Pictured above: The Studley Garden Centre team, helped by staff from Alexander Rose, successfully completed a 240mile Run Row Ride challenge, raising more than £2,500.

More than 230 garden centres nationwide attracted thousands of customers to a plethora of special events and fund-raisers on Friday, March 14, and across the weekend, as part of Garden Re-Leaf Day.

Also supported by product and promotional initiatives from many of the gardening industry’s key suppliers, the third, annual Garden Re-Leaf Day successfully combined a fun, fund-raising weekend with ideas to attract gardening customers back in-store after the winter months.

From celebrity gardener talks, quizzes and treasure hunts to competitions, planting lessons and sponsored challenges, Garden Re-Leaf Day delivered plenty for gardeners to get involved in.  Many garden product and plant brands also created special on-pack offers, promotions, displays and donation opportunities at garden centres to help raise further funds. 

All proceeds from the weekend’s events will be donated to Greenfingers, Garden Re-Leaf Day’s nominated charity for 2014. 

Garden Re-Leaf Day’s founder and Hillview Garden Centre CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies, who himself took part in a 6-hour, 240-mile Garden Re-Leaf Day Run Row Ride challenge at his Studley Garden Centre site, raising over £2,500, said: “What an inspiration to see so many garden centres and suppliers putting so much effort and fantastic creativity into this year’s Garden Re-Leaf Day!  From one end of the country to the other, retailers had thought of some fantastic ideas and events to get customers back in store after the wet winter months. The bonus was the opportunity to raise money for Greenfingers along the way – and we’ll be announcing the total monies raised in the summer.  A huge thank you and well done to everyone who took part, or contributed in some way.”

Boyd also confirmed that the Garden Re-Leaf Day events held at his Hillview Garden Centre group had a positive effect on sales. 

“Footfall and extra sales income are as much one of Garden Re-Leaf Day’s objectives as the fund-raising, and it works – at our Studley site for example we saw a 30% uplift in sales revenue on that day compared with Friday the previous week.  I would be interested in receiving updates from other retailers on any footfall or revenue increase they saw,” he added.

One highlight run by many garden centres was a ‘star-studded’, fund-raising Gardening Quiz arranged centrally by Garden Re-Leaf Day organisers and The Garden Communication and Media Company for local use. The quiz featured questions specially pre-recorded by celebrities including Hollywood star Jude Law and Dr Who actor David Tennant.

Bosworth’s Garden Centre in Burton Latimer was one retailer to take advantage of the quiz. Jonathan Biggs, Marketing Co-Ordinator, said: "We were the first Garden Centre to run the Garden Re-Leaf quiz this year, thanks to Trevor Pfeiffer who put it together. The quiz was so easy to run, our teams were delighted to hear celebrities' voices asking the questions, and the heads and tails game was great fun.  With the extra interest we received from various local gardening groups and other customers, we hope to plan similar fundraising activities later in the year, to add to the funds currently being raised for Greenfingers by our 'wishing tree'."

Millbrook Garden Centre’s Gravesend branch, which won a competition to win an appearance by ITV gardener David Domoney (above) during Garden Re-Leaf weekend, attracted dozens of extra customers to its store on Sunday 16th March when David visited to give expert talks about creating a sensory, wildlife-friendly garden, and led ‘walking talks’ around its revamped wildlife area and bird hide.

Ross Winn, Admin & Events Manager at Millbrook said: "We are a great supporter of Greenfingers and Garden Re-Leaf Day as it always creates extra interest for customers whilst allowing us to do our bit for charity. On the Friday, we had a coffee morning and a special Gardener’s Question Time hosted by BBC Radio Kent's Andy Garland; featuring top garden experts Steve Bradley and Jean Griffin.  We also collected for a raffle, raising £300 on the day.  We were so lucky to win the help of Love Your Garden presenter David Domoney - his talks and especially his children's workshops were extremely popular."

At Aylett Nurseries in St Albans, Geoff Lucas, Operations Manager said: "Overall, Garden Re-Leaf Day was a success.  Gardening presenter Matthew Biggs was the MC for our quiz, and our Garden Fair was a hit with all ages - the skittle alley, donut eating competition and shove ha'penny just a few of the fun activities that helped us raise money and bring more people into the garden centre.  It was also a fantastic opportunity for some team building ahead of the busy spring season, with all the departments getting involved and having fun."

