals in the sector were also recognised on the night, including Jane Poyner from Majestic Trees, who received the Best Staff Member award and Thomas Smith, also from Majestic Trees, who took home the highly contested Young Grower under 35 award.

The winners of the Awards were presented with a certificate and trophy and now have the option of entering the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards.

Pippa Greenwood, Horticulture Manager at the HTA, praised the high standard of entries:

“It’s been another great year for the HTA Grower of the Year Awards. We’ve seen an increase in the number of nominations, a wider variety of businesses entering, and yet more entries of a phenomenally high standard. I’m sure I don’t need to point this out, but reading these nominations clearly shows how our HTA growers are not only producing the highest quality of plants but also managing to run their businesses with sustainability and innovation in mind.

“The way these businesses look after their employees is also truly humbling. The standard of entries for the Best Staff Member award demonstrates just how important staff are to the industry and the businesses themselves. The Young Grower award nominations were exceptional, and a clear reminder that UK environmental horticulture has a great future. Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees.”

As the winner of the Young Grower under 35 award, Thomas Smith is now eligible for a £1,500 bursary from the HTA. The new initiative for 2025 aims to support early-career professionals working in ornamental plant production, investing in the future of UK environmental horticulture. It can be used towards the costs of completing the Jungle Talks Pro Manager Mastercourse or other professional development opportunities. Young Grower winner Thomas can also enter the AIPH International Young Grower of the Year competition and fly the flag for UK environmental horticulture.

The judges at this year’s HTA Grower of the Year Awards were full of praise for Thomas Smith’s winning entry.

Phil Clayton said:

“The nomination, written and prepared by Thomas’ teammates, clearly shows how much he is liked, admired and appreciated in his role at Majestic Trees – one he seems to have made his own over the past six years. Thomas has proved to be a highly skilled, versatile and motivational team member, passing on his experience and knowledge to newer staff through training sessions. He has a ‘natural understanding of how plants grow’ and is always happy to ‘go the extra mile’. Thanks to his positive mindset, he makes a transformative difference.”

Sarah Squire added:

“Thomas has the resounding endorsement of his teammates, which speaks volumes to me. Horticulture is clearly a big part of his life, both inside and outside work. Thomas sounds like a very engaging young man who is conscious about the environment, caring towards others, a team player and an all round good egg.”

Full List of 2025 Winners:

Blooming Marvellous Employer

Hillier Nurseries Ltd (Winner)

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company (Highly Commended)

Inspirational Business

Greenwood Plants (Winner)

Hillier Nurseries Ltd (Highly Commended)

Life Beyond Peat

Hillier Nurseries Ltd (Winner)

Alba Trees Ltd (Highly Commended)

Plant Producer

Hillier Nurseries Ltd (Winner)

Majestic Trees (Highly Commended)

Best Staff Member

Jane Poyner, Majestic Trees (Winner)

Alastair Hazell, Darby Nursery Stock (Highly Commended)

Young Grower under 35

Thomas Smith, Majestic Trees (Winner)

Abigail Green, Allensmore Nurseries (Highly Commended)

For more information about HTA Grower of the Year Awards, visit: hta.org.uk/goty

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has awarded Natalie Boynton, from Happy Plants Ltd and co-founder of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), the 2025 Pearson Memorial Medal for outstanding service to the garden industry.

Over the last decade, Natalie has originated, led, and substantially contributed to numerous industry initiatives that have created a lasting legacy in UK horticulture. She is paving the way for other young women in the sector and has become the fifth woman to receive this prestigious award in the past 20 years.

Natalie Boynton (née Porter) is the Sales Director at Happy Plants Ltd in Formby, on the North West Coast, which is owned and operated by the Porter family. It is a milestone year for the nursery – formerly known as Porters Fuchsias – which was founded by the Porter family forty years ago, in 1985.

Natalie was one of the first UK growers to move away from carbon-pigment-free plant pots and compostable carry trays to the UK market, instead introducing kerbside recyclable packaging made from recycled plastics.

Following this, she was a leading participant in the HTA’s Nursery Working Group, which brought growers and pot manufacturers together to develop the ‘taupe pot’. This new standard plant pot for the industry is carbon-pigment-free and more recyclable than previous black pots.

Natalie regularly contributes to the HTA through participation in committees, working groups, and conferences. Five years ago, she and two colleagues founded the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), a group established to unite under-35s working in horticulture, helping to educate, innovate, and explore ways the industry can attract a younger demographic.

Will Armitage, HTA President, said: “Natalie’s significant contribution to the industry is incredible and should not be underestimated. She has already accomplished a great deal in her career and is a supportive voice that encourages others in the sector to get involved and reach their potential. Winning the Pearson Memorial Medal is a fitting recognition of that, and a remarkable achievement.