Perrywood Garden Centre & Nurseries in Tiptree ran the quiz as well as a highly original staff competition. Rachel Keeble, Communications Manager, explained: “Friday's quiz night for Greenfingers was a huge success. Around 90 people took part which was fantastic. We also ran a ‘Pimp Your Gloves’ staff competition, donating £5 for every pair entered. We're asking our Facebook followers to vote for their favourite, plus we'll have a judges’ favourite - it's going to be a hard task deciding, as everyone has surpassed themselves! Our Garden Centre Manager Simon Bourne also ran his first half marathon in aid of Greenfingers, on the hottest day of the year so far! He did brilliantly and has raised a good lot of money. We haven't managed to do a final count up yet of what we raised in total on Garden Re-Leaf Day, but we're expecting good things!” 

Amongst hundreds of other activities, Fresh@Burcot Garden Centre near Bromsgrove launched a 32ft fund-raising mural with the help of local MP Sajid Javid, and artistic contributions from celebrities such as Alan Titchmarsh, Peter Seabrook and Ron Atkinson, as well as visiting customers.  Webbs Garden Centre near Worcester held a raffle and staff were invited to dress up in onesies for the day.  At C.W. Groves & Son’s Bridport Garden Centre twelve local primary schools were invited to take part in a ‘pallet garden’ competition.  The Gardens Group in Sherborne raffled off a three minute trolley dash in each of its planteria. At Value House Stores in Weymouth children were invited to plant poppy seeds in return for a donation to Garden Re-Leaf, with the flowers set to bloom in time for the 100th anniversary of the First World War in August. The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Powys held fund-raisers including a plant identification challenge, a raffle, and ‘Fill The Pot’ – challenging customers to fill a pot with compost against the clock, using only a teaspoon.

On television, QVC viewers also helped to raise funds for Garden Re-Leaf Day by buying products from gardening guru Richard Jackson’s popular gardening product shows on 15th and 16th March. In total the shows raised an impressive £22,700, with the top contributor, Hayloft Plants, donating £8,574 of this amount.

Greenfingers is a small, nationwide charity dedicated to building gardens in children’s hospices around the UK.  It has created 42 magical hospice gardens since its inception and has more children’s hospices who need its help.  Since the first Garden Re-Leaf Day in March 2012, the volunteer-organised event has raised more than £116,000 for Greenfingers; enabling several life-enhancing hospice gardens to be created.  In 2014 Garden Re-Leaf Day monies will go towards the Greenfingers ‘Rosy Cheeks’ appeal – which aims to raise £750,000 over two years to fund the creation of at least ten more children’s hospice gardens; giving children and families who use the hospices a chance to spend precious time together in a natural, beautiful environment.

Organisations including The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) and The Garden Centre Association (GCA) were active supporters of Garden Re-Leaf day. Sector suppliers including Scotts Miracle-Gro, Mr Fothergill’s, William Sinclair, Westland Horticulture, Kelkay, Solus, Smart Solar, Richard Jackson’s Flower Power, Pleydell Smithyman, Bon Bon’s, Neudorff, Gardman and Briers also gave financial donations towards Garden Re-Leaf Day’s marketing ‘fighting fund’.

Keep up with the latest Garden Re-Leaf Day news at www.gardenreleaf.co.uk, or follow @GardenReLeaf on Twitter.  To find out more about Greenfingers visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

The Garden Centre Group’s Bicester Avenue restaurant team donned ‘garden gnome’ fancy dress in aid of Garden Re-Leaf Day.

Quiz teams who competed at a Powys garden centre during its curry and quiz night last week have helped raised £1,000 in aid of charity. 

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre hosted a quiz on Friday, March 14 and other activities on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16 in aid of Greenfingers.

Katie Cleary, Shop Manager at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre, which is located at Three Cocks near Hay-on-Wye, said: “Garden Re-Leaf Day was a huge success and we raised £1,181.85 for Greenfingers, which creates gardens at children’s hospices across the UK. We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to our customers for their support.

“Teams of up to six people took part in the quiz on Friday, March 14 and answered general knowledge and gardening questions. The winning team, The Rascals, received a £40 garden centre voucher.”

As well as the quiz night there was also a variety of fundraising activities at the garden centre on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16. People entered a ‘Wellie Throwing Challenge’ to win a variety of prizes by hitting targets and a ‘Fill the Pot’ competition to see who could fill a pot with compost the fastest using a teaspoon.

Katie added: “We also had planting activities for youngsters to take part in throughout the weekend as well as a plant identification challenge.”

Photograph caption: (From left to right) The Old Railway Line Garden Centre’s Managing Director, Mark Cleary, with The Rascals quiz team members, Robert Eckley from Brecon, Mike Eckley from Glasbury, Gwen Eckley from Brecon and (front) eight-year-old Evie Eckley from Glasbury and the garden centre’s Shop Manager, Katie Cleary.

Garden retailer Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries in Hertfordshire has been appointed Vice President-elect of the HTA.

Adam obtained an Agricultural Economics degree (BSc.AgEcon), at Wye College, University of London, after which he traded commodities in the City.

Adam joined Aylett Nurseries in 1993. As a Director of Aylett Nurseries, Adam is actively involved in every aspect of the business, which he runs together with his wife and her family. Over the past year Adam has chaired the HTA Retail Management Committee, of which he has been a member for several years.

Commenting on the appointment, HTA Chief Executive Carol Paris said: “We are delighted that Adam is joining us on the HTA Board and taking up the role of Vice President-elect.

"With his garden retail and nursery background Adam has a fantastic enthusiasm and passion for the industry and will bring a great deal to the role.”

The Mad March Hare is pulling rabbits from the hat and serving up April type sales levels. Let’s hope for a continued spell of good weather. Dare we say we could be in for a “normal” spring this year – hush you say, we don’t want to end up as April Fools.

As you can see in the graph of total sales in the Epos data supplied to GTN Bestsellers, last week matched the busiest week of March and April in 2012 when Easter was early and then it rained, and rained, and rained.

Sales volumes have even bettered the middle of April last year when business was starting to pick up after the dreadful weather of March 2013.

In the GTN Bestsellers Garden Product chart, sales volumes also almost on a par with 2012 – and that was the first week of the Easter holidays. 

Gardeners are cleaning up their paving and decking with Westland Hero Cleaning Capsules the highest re-entry in the chart, and also paying attention to their lawns as Scotts Evergreen Mosskill Soluble is the highest climber.

Garden Re-Leaf Day will certainly have added sales in centres that geared themselves up to take part and involve their customers. Quiz nights, sponsored events, school pallet garden competitions, garden centre fetes and many more activities ensured plenty of fun and fundraising, plus of course a good amount of local and national media coverage for our industry..

If you’d like to share your stories of successful Garden Re-Leaf Day events, let us know and we’ll publish them in the GTN Xtra.  E-mail neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk

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

• Garden Products – up 37%
• Veg 2 Gro – up 75%
• Growing Media – up 119%
• All items index – up 52%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Further details of plans for a Waitrose supermarket on the site of Van Hage garden centre in Great Amwell have been unveiled and will be displayed to the public next week.

It is understood that the proposed food store would be 25,000 sq ft, twice the size of the branch in Hertford, which is approximately 12,500 sq ft.

There would be meat, fish, cheese and patisserie counters as well as a coffee shop. The investment would also provide a new 100-seater bistro at Van Hage.

Waitrose director of development, Nigel Keen, said: “Waitrose has a long-standing ambition to open a shop in the area and believe the plans brought forward offer an exciting opportunity to deliver a quality food store alongside one of the area’s most popular shopping destinations.

“Delivering an improved Van Hage store together with a Waitrose supermarket can provide substantial benefits for the area, including more retail choice for local residents and new jobs.”

Apprenticeships, training, management and graduate schemes would be available at the store, which would also donate £12,000 a year to local causes nominated by customers.

Van Hage chairman and managing director Chris Roberts said: “We are delighted at the prospect of having a Waitrose join us at our Great Amwell store.

“The public exhibition will give the community an insight to the exciting plans for the development and will help us in our submission of a mutually beneficial planning application.”

Waitrose and Van Hage will now distribute newsletters to inform residents of the plans and ask for their feedback.