“Natalie has been a key inspiration and hands-on contributor to the creation of the YPHA, a group of more than 1,200 young people forging networks, connections, and relationships in our industry. The YPHA is going from strength to strength, and now even has its own training academy. Thanks to her dedication, we are starting to see a new generation of horticulturists and business leaders who, I believe, will secure the future of UK environmental horticulture.

“I hope Natalie’s award for outstanding service to the industry reminds us of the important contributions made by a diverse but often under-represented group of people - women and young people - involved in UK horticulture.”

Natalie Boynton, Pearson Memorial Medal winner, said: “I’m lost for words. It’s amazing. What an incredible privilege.

“Being only the fifth woman to receive this medal in the last 20 years means a lot. I’ve seen so many fantastic people pick up this award over the years, so it’s wonderful even to be considered in the same realm as these people.  

“It’s forty years since the family business started in 1985, we had a cake to celebrate the other day, so it’s big news all round. Winning the Pearson Memorial Medal really is the icing on the cake!”

The HTA first awarded the Pearson Memorial Medal for outstanding service to the garden industry in 1930, in memory of the association’s first General Secretary, Charles Pearson. It has been presented annually ever since, and over the past 20 years, four women have been previously awarded the prestigious medal.

For more information about the award and past winners, visit: hta.org.uk/events/pearson-memorial-medal 

L-R Martin Rowe, Jacqui Prior and Brett Avery.

The Horticultural Trades Association has announced the appointment of three Non-Executive Directors who will join the HTA Board and help shape the strategic direction and governance of the member organisation at the heart of UK Environmental Horticulture.

During the HTA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held after Horticulture, the Conference at the Barbican Centre in London on 25 September 2025, Jacqui Prior, Brett Avery, and Martin Rowe were successfully ratified as Non-Executive Directors. They will serve a three-year term on the board.

Jacqui Prior is a finance professional with over 30 years of experience. She ran her own accountancy practice for 18 years before holding senior finance roles in various sectors, including legal, international engineering, and global customer engagement. Since 2013, Jacqui has worked for Farplants, one of the country’s largest outdoor plant growers, supplying garden centres and major retail chains. In 2022, she was appointed as a director, a role in which she has strengthened financial reporting and controls, supported operational changes, led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation, and overseen legal, HR, and company secretarial matters.

Brett Avery has more than 25 years of experience driving business growth and success across various sectors. Originally from New Zealand, Brett became Managing Director of Farplants after relocating to the UK. During this time, he also played an active role within the HTA, previously serving as Vice President, a representative on the Ornamental Management Committee, and Chair of the former Retail Suppliers Group, as well as a member of the former Commercial Committee. He was the Managing Director of Hall Hunter Partnership, one of the UK’s leading soft fruit growers and suppliers. More recently, Brett was appointed Group CEO to develop the Arboraco Group and lead the transformation of Alba Trees, the UK’s largest supplier of cell-grown trees.

Martin Rowe is the Director of HortiNet, a specialist consultancy service for growers, retailers, and investors. He has more than 40 years of horticultural experience across numerous sectors of the industry, including cut flower and plant production, consultancy and research policy, e-commerce, garden centre transactions, and warehouse management. In 2011, he co-founded the online garden retailer YouGarden.com, growing it into a £40 million turnover business within 10 years and gaining extensive knowledge of UK and European supply chains. He has since served as a Director and Adviser to several food and drinks brands.

Will Armitage, HTA President, said: “I am delighted that Jacqui, Brett, and Martin have been appointed to the board as Non-Executive Directors. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a deep understanding of the sector's opportunities and challenges. With their individual and combined expertise in leadership, growth, business development and finance, I’m confident they will make a positive impact and help ensure the HTA remains a trusted and effective voice for our members.”

The HTA represents more than 1,400 businesses across garden retail, growing, landscaping, design, manufacturing and supply and is a leading voice for a green and growing industry. It delivers political representation, insights, commercial support, and collaboration for members, alongside running the National Garden Gift Card scheme, which secures around £40 million of consumer spend in the sector annually.

The Horticultural Trades Association has launched ‘Your Garden Year – a united approach to inspire gardeners all year round. It’s a simple, seasonal schedule designed to keep customers engaged week after week – in-store, online, and through everyday conversations. By aligning activity across the industry, the aim is to drive repeat visits, build loyalty and grow sales.

The initiative was revealed by Neil Grant, Chair of the HTA Retail Committee and Managing Director of Ferndale Garden Centre, during his session at the HTA’s Horticulture, The Conference, taking place on Thursday 25 September at the Barbican Centre, London, where he urged retailers, suppliers and the gardening media to work together to reignite the nation’s love of gardening.