The public exhibition will be at the coffee shop in Van Hage, Pepper Hill, on Friday March 28 from 10am to 4pm and Saturday March 29 from 9am to noon.

Representatives will be on hand to answer questions and comments can also be registered from Friday March 28 at www.waitrosevanhage.co.uk.

Subject to feedback, the companies aim to submit a planning application this summer. If it is successful, it is hoped to complete the project during 2016.

The Garden Centre Association has announced its new area chairmen who will represent member garden centres in each region. They are Mike Lind (Wales and the West), Tim Mason (South Thames), Philippa McKean (Midlands), Paul Wright (North Thames), Alyson Haywood (North West), James Ducker (North East), and Colin Barrie (Scotland).

Under the new GCA chairmanship of Will Armitage the regions will look to help improve opportunities for members and help them to get more from the organisation.

Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, explained: “We’re delighted to have our area chairmen for 2014. Each one will take over the representation of the member garden centres in their area.

“I hope to see big things from each region in the coming year and I would like to help members get more from the body through the stronger regional groups. In the late 1990s and early 2000s regional activity was very strong so it would be good for that to be reinvigorated again.

“Business Development Manager, Tim Mason, from Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres has taken over the role of chairman from Julian Winfield for the South Thames region. Julian has gone on to become Chairman Elect. Paul Wright, former regional manager for The Garden Centre Group, has taken over the North Thames chair role, which was previously held by Caroline Owen.”

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s Managing Director, Mike Lind, will take over fromMike Burks as the chairman for the Wales and the West region and Van Hage Garden Centre Peterborough’s Store Manager, Philippa McKean, will continue to chair for the Midlands area. 

The new North West chairman will be Alyson Haywood, who is the General Manager of Moreton Park Garden Centre. James Ducker, who is the Director of Langlands Garden Centres, will be the North East region’s chairperson.

Caulders Garden Centre Managing Director, Colin Barrie, will continue with the role of chairman for Scotland until a replacement volunteer is found.

Will added: “I would like to wish all of our new chairmen the very best of luck in their new positions. We’re looking forward to seeing great things from each of them and we believe great improvements will be seen for each region.”

The Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, signalled the end of a turbulent year for Mid-Wales business Stagecraft when he opened their new factory in Newtown on Thursday – 12 months to the day that Stagecraft’s former factory burnt to the ground.

From the disaster which beset Stagecraft, the company has made a remarkable recovery. The new facility on the Vastre Enterprise Park is double the size of their previous premises, which has allowed them to make significant progress in 2014. They recently secured their largest order from grocery chain Waitrose, have increased staff numbers and look set for their best year’s trading.

Set up some 30 years ago, Stagecraft is now the UK market leader in the supply and fit-out of display equipment to garden centres, merchandisers, and farm shops, as well as breaking through into the high street retail sector. The company was founded by Radnorshire farmer Tom Davis as he sought to earn extra income to educate his children.  Tom has recently taken over the chairman’s role, following the appointment of Seb Smith as managing director. He has a strong background in retail and display.

The move to larger premises has enabled Stagecraft to react positively to significant changes within their sector, particularly garden centres.

Seb Smith said: “There has been a considerable amount of consolidation within the garden centre sector, with larger and larger companies being formed through acquisition and merger. Our move now to a much larger factory signals our intent to service the significant changes now happening within the industry, where we are likely to have to manufacture our products in greater volumes.”

First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said: “I’m delighted to be able to officially open Stagecraft’s new premises, and mark an exciting new chapter for the company. This major expansion programme will allow the company to capitalise on further opportunities in the industry, and is also a significant boost to the local economy. We will continue to offer advice and support as it develops and I wish the team every success in the future.”

While the fire destroyed all work-in-progress and machinery, vital design drawings, orders, customer databases were backed-up to an offsite location and with the help of local suppliers Stagecraft was able to recommence limited production within days of the disaster. 

Now the sun is starting to shine, homeowners across the UK will be starting to think about making improvements to their homes and gardens.  Retailers wanting to tap into this sales opportunity without having to become DIY experts will be pleased to learn more about the new Easybuild range from Deco-Pak. 

Experts in aggregates and decorative accents, Deco-Pak has recognised the core products needed to complete the most common DIY and small-scale building jobs, such as bricklaying, paving, and patios, and created a range that features them all.

Each product in the Easybuild range is presented in brightly coloured packaging, and features ‘how to’ instructions, making it even easier for consumers to select the products they need for the job at hand. Deco-Pak has also created specialist Easybuild point-of-sale, making it even easier for retailers – from garden centres to landscape retailers – to take the range in-store this season.  And if that wasn’t enough, Deco-Pak is also offering a 20% discount on all Easybuild orders throughout April, making it an even more attractive proposition.

Deco-Pak’s Marketing Director, Craig Hall said: “Our Easybuild range has been designed to offer some simple, yet incredibly useful benefits - from retailers being able to diversify their range offering to quickly and efficiently incorporate DIY, to consumers quickly and easily identifying the products they need for a wide range of garden and home improvements. We’ve no doubt that our handy ‘how to’ information will also provide consumers with the confidence to tackle a range of jobs – as the name suggests, we believe that these products can make it easy to build!”

Deco-Pak’s Easybuild range includes:

Sand & Cement – EasyMix - designed for bricklaying

Sharp Sand – great for bedding paving and concreting

Post Mix – EasyMix for fixing gate and fence posts

Kiln Dry Paving Joint Sand – essential for brushing into paving joints

Mixed Ballast – great for concreting and foundations

Concrete Mix – EasyMix - designed for concreting; ideal for fixing gate and fence posts

Patio & Slab Mix – EasyMix - for laying paving & patio base

Building Sand – ideal for brick laying and pointing

The full Easybuild range will be available to view on Deco-Pak’s stand at the forthcoming NMBS Exhibition (9^th April, Ricoh Arena, Coventry). 

Find out more

To find out more about Easybuild or any of Deco-Pak’s market leading aggregate and landscaping ranges log onto www.deco-pak.co.uk or call (01422) 204 394.

Garden Centre Association inspectors have started to turn up unannounced at centres throughout the UK as their annual inspections got underway this week.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “We have urged all garden centres to be prepared for the inspections. They do not know when the inspector is dropping in but they do know the potential date range.

“They are not able to turn away the inspector, as the unannounced visit is a vital part of the GCA inspection process. Inspections cannot be delayed or deferred because of any ongoing development work – customers see this when they visit and so will the inspectors! The garden centres will not lose marks because of such works, provided they are carried out safely and disruption is minimised with the customer in mind.

“The inspector will make him/herself known upon arrival at the centre and will proceed with the inspection alone, before delivering the feedback session of approximately 45 minutes.

“The results of the inspections form the basis for many GCA awards, including Destination Garden Centre of the Year, Garden Centre of the Year, Area Winners, Highly Commended and Most Improved Garden Centre. The top 10 centres will receive a Garden Centre of Excellence Award and all centres scoring 75% or above receive the Highly Commended certificate."

Will Armitage, Chairman of the GCA, said: “The annual inspections will begin with an assessment from an independent inspector.

“Once this is complete, the inspector will discuss his/her findings with the garden centre’s owners, managers and staff in a constructive feedback session. This allows the management team to make any changes necessary, based on the findings, straightaway.

“Many GCA members have said that the unique annual inspections and constructive feedback sessions are one of the biggest benefits of membership. It is a fantastic motivational and management tool and really keeps staff on their toes, making sure they are always doing their absolute best.

“Garden centres receive no advance warning about when their inspection will take place and they do not have the option to turn away the inspector. It is all about making sure they are offering a consistently excellent service and improving their customer service standards, which is what all GCA garden centres must do to remain members.”

This year’s inspectors are: Liz Hutson, Andy Campbell, Ian Boardman and Roger Crookes. The four have already met recently for a ‘consistency day’, where they each did a trial run inspection and then checked they were marking consistently with each other.

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

A West Sussex nursery that has recently won two prestigious awards including being declared Ornamental Grower of The Year says it owes its success in part to nurturing industry talent.

Barnsfold Nurseries in Rudgwick, West Sussex received the accolade at the UK Growers Awards recently and also collected an award for being the best grower of protected ornamental plants.

Partner in the business, Nigel Wait explained: “My Mother, Isobel, and Father, Bill, started the nursery 50 years ago. One of the things my Father was very keen to do was to reward staff members who came into the business at a young age, who were prepared to work hard, learn and develop the business further.