Neil Grant said: “There are many criteria we can’t change in garden retail, but there is one area we can influence if we work together – and that’s the amount of business out there that we capture.

“During lockdown, good weather brought people into their gardens and – thanks to the HTA and the wider industry – we captured much of this demand. The gardening public grew overnight by around two million. But many of these new gardeners weren’t keen gardeners, and as soon as warm-weather holidays were possible, they flew away.

“This spring, after a great start, the weather slipped, then we hit drought, and sales flattened. Keener gardeners became our staple again. The reality is that fine-weather consumers are ‘shoppers’ rather than ‘customers’ – they shop when and where it’s convenient.

“What garden shoppers lack is stimulus, ideas and information at the right time to nudge them along. If, together as retailers, suppliers, and the gardening press, we had a way of reminding and encouraging them throughout the year about what’s on offer, we could secure their repeat custom – without a massive marketing budget.

“Today, we announce a shopper-focused campaign for the whole industry for 2026. We call it Your Garden Year – Turning Inspiration into Customers. This is not a revolution, but a restoration of seasonal garden activities that are starting to be lost with passing generations and the advancement of modern lifestyle changes and tech. Please don’t leave today thinking this is for someone else – it’s for all of us.”

The first outline of the Your Garden Year campaign was shared today with HTA members and the media. The month-by-month guide provides a shared schedule of gardening activities and themes. From spring planting to autumn lawn care, it helps remind and encourage gardeners at just the right moment. It is hoped that it will help align the entire industry, from retailers and growers to suppliers and the media, to unify messaging, inspire customers, and drive engagement throughout the year.

Supporting materials – including ready-to-use social media content, ‘Plant of the Moment’ assets, and media prompts – will follow, with the full campaign launching in Spring 2026.

Neil concluded: “Together we can keep gardening in the public consciousness all year round, restoring the rhythm of the gardening calendar and growing the market for everyone.”

More detail can be found at hta.org.uk/your-garden-year

The Horticultural Trades Association launched its 'Value of Gardens' report, which, for the first time, quantifies the economic, environmental, and social contributions of the UK’s 22 million private gardens. The report was presented by Fran Barnes, HTA Chief Executive, during her keynote address at the trade association’s Annual Conference.

This report builds on the 2023 ‘Value of Plants’ report, shifting the focus to our domestic gardens – truly a national treasure hiding in plain sight.

Fran Barnes said: “I believe the UK stands at a crossroads, with a huge opportunity to secure health and environmental benefits for generations to come.  The government’s ambition to build 1.5 million new homes presents a chance to deliver gardens that ensure that the families who occupy this housing enjoy improved health and social outcomes in the coming decades. Moreover, the green spaces these 1.5m gardens are set to create will play a substantial role in mitigating the effects of climate change, particularly in our towns and cities.

“I’m reminded in this report of Ebeneezer Howard, founder of the garden cities movement over a century ago, and his vision of reconnecting people with nature.  His influence on town planning and the lives of millions has been profound and lasting, visible today in so many of the gardens and green spaces in our communities. Now’s the time for us to work together as an industry and society to renew this vision and ambition, to seize the opportunity to create gardens fit for the 21st century, and to ensure that the UK’s gardens continue to be the envy of the world.”

This report outlines key research findings in relation to climate change, including the fact that in urban areas, trees can cool concrete surfaces by 12°C, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect. Lawns are incredibly effective at slowing water runoff, absorbing 99% of rainfall and reducing flood risk. Furthermore, green spaces actively remove air pollution; a one-metre dense hedge is capable of absorbing the pollution of a car travelling 500 miles in just seven days. They are also crucial habitats for biodiversity, with diverse features that support a wide range of fauna and flora.

The report also reaffirms the profound impact gardens have on health. Eight in ten UK adults agree that gardens benefit their physical health, and 85% report benefits to their mental state. Gardening is a socially inclusive pastime enjoyed by 30 million people, helping to burn calories and reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. Moreover, it offers significant cognitive benefits, with daily gardening linked to a 36% lower risk of dementia in older adults.

Beyond the positive impact on our health and environment, the economics also stack up. The environmental horticulture industry, which supports our gardens from 'dahlias to decking,' contributes a significant £38 billion to the UK economy and employs 722,000 people. The HTA research reveals that for every additional square metre of garden space, an extra £2.01 is spent annually on plants and products. With the government's plan to build 1.5 million new homes, ensuring adequately sized gardens – such as the average 200 sq m – could unlock a staggering £64.7 billion in consumer spending over the next century.

The full report can be accessed here: https://hta.org.uk/value-of-gardens