“My partners in the business, John Turner and Peter Titmuss, were two such employees, who are not related to my family, but have shown dedication over many years. They are now encouraging team members, Jonathan Brown and Oliver Turner to also take the business forward to the next level.

“British horticulture needs to encourage the youth of today and take it forward to the future, something Barnsfold has been doing for 50 years.”

But it’s not just the team that Barnsfold Nurseries employs that is dymanic and youthful. The judges were also impressed by how the nursery had adapted to target a younger market.

Nigel added: “Barnsfold Nurseries’ plants and containers are appealing more to a younger clientele through their colour themed pots and planters, making a new fun way of gardening. Our innovative animal planters attract younger people into gardening, which has helped garden centres expand their sales across the age ranges.”

The judges were so impressed that the nursery had adapted to target a different market, that the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), which was involved in the awards, has nominated Barnsfold to contest the world finals in China in September this year.

Another of the reasons Nigel attributes to Barnsfold Nurseries’ success was his Father’s ability to read the future.

“My Father refused to supply the demanding supermarkets in the Eighties. Other bedding plant growers throughout the country thought it was easy money dealing with just one big customer and not with the up and coming garden centres that they felt made distribution, among other things, a problem. It’s a shame they didn’t have the foresight my Father had, the rest is history, like a lot of the nurseries.

“We are still dealing with the same customers, as well as new customers, that we dealt with many years ago and I would like to think that we have all grown and thrived together over the years by changing production and marketing techniques to meet modern day consumer lifestyles.

“We have always been supporters and members over the years of the British Protected Ornamentals Association (BPOA), formally the British Bedding and Pot Plant Association, in fact my Father was a chairman of the organisation many years ago, so to have been given this award and to be recognised in this way is a wonderful thing.”

“We’re absolutely delighted with these two awards, sponsored by Quinten Edwards and Modiform. They are a true testament to all the hard work that the team puts in.”

• Midlands, East Anglia & Northern Home Counties
• South East & London, including Hampshire & Sussex

Veg sales are recovering and are almost back to the same levels as last year. With a good run through to Easter, volumes could return to 2012 and 2011 figures.

One of the stars of the GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro Top 50 chart this week is Quantil Tomato Timbling Red Tom, the highest re-entry at No 8. Quantil also have the highest new entry in Tomato Sweet Million. 

Other star performers this week include:

• Thompson & Morgan Basil Outdoor, the highest climber, moving up 14 places to No 24.
• Quantil Chilli Pepper Apache, returns to the chart after an impressive sales week.
• KinderGarden Tomoato Gardeners Delight, 4 cell plugs, jumps to top spot. 

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Hillier Nurseries & Garden Centres have appointed Chris Francis as Garden Centre Director, heading up the Hillier Garden Centre division of the company. He joined the company on March 12.

Chris brings a wealth of retail and garden centre experience to the role of Hillier Garden Centre Director. Most recently, Chris worked for The Garden Centre Group; before that for Wyevale, Country Gardens, Boots PLC, Storehouse PLC and John Lewis PLC.

This appointment is part of Hillier’s plans to drive the business forward towards growth and increased profitability, and allows Andrew McIndoe, now Hillier Managing Director, more time to focus on other aspects of the Hillier group.

Andy says: "Having known Chris as a customer, I am very much looking forward to working with him. He shares our values of the importance of horticulture at the heart of the business, and brings a fresh focus on retail standards and professionalism."

Chris says: "I am delighted to be joining a company with such a great tradition and heritage in horticulture, with one of the most widely recognized names in the industry. It is a great time to be starting in this challenging role given the opportunities that will inevitably arise during this period of significant change in the UK's garden centre industry." 

There has been a massive upturn in compost sales, according to the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media data.

Volumes have almost doubled in number but still lagging behind 2012 (this was the first Easter week that year). One product which has done particularly well is the Westland Gro-Sure Ericaceous Compost & 4 month Feed, a new entry to the chart.

Other star performers in the Growing Media chart include:

• Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost with John Innes, the highest climber this week.
• Arthur Bowers Grow Bag is the highest re-entry.
• Arthur Bowers Bark Chips is the highest new entry.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Forest Garden, the UK’s leading manufacturer of decorative and core garden timber ranges, has appointed Andrew Bendall as the company’s new marketing manager.

Andrew, who takes up the position left by Vicky Nuttall, brings with him a wealth of marketing experience from across a diverse range of product and market sectors; something that will stand him in good stead as he leads Forest’s marketing department into an exciting next chapter. 

Andrew’s previous experience includes roles at Newell Rubbermaid, where he was responsible for its Graco brand of parenting and baby products, as well as marketing communications for Jewson’s national branch network.

Talking about Andrew’s appointment, John Gomersall, sales and marketing director at Forest, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to welcome Andrew to our team.  His experience and enthusiasm are ideally suited to the role, and I have no doubt that he’ll be a great asset in helping to build the long-term visibility of Forest across all our relevant markets.  Andrew’s appointment also comes at an exciting time for our business as we further integrate M&M Timber’s portfolio and expertise into our own. I look forward to working closely with Andrew, and am excited to see what direction he takes his role.”

Andrew Bendall added: “Joining Forest Garden is an exciting prospect; one that presents a great challenge, and an opportunity for me to become part of an already trusted and highly respected team and company.  I look forward to getting started over the coming weeks and months.”

There's  still time to sign up for the International Garden Centre Conference taking place in Ireland this summer (August, 2014), says the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) representative Paul Cooling.

Paul, who officially started his GCA role on the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) board in January, replacing Sue Allen, is urging British garden centres to join the event.

The Chairman of Coolings Nurseries, who has been a long-time supporter of the IGCA, said: “I am really getting into my new role now, although it’s only been a few months, and there are interesting and inspiring times ahead. 

“The big event coming up is the International Garden Centre Congress which, this year, is being held in Ireland from August 10 until 15. These international visits are the best way to learn and understand the culture of a different country and also of course to see some of the best garden centres in the world. 

“The itinerary will also include other places of horticultural interest and national heritage. Already more than 130 delegates have signed up for this year’s event but there is always scope to accommodate a few more. For full details, please visit www.igccireland2014.com.”

Paul’s father, Michael, was an early supporter of the IGCA. He spoke German and this endeared him to many of the host nations at the early Congresses.

Paul said: “He took me to my first International Congress in Holland in 1978 and since then I’ve attended 18 in total. Carrying on the family tradition, I took my daughter Jessica to the most recent Congress I attended in Germany in 2012, where she participated in the study tour. It is a wonderful privilege to be representing the UK.”

The IGCA is committed to improving the state of the art of the garden centre industry. It exists to provide a forum for the mutual exchange of information to benefit similar minded independent garden retailers on a worldwide basis.

Napoleon Grills' new TravelQ 285X has just won the Vesta Award for Best New Gas Grill at the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo 2014, in America.

New to the UK this year and due to arrive with stockists shortly, the TravelQ 285X, complete with scissor cart, is believed to be the first dual burner portable grill of its type on the market.

It also features windproof technology with special attention having been paid to the position and angle of the vents, allowing sufficient air in, but keeping gales out so that burners stay alight.

Other features include a large cooking area of 1840cm2 with cast iron cooking grates, JETFIRE ignition and temperature gauge.

The scissor cart has shelves, utensil holders, wheels for mobility and locks securely when in position. It has completely folding legs which when folded double up as a hanger for wall hanging storage.  The TravelQ 285X retails at £339.99.

Visit http://www.napoleongrills.co.uk/ email info@napoleongrills.co.uk call 01676 522788 or tweet @NapoleonGrills to find out more or to become a stockist.

The Garden Centre Group has chosen Marie Curie as its first national charity partner after an all-staff vote.

The ‘Gardens for Good’ partnership will run for two years, over which time gardening-inspired fundraising, volunteering initiatives and commercial activity will aim to raise over £500,000 for the charity which provides care to people with terminal illnesses in their own homes and in its nine hospices. The partnership will help Marie Curie Nurses provide at least an additional 25,000 hours of free, hands-on care.

Activity launches during Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraising campaign, the Great Daffodil Appeal, with a donation on pots of daffodils*, daffodil collection boxes at all 850 till points, staff fundraising and Marie Curie collectors in centres across England and Wales.

A programme of activity will be developed to support The Garden Centre Group’s 5,000 employees and in excess of 30 million customers who visit its 130+ centres per year as well as suppliers and concession partners throughout the duration of the partnership. This will help Marie Curie deliver more high quality care to terminally ill people and their families in every community across the UK.

Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said: “Everyone at Marie Curie is excited about working with The Garden Centre Group. Being cared for at home means our patients can continue to enjoy their gardens, which often hold many happy memories. Our hospice gardens, just as those our patients have tended to over the years, provide a relaxing environment for families to spend time together. We are looking forward to developing gardening-inspired fundraising and volunteering opportunities to engage all 5,000 staff across all 130 centres, as well as customers and suppliers. The funds raised from the partnership will ensure that Marie Curie Nurses can provide more care to terminally ill people and support to their families in communities across the country.”

Stephen Murphy, Chairman, The Garden Centre Group, said: "We are delighted to have selected Marie Curie as our national charity partner for 'Gardens for Good' over the next two years following an all colleague vote. The work Marie Curie does is invaluable and we know that many people being cared for by the charity have a huge affection for their gardens. This makes our 'Gardens for Good' partnership truly relevant for our staff, our supplier partners and our customers. We hope to both raise significant funds from a wide range of initiatives and provide many volunteering opportunities over the next two years to support the great work that Marie Curie does."

A member of the Hillier gardening dynasty helped unveil a new canopy area at a Somerset garden centre last Saturday (March 15, 2014).

George Hillier from Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres declared Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s new canopy area officially open with a ribbon cutting.

Andrew Pitman, Plant Manager of the independent, family-run garden centre at Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, explained: “It was an honour to have George lend a helping hand for the occasion.

“Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres is celebrating its 150^th anniversary this year and Monkton Elm has worked closely with it for many years so we couldn’t think of anyone else we’d rather have unveil our new canopy.

“The new all-weather canopy houses a large undercover sales area for our hardy outdoor plants, enabling our customers to shop in all weather conditions. Although undercover it is still open and airy so it’s perfect for keeping the plants looking good whatever the weather.”

During the launch event there were special offers on a selection of outdoor hardy plants.

George Hillier, a representative from Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, said: “I was thrilled to officially declare Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s new canopy area open.

“We are very proud of our relationship with the garden centre and have worked closely with it to bring its customers the very best plants to make their gardens beautiful. It’s great to see the garden centre thriving and expanding.”

George has worked in the family business since 1996. He began working in the garden centres as a general assistant for 12 years and worked his way up through the ranks before moving around the country working at several different stores.

He was the Manager of Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centres, Chichester, for five years before joining the wholesale team as the Sales Account Manager for the South West.

Victorian entrepreneur Edwin Hillier founded the business in 1864 after he purchased a two acre nursery with a companion florist’s shop in Winchester.

Hillier has been responsible for numerous plant introductions, many of which have become essentials in British gardens. It now supplies garden centres across the UK with trees, shrubs and hardy plants.

Twenty-eight of the most aspiring young representatives of the horticultural industry met this week to kick off the Garden Centre Association’s 2014 Rising Stars Programme sponsored by Westland Horticulture.

The first of three masterclasses to be held throughout the year took place at Westland Horticulture in Peterborough on Wednesday.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “The first masterclass will include a session on merchandising, opportunities for business growth and managing the seasons to make maximum sales and profits.

“There are 28 attending this initial workshop and they will also all go along to a second one in June. The participants will be given extensive coaching and mentoring.

“From the original 28, just 10 will then be selected in September and from those 10, five will be chosen as finalists to attend the GCA Conference in Chester in January.

“At our conference they will make a presentation on what they have achieved during the year. A winner will then be chosen by conference delegates before being presented with his or her prize at the GCA’s annual gala dinner on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.”

The GCA Rising Stars 2014 Programme has received a record number of entries from garden centre staff looking to get ahead in the world of horticultural retailing.

Iain added: “The initiative is now in its sixth year and has been hugely successful to date, welcomed by the industry and participants alike. We’re very proud of everyone who has taken part in previous years and those who have signed up for the programme this year. We’re really looking forward to seeing what the 2014 participants are capable of. It’s exciting stuff.”

The next masterclass will be held on Thursday, June 12 and the third on Thursday, September 11. The venues are yet to be confirmed.

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

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

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

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

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

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